| Accounting jobs are poised to undergo significant | | | | accountant. This is the most recent type of |
| growth in the coming decade. Both large and small | | | | accountant because it arose in response to |
| businesses depend on accountants and auditors to | | | | corporate accounting scandals, such as |
| keep track of expenses and fine-tune budgets. | | | | money-laundering operations. Forensic accountants |
| Also, businesses especially turn to these workers | | | | monitor and implement the internal controls of |
| to prepare tax returns. What's more, businesses | | | | accounting software used by their company. |
| need accountants to interpret new accounting | | | | They advise management on financial transactions |
| legislation, which directly arose in response to | | | | that may potentially constitute infractions of state |
| Enron and other accounting scandals. | | | | and federal accounting laws. Therefore, they are |
| Despite their different names, accountants and | | | | knowledgeable about both accounting software |
| auditors generally share the same job | | | | and government regulations. |
| responsibilities. First of all, they input company | | | | Besides security, internal-control auditors also |
| expenses and returns on a daily basis. They also | | | | perform waste control by "cleaning up" their |
| examine monthly expense accounts, staying | | | | company's database system. Like management |
| attuned to any operations that are costing the | | | | accountants, they pay close attention to company |
| company too much money. Furthermore, during | | | | operations and pinpoint jobs or expenses that are |
| tax season, they fill out state and federal tax | | | | overloading the budget. When reviewing |
| returns. They also consult with other managers on | | | | operations, they also monitor compliance with |
| company expenses and outline new cost-cutting | | | | state laws, federal laws, and corporate policies. |
| budget plans. | | | | Because these accountants take on so many |
| However, only in small businesses are accounting | | | | different roles, they may also be called |
| jobs referred to as simply "accountants" or | | | | information technology auditors or compliance |
| "auditors." Larger businesses usually employ | | | | auditors. |
| various subcategories of auditor and accounting | | | | All auditor and accountant jobs require deep |
| jobs. Firstly, they employ public accountants who | | | | familiarity with accounting software. This software |
| work with company databases to audit company | | | | has now completely replaced ledgers as |
| expenses. Public accountants also consult with | | | | record-keeping "books." Accountants are generally |
| corporate managers on budget plans, and may | | | | most familiar with Microsoft Excel and Intuit |
| recommend budget cuts in the form of employee | | | | QuickBooks. When working with this software, |
| lay-offs. Most public accountants are Certified | | | | accountants enable internal controls and perform |
| Public Accountants (CPAs), and a good number of | | | | accounting analysis. They refer to this software |
| them concentrate on corporate tax returns. If | | | | whenever they prepare reports for management |
| they do specialize in tax accounting, they advise | | | | or government authorities. |
| company managers on how certain financial | | | | All profitable accountant jobs require the CPA |
| decisions may influence their tax returns. | | | | licensure. This licensure is conferred by each |
| Additional duties of public accountants include | | | | state's board of accountancy, though the CPA |
| developing benefits packages, such as retirement | | | | examination itself is uniform and computer-based. |
| plans and insurance programs. In this case, they | | | | This licensure requires a bachelor's degree in |
| may be known as payroll accountants. | | | | accounting, with each state usually specifying |
| Other accountants include management or cost | | | | about 150 total semester hours split between |
| accountants. These accountants present regular | | | | accounting and business courses. Some states |
| financial reports to leading company managers, so | | | | also require accounting experience, which students |
| these managers can be well-informed before | | | | can easily fulfill through internships or summer |
| making important decisions. Because these | | | | accounting jobs. |
| accountants focus on the cost of operations, they | | | | Without taking the CPA exam, accountants and |
| advise management on the budget cuts that may | | | | auditors will find it hard to advance in their jobs. In |
| best benefit the company without sacrificing the | | | | fact, any accountant that files a report to the |
| company's efficacy. As such, they often do | | | | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is |
| performance evaluation on company operations. | | | | required to have a CPA. The CPA exam tests |
| For instance, an industrial cost manager may | | | | knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting |
| observe a company's manufacturing operations | | | | Procedures (GAAP), business administration, tax |
| and prepare a report highlighting which operations | | | | accounting, federal regulation, accounting analysis, |
| are wasteful. These accountants usually work | | | | asset management, and so forth. The CPA exam |
| side-by-side with project and operations managers | | | | takes a total of 14 hours to complete, with each |
| for large corporations, keeping these managers | | | | of its four parts taking 4.5 hours to complete. |
| informed on their financial situations. | | | | This exam is so comprehensive that only half of |
| Other types of accounting jobs include federal | | | | its takers pass it per year. Once they have |
| accounting jobs. These accountants may be | | | | passed their CPA, accountants are legally bound |
| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. The | | | | to renew it at state-mandated internals. |
| federal government also hires accountants to | | | | Accountants usually renew their CPA by attending |
| develop budgets for various government | | | | professional-association courses. |
| departments and agencies. Nevertheless, even | | | | As long as the economy continues to grow, |
| local governments employ accountants to create | | | | accountants and auditors will have little trouble |
| local budgets and manage governmental assets. | | | | locating accounting job listings. In order to stay |
| These accountants, moreover, are fully aware of | | | | competitive, they must keep up-to-date on |
| government regulations concerning accounting. | | | | accounting legislation so they can provide sound |
| Therefore, they make sure every individual and | | | | guidance to the managers that hire them. They |
| company within their government's jurisdiction | | | | may also want to gain a master's degree in |
| sends regular tax returns. If they notice any | | | | accounting or business administration, and get as |
| non-participating party, or a party that has | | | | much certification as possible from accounting |
| provided suspicious financial information, they visit | | | | associations. Furthermore, they should hone their |
| that party's home or office to do auditing. | | | | internal-controls skills so they can spot potential |
| The final major type of accountant is an | | | | errors before they inflate into full-blown |
| internal-control auditor, also called a forensic | | | | accounting scandals. |