| So you want to be an accountant. Or, perhaps | | | | your degree, then you almost certainly will have |
| you were told when coming out of high school | | | | to obtain Certified Public Accountant certification |
| that accounting is a good, safe field to get into. | | | | by passing the infamous CPA exam. Certified |
| Maybe you just thought accounting is the way to | | | | Management Accountant designation also exists |
| go if you want to make good money. Or, as | | | | for those interested in management accounting |
| most of us can probably attest to, you simply did | | | | which, similar to CPA certification, requires passing |
| not know what to major in when embarking on | | | | a universal exam. So, not only do you have to |
| your college education, and accounting just | | | | complete a relentless series of college coursework |
| seemed like an easy choice. As you struggle | | | | in accounting, but you must also study for and |
| through the onslaught of coursework that includes | | | | pass an exam in order to obtain certification, |
| Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Auditing, | | | | which still begs the question, is all this really worth |
| and the nightmare known as Federal Taxation, it | | | | it? |
| is very easy to find yourself wondering if it is | | | | Now that two examples of differing accounting |
| really worth it. Before you go submitting that | | | | career paths have been provided, you should |
| petition to change your major to the registrar, | | | | consider what being an accountant is really like. |
| here are some things to consider when deciding | | | | Maybe you would enjoy working in an office, as |
| whether or not it really is worth it. | | | | almost all accountants do, or working a typical |
| One of the most attractive benefits of the | | | | forty hour work week, which is generally the |
| accounting field is that there a tremendous | | | | norm for most accountants. Working long hours |
| amount of directions you can go. Whether you | | | | can also potentially come with the territory, |
| want to work for a private company in the | | | | particularly during tax season, in addition to |
| accounting department, work for a non-profit | | | | frequent travel if you are employed by a large |
| institution or the government, or maybe even | | | | firm with many branches in multiple regions. Some |
| open your own public accounting firm, accounting | | | | accountants, however, may also work from |
| is one of the few fields that offers such flexibility, | | | | home, so there is even a bit of flexibility when it |
| and it is more than just filing tax returns. | | | | comes to the work environment of an accounting |
| For starters, management accounting and public | | | | professional. Perhaps even more favorable for the |
| accounting are two very different branches of | | | | accounting student is the fact that the demand |
| the same field. Public accounting, as most of us | | | | for competent accounting professionals across |
| are probably familiar, involves the accounting | | | | the board is projected to grow within the next |
| services aimed to generally serve, as the name | | | | decade according to the Bureau of Labor |
| implies, the public. Preparing and auditing financial | | | | Statistics, due, in part, to the implementation of |
| statements of clients, who may include large | | | | stricter accounting standards brought on by the |
| publicly traded companies, which are in turn used | | | | numerous documented cases of fraudulent |
| by stockholders and investors, again the public, to | | | | conduct and unethical accounting practices of |
| make investment decisions is a responsibility of | | | | companies such as Enron. |
| the public accountant. Smaller public accounting | | | | If you are still wondering if this is all really worth |
| firms may focus primarily on small business, such | | | | the hard work, perhaps a brief description of the |
| as partnerships or sole proprietorships, whereas | | | | salaries of accounting professionals may interest |
| the renowned Big 4 public accounting firms | | | | you. It is estimated that accountants with a |
| generally serve the largest publicly traded | | | | bachelor's degree can expect to earn an average |
| corporations. Auditing and tax accounting are | | | | salary of approximately $40,000, starting out, |
| merely components of public accounting. | | | | again according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
| Management accounting, on the other hand, is an | | | | Salaries can be expected to increase significantly |
| excellent field for people who enjoy the many | | | | with experience and subsequent professional |
| challenges of problem solving, as management | | | | licenses, such as the CPA or CMA, as well as with |
| accountants are actively involved in the decision | | | | graduate degrees. Some of the top accounting |
| making processes of a firm due to their | | | | professionals earn six figure salaries. It can |
| knowledge of the company's internal accounting | | | | certainly be said that, while not outlandishly high, |
| structure. It is necessary to carefully consider | | | | accounting salaries are pretty good. |
| managerial accounting information when making | | | | Some important things to consider if you are |
| decisions involving budgets and capital | | | | interested in a possible accounting career have |
| investments, hence the importance of the | | | | been provided. If you still think that accounting |
| management accountant. | | | | simply is not for you, then that trip to the |
| If public accounting sounds like something that | | | | registrar may just be inevitable. |
| may be of interest to you upon completion of | | | | |