Accounting Career

Accounting Career Essay Kawanza Carey Everest Online University Strategies for Success 221 Accounting Career Essay Most people think accounting is just crunching numbers all day; everyone uses some form of accounting. There is much more to accounting than just crunching numbers. There are many types of accountants, covering a wide range of the business world, becoming an accountant opens a wide range of career opportunities. I want to become an accountant because it’s something that I’m familiar with since I prepare tax returns. Math has always been my favorite subject I enjoy working with numbers. Accountants help to ensure that firms run efficiently, taxes are paid properly and on time and public records are kept accurately. They analyze financial information for all different types of companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond doing the basic tasks; providing information to clients by preparing , analyzing, and verifying financial documents; some accountants offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. There are four major fields of accounting and auditing: public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and internal auditing. Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients. Some public accountants decide to prepare tax returns while others offer advice in areas such as compensation. Public accountants; many who are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), generally have their own businesses or work for public accounting firms. Management accountants are responsible for budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management, and asset management. They analyze and interpret the financial information that corporate executives need to make sound decisions. Government accountants and auditors work in the public sector, maintaining and examining the records of the government agencies and auditing private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation. Those employed y the Federal Government may work as Internal Revenue Service agents or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration. Internal auditors verify the effectiveness of their organization’s internal controls and check for mismanagement, waste, or fraud. They examine and evaluate their firms’ financial and information systems, management procedures, and internal controls to ensure that records are accurate and controls are adequate. Most accountants work in an office setting while other may be able to do part of their work at home. They work a 40-hour week job, but some may work longer hours if self-employed and have quite a few clients. During the tax season tax specialist often work longer hours. Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerk are required to have a high school degree at minimum. Having an associate degree in business or accounting is required for some positions. Accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree in accounting or business administration. An accounting clerk should be very comfortable with working with numbers, enjoy routine because you’re going to be doing the same thing daily. Other personality characteristics to be a successful accounting clerk are computer literate, great communication skills, and ethical. You have to be professional at all time because there may be a lot of irate clients upset about getting audited. If math is your favorite subject and you get along with everybody then being an accountant is a great career for you. Each year, numerous jobs will become available, as clerks transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. There would be many opportunities for temporary and part-time work. Clerks who can carry out a wider range of accounting activities will be in greater demand than specialized clerks. An example is the demand for full-charge bookkeeper is expected to increase, because they can perform a wider variety of financial transactions. Certified Bookkeepers (CBs) and those with several years of accounting or bookkeeping experience who have demonstrates that they can handle a range of tasks will have the best job prospects. Accountants will always be in demand so I hope to be successful when I complete my degree. (n. d. ) References General Accountant Certified General Accountant Board †¦ (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://certifiedgeneralaccountant. org/ Accountants and Auditors. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos001. htm Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos144. htm