| Perks of Being an Accountant | | | | expenses and revenue, overseeing bookkeeping |
| Majoring in accounting can open | | | | and payroll, figuring company benefits, auditing, |
| many doors for your future. Students entering | | | | managing bank accounts and investments, |
| the accounting field has grown in the past couple | | | | preparing profit and loss statements, compiling and |
| years. So why do people become accountants | | | | analyzing financial information, explaining billing |
| and why are accountants so successful? | | | | invoices and accounting policies, and supervising |
| Accounting firms are looking for young accounting | | | | the input and handling of financial data and reports. |
| majors, they are recruiting and offering | | | | Since accounting information is very time sensitive |
| scholarships and signing bonuses to college | | | | it needs to be processed in a timely fashion. |
| graduates. Josee Rose from the Wall Street | | | | Accountants may work by themselves or in |
| Journal said that “According to the National | | | | groups. Accounting is constantly changing due to |
| Association of Colleges and Employer’s 2008 | | | | technology, recently accounting was all |
| job-outlook survey, accounting is the No. 1 | | | | computerized and now is easier to understand and |
| bachelor’s degree in demand by | | | | report. |
| employers.” Even with the economy in its | | | | Accounting and Finance professionals are taking a |
| place right now there is still demand for new | | | | more prominent role in driving the direction of |
| accountants. | | | | business practices of the companies and facilities |
| Accounting is considered the language of business | | | | they work for. They are increasingly being viewed |
| and accounting shows how businesses are doing | | | | as business partners. They are needed to analyze |
| and what needs help. There are many different | | | | the conversions of their company's technologies, |
| positions that an accountant can hold. They can | | | | establish practices that will increase cost efficiency |
| become a public accountant, who provide auditing, | | | | and point managers in the direction of making |
| tax, accounting and consulting services to | | | | decisions that will enhance profits and reduce |
| businesses and individuals, public accountants can | | | | losses. |
| be in a firm or by working for themselves. Areas | | | | The CPA title is the biggest credential for |
| in public accounting include auditing which is the | | | | accounting professionals, having a CPA |
| most important function of being a CPA, a large | | | | accreditation is a common prerequisite for |
| percentage of time in firms is spent auditing. | | | | positions. Companies are looking for professionals |
| Accounting and review services consist of | | | | with experience and are familiar with general |
| maintaining accounting records to performing | | | | accounting principles like general ledger, account |
| compilation. CPA firms do numerous of the taxes | | | | reconciliation, financial statement preparation and |
| for many companies and individual clients. They | | | | financial analysis. Also having knowledge about |
| prepare and review tax returns, tax planning and | | | | new technologies and knowing how to work new |
| tax litigation. CPAs also do management services; | | | | programs is the key to getting hired.. Managers |
| which consists of consulting or management | | | | are looking everywhere for qualified individuals for |
| advisory services. This can include computer | | | | the right job. These managers are also trying to |
| systems, management information systems, | | | | find the perfect match for their company and are |
| marketing, executive recruiting, personal financial | | | | investing a lot into the hiring process. |
| planning, and budgeting techniques. There are so | | | | Accounting trends have recently changed |
| many jobs within accounting and so many | | | | dramatically with the computerization of |
| different options for accounting majors. | | | | accounting techniques. Accountants now need to |
| Accountants can also be private industry | | | | be able to work with and understand new |
| accountants. In private accounting you work for | | | | computer programs and new ways of doing their |
| one company and learn and work for that | | | | work within the practices. Firms need accounting |
| company only. They prepare all the financial | | | | professionals who can understand both the |
| information and budgets for that company. | | | | financial and information technology aspects of |
| Accountants can also receive the Certificate in | | | | different business improvement initiatives. The |
| Management Accounting; all though it is not | | | | new changes have brought more attention to |
| required it is respected and gives you high | | | | staffing and experience shortages making |
| credentials. There is the Certified Internal Auditor | | | | companies step up their hiring efforts and |
| which includes a 14 hour exam. Also you can go | | | | recruiting the best of the best. More colleges are |
| into government and non-for-profit accounting; | | | | starting to react to this need for professionals in |
| government accountants monitor the | | | | certain fields like accounting, and are opening more |
| appropriation of funds and awarding of contracts | | | | classes to accommodate these students. The |
| to private agencies that must follow | | | | market needs are driving the courses on college |
| governmental regulations. | | | | campuses all over the nation. |
| Accounting can include a regular day at the office | | | | The growth in this field is increasing at a huge |
| or it can be traveling to different companies to | | | | rate and becoming more and more competitive. |
| audit or even seven day weeks. Duties of an | | | | Even though the economy is suffering right now |
| accountant can include, analyzing company budget, | | | | there are still positions open for new accountants. |