| If you have an aptitude for mathematics and can | | | | bankruptcies. Many public accountants are Certified |
| compare, interpret, and analyze facts and figures | | | | Public Accountants (CPAs) and work either with |
| with ease, you may want to consider a career in | | | | an accounting firm or as individual consultants.o |
| accounting. Along with these traits, the ability to | | | | Management accountants are responsible for |
| communicate clearly, work well with people and | | | | maintaining the records and analyzing the finances |
| systems, and a high sense of integrity is an added | | | | of the companies that hire them. They could be |
| bonus. Today, thousands of industries and | | | | involved in budgeting, cost management, |
| businesses require the services of professional | | | | evaluation, and strategic planning. They prepare |
| accountants and auditors to track their assets, | | | | the all-important financial reports that go out to |
| debts and income. Besides recording all financial | | | | the company's stockholders, creditors and board |
| transactions and creating statements of costs and | | | | members.o Government accounting requires the |
| gains, accountants also participate in preparing | | | | maintenance and checking of records in the public |
| strategies for business mergers and acquisitions, | | | | sector. These accountants will also audit those |
| developing financial information systems, quality | | | | companies and businesses that are subject to |
| management and creating tax strategies for | | | | government taxation and regulations. The Internal |
| companies. Accountants are perpetually in short | | | | Revenue Service is one of the largest employers |
| supply and jobs in this field are not hard to find. In | | | | of government accountants.o Internal auditing is |
| spite of the current economic turmoil, well-trained | | | | an extremely important sub-category of |
| professional accountants will have no problem | | | | accounting. Internal auditors check for |
| landing a well-paid job. In fact, with the recent | | | | mismanagement of funds and fraud. They verify |
| scandals in the financial sector, there is a greater | | | | all records and financial statements and evaluate a |
| need than ever for dedicated and honest | | | | firm's financial systems and internal controls to |
| professionals. | | | | ensure that there is no leakage of funds or illegal |
| Accountants basically work towards ensuring that | | | | activities. Internal auditors conduct regular reviews |
| companies and businesses run efficiently. They | | | | of corporate policy, laws, and procedures. Internal |
| are considered to be the backbone of any | | | | auditing can further specialize into environmental |
| organization. Accounting can be broadly | | | | auditing, legal auditing, insurance auditing, |
| categorized into four fields - public accounting, | | | | healthcare, and bank auditing. |
| management accounting, government accounting, | | | | Most accounting jobs would require a minimum |
| and internal auditing. Accountants and auditors in | | | | Bachelors degree in accounting. Accounting degree |
| each field analyze, record, and verify all financial | | | | programs that also prepare students for various |
| transactions accurately and provide this | | | | certifications and licenses have an added |
| information to their clients.o Public accountants | | | | advantage. When choosing a Bachelor of |
| deal with corporations, non-profit organizations or | | | | accounting degree, make sure that the college |
| individuals. Their job profiles could include auditing, | | | | you choose is accredited and that the course |
| consulting on tax matters, and designing data | | | | provides training in the latest auditing software |
| processing and accounting systems. There is a | | | | and specialized programs so that you have an |
| new brand of forensic accounting that has | | | | immediate edge in the job market once you |
| emerged which investigates and interprets | | | | graduate. |