| Do you enjoy working with numbers? Do you | | | | received, and expenditures are made in |
| keep your checkbook perfectly balanced? Are | | | | accordance with applicable laws and regulations. |
| you meticulous in how you allocate your household | | | | Internal auditors oversee their organization's |
| finances? If so, a career in accounting and auditing | | | | internal controls and check for waste, |
| may be just right for you. | | | | mismanagement, or fraud. They review the |
| Accountants and auditors work in a wide variety | | | | company's financial operations, and evaluate their |
| of professional settings. Many work for large | | | | efficiency and compliance with government |
| corporations, government agencies, or small | | | | regulations and corporate policies. Internal auditors |
| businesses, while others are self-employed and | | | | may help management evaluate the effectiveness |
| may even work out of a home office. | | | | of their controls based on real-time data supplied |
| There are four major fields of accounting and | | | | by computers, and they may recommend and |
| auditing: public, management, government | | | | review controls for their organization's computer |
| accounting, and internal auditing. | | | | systems to ensure the integrity of the data. |
| Public accountants provide a broad range of | | | | Computer technology is changing the nature of |
| accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services | | | | the work of many accountants and auditors. |
| for their clients, which may be governments, | | | | Special software packages allow accountants to |
| corporations, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. | | | | summarize transactions in financial records and |
| Many public accountants are Certified Public | | | | organize data in formats employed in financial |
| Accountants (CPAs), and generally have their own | | | | analysis. These accounting programs alleviate the |
| businesses or work for public accounting firms. To | | | | tedious work associated with recordkeeping and |
| become a CPA, an accountant must take and | | | | data management. A growing number of |
| pass a series of tests administered by the | | | | accountants and auditors now have computer |
| American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. | | | | skills that allow them to meet unique data |
| Some public accountants focus on areas such as | | | | management and analytical needs. |
| the design of accounting and data-processing | | | | How about training? Graduates of junior colleges |
| systems, compensation, employee health care | | | | or business schools can sometimes obtain |
| benefits, or the selection of controls to safeguard | | | | entry-level accounting positions and advance by |
| assets. Others audit their clients' financial | | | | improving their accounting skills on the job. |
| statements and inform authorities and investors | | | | Generally, accountant and auditor positions require |
| that the statements are accurate. These | | | | at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a |
| accountants are also referred to as external | | | | related field. Some employers prefer that |
| auditors. And, of course, many accountants | | | | applicants have a master's degree in accounting or |
| specialize in taxes, preparing individual income tax | | | | a master's degree in business administration with |
| returns and advising companies about the tax | | | | a concentration in accounting. Certification as a |
| ramifications of business decisions. | | | | CPA or other designation provides a distinct |
| Management accountants - also called managerial, | | | | advantage in the job market. |
| industrial, cost, corporate, or private accountants - | | | | How are the job prospects? According to the U.S. |
| record, analyze, and interpret the financial | | | | Government's Bureau of Labor Statistics, |
| information that corporate executives need in | | | | "Employment of accountants and auditors is |
| order to make sound business decisions. | | | | expected to grow by 20 percent between 2008 |
| Management accountants are often part of the | | | | and 2018, which is much faster than the average |
| upper-level executive team involved in strategic | | | | for all occupations. This occupation will have a |
| planning or the development of new products. | | | | very large number of new jobs arise, almost |
| Their responsibilities may include budgeting, cost | | | | 279,400 over the projections decade." |
| management, performance evaluation, and asset | | | | How can you get started? Career colleges closely |
| management. They also prepare financial reports | | | | track growing occupations, which is why you'll find |
| for stockholders, creditors, regulatory agencies, | | | | plenty of training opportunities at schools in your |
| and tax authorities. | | | | community. A good way is to start is to log onto |
| Government accountants and auditors work in the | | | | a reputable online career college search engine and |
| public sector. They maintain and examine the | | | | directory. You'll be able to search for schools in |
| financial records of government agencies and | | | | your area that offer degrees in accounting and |
| audit individuals and private businesses whose | | | | auditing. You'll also be able to find online degree |
| activities are subject to government taxation or | | | | programs. You can compare programs and even |
| regulations. Accountants and auditors employed | | | | learn about flexible schedules and financial aid. |
| by the federal government may work for the | | | | Then you can request free information from the |
| Internal Revenue Service or in budget analysis and | | | | schools that interest you, visit a few, and make |
| administration, financial management, or financial | | | | your decision. In less time than you think, you |
| institution examination. Accountants employed by | | | | could be ready for a rewarding career in |
| government agencies ensure that revenues are | | | | accounting and auditing. |