Accountant
Why Is Accounting a Job of Tomorrow?
In every industry, whether it is a non-profit organization, school, or healthcare facility, there is a business aspect that must be attended to in order to ensure efficiency. As a result, these industries need employees with substantial expertise in business knowledge and skills. With some of the fastest growing industries in the country, the business sector is expected to grow by 23.3 percent by 2016, adding more than 4.1 million new jobs to the market, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As businesses large and small continue to grow, accountants will be needed more than ever to ensure that the business is being run efficiently without financial loss and with a healthy profit margin where applicable so that the business may prosper for years to come. Even for non-profit organizations, accountants must make sure that these organizations break even in its work, or else it faces the risk of going into debt and shuttering. Employment opportunities for accountants are expected to increase 18 percent by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accounts make an average salary of $54,630 annually, although earnings can vary greatly depending on the accountant’s specific employer.
What Does an Accountant Do?
Accountants are responsible for keeping up with the business’s finances, ensuring that the business is being run efficiently without financial loss. This prevents the business from accumulating too much debt, if any. Accountants also may look for ways to increase profits by examining where money can be saved or costs can be cut without affecting the overall quality and integrity of the business’s goods and services. They look after public records and taxes as well, keeping the business in accordance with federal and state guidelines. There are four major fields in accounting that prospective accountants may enter: public, management, government accounting, and internal auditing. Public accountants provide the broad services to general clients. They handle consultation, auditing, taxes, and other responsibilities for individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses. Management accountants work specifically with one company that employs them as in-house accountants. They deal with budgets, performance evaluation, and the management of costs and assets. Government accountants work with government agencies, reviewing their records and regulations. Internal auditors work in-house with an organization and remedy incidents of mismanagement, waste, and fraud.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become an Accountant?
Accountants must have a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete, and courses cover business administration tactics, mathematics, finances, and other related topics. Most major companies prefer accountants who have completed a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, which would take an additional two to three years to earn after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Accountants may become Certified Public Accountants to increase their marketability, which in some states requires additional coursework beyond a bachelor’s degree. Specific requirements for certification vary by state.
