Fresh Profile: Accounting Jobs

Published on 2008-05-21

No matter what the industry, there are at least three general branches in virtually every company tree. The sales branch develops clients and the manufacturing branch makes products, but it's the accounting branch that is the most important for keeping a business in order. A solid system for keeping a clean and accurate general ledger while simultaneously handling billing, payroll, stock/inventory, purchase orders and sales orders is essential. Smart businesses know they have to invest in people who have the necessary skills to balance all these responsibilities and more. The rapid growth of the accountant job market testifies to the increasing importance of accounting professionals in every sector of contemporary business. Specialization within accounting careers is extremely varied. Bookkeepers tend to work with small to medium-sized businesses, while certified accountants of all kinds work with large businesses and corporations. In small businesses, bookkeepers take on a variety of responsibilities by directing payroll, maintaining accounts, tracking inventories and acting as a general auditor. Accountants working for larger businesses are assigned to an area that suits their experience and education. Large corporations need specialized accountants to appropriately manage employee compensation, safeguard assets, and ensure compliance with local, state and federal financial regulations. Tax accounting duties are assigned to specialized accountants who prepare tax forms, arrange payments and advise clients on the most advantageous applications of the tax code. Likewise, audit jobs are filled by specialists who review financial statements for clients and vouch for their accuracy. Most applicants for accounting jobs possess a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field such as business or economics. Bookkeepers don't necessarily require a degree, but extensive experience with accounting programs such as QuickBooks or Excel is highly desirable. Bookkeepers frequently work under the supervision of a certified public accountant (CPA) who signs off on their work. CPAs are distinguished from bookkeepers by their fulfillment of strict exam and licensing requirements. To use the title of accountant, a person must meet state-specific requirements and pass a rigorous nationwide licensing exam. A CPA's advanced certification allows him or her to legally offer accounting, auditing, and litigation services and other advanced financial advice and support. Besides CPA, several other certifications are available to accounting professionals, including certified internal auditor (CIA), certified management accountant (CMA), and accredited business adviser (ABA). Although both bookkeepers and accountants might work for only one employer, many accounting professionals prefer the flexibility and variety of working with multiple clients. Challenges that bookkeepers and accountants face include long hours - especially at tax time or before looming financial deadlines - the sedentary nature of the work, and the demands of working for difficult or disorganized clients. On the whole, prospects for securing an accounting career are promising. An increase in the financial (as opposed to the manufacturing) economy will lead to higher demand for professionals with solid accounting skills. Counterintuitively, volatility in the economy bodes well for accounting professionals because they are required to understand and implement complex regulations that can follow a period of economic instability. There are some areas of accounting that will likely experience employment decline (such as individual tax preparation, which faces competition from personal tax preparation software), but the career path is generally solid. The average accountant earns a salary of around $55,000 annually, depending on experience, location and extent of certification. At Fresho.com, our free search tools make it easy to find jobs in accounting and bookkeeping in your state, city or community. Start browsing now to find all the latest job opportunities in the accounting and auditing sector.