Careers and Prospects in Accounting and Finance

Do you enjoy the challenge of working withfor the bigger firms earn more than $100,000.
numbers on a daily basis? Then an accountingCareer Development - In order for you to get a
finance career is right for you. With the tools thathigher position, you will also need to go back to
were taught in school, you will be able to help aschool. Most financial experts pursue an MBA after
company or a business run efficiently.a few years in the corporate world. While some
What is a CPA - CPA is the statutory title ofreturn to their employers, others apply elsewhere.
qualified accountants who have passed theBefore you can see yourself up there, you have
Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examinationto work from the bottom going up. While some
and have met additional state education anddecide to make it big in Wall Street, you too can
experience requirements for certification as aalso succeed wherever you decide to apply.
CPA.Market Research - The first thing to do is
Primary Function of a CPA - CPA can attest toconduct some research. This will make you
the validity of financial information. This meansunderstand how things work and how news in
that they can audit financial statements andbusiness affects the industry, the country and the
report on whether they are accurate or not.world as a whole.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) are licensed byNetworking -If you want to get the job, aside
law.A CPA attest to the reasonableness offrom being knowledgeable, you need to have
disclosures, the freedom from materialconnections that are already there so you are
misstatement, and the adherence to the applicablegiven the position instead of someone else. This
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) inmeans building your network from school and
financial statements.then using it to your advantage. Associating
Career Opportunities in Accounting and Finance -yourself with those who have done well may give
Career opportunities in accounting and finance areyou pointers so you too can be just as successful
endless. You can earn a degree in accounting andas them.
become a general accountant, but this is just oneStart Early - But you shouldn't wait until graduate
of the options you can follow. Some of thingsbefore you start looking at the various career
that you can get into include actuaries, auditing,opportunities in accounting and finance. The best
banking, chartered accounting, corporate finance,way to get your foot in the door is to apply for a
corporate recovery, stock broking and taxationsummer position or an internship because most
management. There are also specialist areas youcompanies hire those who have worked with
can pursue, such as auditing, management policythem for a short period of time compared to
and taxation.those that sent in their resumes. Believe me; you
If you have either a CPA or CA license with you,already have an edge right there as you already
it is possible for you to work for a large firm thathave an idea about the internal workings of the
has offices both here and abroad. Given thatcompany.
every company needs ones, it will not be thatPrepare Your Resume - Just in case the company
hard to find a job.you worked for does not have an opening right
Career Prospects - One report shows thatnow, you should prepare your resume and
employments prospects for these professionals isyourself for interviews with other companies that
quite high over the past 5 years and this isdo similar activities with what you used to do
expected to continue until after 2010. You will alsoduring your internship.
be handsomely rewarded with a good salary butThe average professional who works in either
long hours come with the territory especiallyaccounting or finance leaves after 2 years. They
when companies and individuals have to file theirmay apply for reassignment to another
income taxes and towards the end of the financialdepartment or find employment doing something
year.else. When this happens, there are job openings
Average Annual Income - Just to give you anaround for fresh graduates as well as those who
idea, newly grades who work in banks earn analready have experience in this industry.
average of $35,000 to $50,000 annually, whileIndeed, there are career opportunities in
financial managers earn almost double thataccounting and finance. You just have to build
amount. Professionals who soon become partnersyour network and get it.