In: Accounting
Write one page essay stating different careers in accounting.
Consolidate your essay based on the details given below:
Careers in Accounting
Professional accountants of today have careers that use e a wide variety of skills applicable to highly specialized roles. When the editors of the Journal of Accountancy wrote in 1912 that an accountant is beginning to be “looked upon as a business physician,” they could not have envisioned the dynamic array of practice areas that would exist 100 years later.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, between 2016 and 2026, the number of jobs for accountants and auditors in the United States is expected to increase by 10%. Changes in tax laws and the regulatory environment, as well as the expansion of global commercial business and increased financial controls continue to drive the demand for skilled accountants in the public and private sectors.
While the foundation of accounting is based on uniform accounting practices, there are many different ways for accountants to apply these principles.
Government and Non Profit accounting jobs:
Fund Accountancy
IRS Jobs
Public Accounting Jobs:
Cost Estimator
Enrolled Agent
Forensic Accountant
Real Estate Appraiser
Tax Accountant
Tax Attorney
Tax Preparer
Private Accounting Jobs:
Accounting Clerk
Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
Accounting Information System Specialist
Actuarial Accountant/Insurance Accountant
Bookkeeping
Budget Analyst
Capital Accountant
Comptroller/Financial Controller
Cost Accountant
Environmental Accountant/Sustainability Measurement
Payroll Accountant
Financial Services:
Business Valuation Specialist
Certified Financial Planner
Financial Analyst
Tax Consultant
Accountants work with individuals, small businesses, large corporations, non-profits and government agencies to prepare and organize financial and tax documents.
Accounting is defined as an organized way to keep records of business and financial transactions, summarize those transactions, and analyze, verify, and report financial results. Another way to look at accounting is that it’s an information system designed to identify, measure, record, and communicate reliable, relevant, and consistent information about the economic activities of an organization.
Accounting involves only transactions that can be expressed in monetary terms. Some people call accounting "the language of business," and its purpose is to help users of accounting information make better decisions
These are among the many tasks that accountants perform for their clients:
Organizing and maintaining financial records
Evaluating financial operations and making recommendations to management about best financial practices
Examining account books and accounting systems to make sure they are efficient and conform to accepted standards and accounting procedures
Preparing tax returns and related tasks
Examining financial statements to make sure they are accurate and meet legal requirements
Suggesting ways to increase revenue, reduce costs, and improve profits
Accountants in the United States have the option of becoming Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). CPAs have met licensing requirements for the state in which they practice. State licensing qualifications vary but typically require 150 hours of education (30 hours beyond the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree in accounting). Licensing requirements also always include some documented experience and achieving a passing score on the Uniform CPA Examination.
The key task that CPAs can perform - and that non-CPAs cannot - is the preparation of audited and reviewed financial statements for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Careers in Different Areas of Accounting
It is often said that one of the biggest career decisions accountants make takes place very early on when deciding which general area of accounting to specialize in. This is because the entire career path with regard to the types of clients an accountant works with, the type of education and professional certification they’ll need, the level of education they’ll complete, and the very nature of the work they perform will be dictated by this decision.