| Accountants are responsible for handling the | | | | Accountant education will usually require a |
| financial information of their clients and the | | | | bachelor's degree in an accounting field, requiring a |
| government, in addition to analyzing financial | | | | four year degree with a possible master's degree |
| reports to provide detailed information to their | | | | in accounting needed. |
| clients which can include budget analysis, | | | | In 2006, accountants held over 1,250,000 jobs in |
| consulting, and some legal services. The four | | | | America, working for both private practices and |
| areas that an accountant may specialize in can | | | | for government institutions. About one in ten of all |
| include management, government, internal, and | | | | accountants are self-employed, usually helping |
| public. | | | | individuals prepare their tax returns in a private |
| Public accountants may work for corporations or | | | | office setting. Most accountants who work for |
| governments, and they will advise a company | | | | government organizations or large public |
| about various tax advantages and disadvantages | | | | companies have a CPA designation. |
| with regards to business decisions. Internal | | | | The job prospects for accountants over the next |
| auditors are responsible for monitoring the | | | | decade should be bright, although increasingly strict |
| activities of a corporation and making sure that | | | | accounting requirements may be needed to the |
| no fraud or embezzlement is being committed. | | | | instances of fraud. |
| Management accountants will perform cost | | | | In 2006, auditors and accountants had a median |
| management analysis and budgeting in order to | | | | salary of slightly over $54,000, with those |
| provide detailed statistical information that will | | | | working for local government organizations |
| affect the future health of the business. | | | | earning less at about $50,000. Those accountants |
| Government accountants work by monitoring | | | | who choose to work in the Federal government |
| local, state, and Federal governments. Some | | | | will usually earn about $28,862 for starting pay, |
| government auditors may work for the Internal | | | | after having graduated from college with an |
| Revenue Service, performing examination of | | | | accounting degree. |
| corporate records in order to detect tax fraud. | | | | It is common for auditors and accountants to |
| Most accountants will work in a office | | | | receive generous benefit packages which can |
| environment where they are employed by | | | | include health and life insurance, in addition to paid |
| accounting firms, usually working 40 hours a | | | | vacation. |
| week, with overtime during tax season. | | | | |