Explore career paths in accounting
Becoming an accountant gives you many potential options: types of accounting and where you can work.
Keep the different types of accounting in mind: From forensic, government, certified public accountant, investment accountant, and more, you have lots of options.
Each type of accounting carries similar responsibilities, but your employer’s goals may be very different.
Accountant
Accounting Clerk
Accounting Information Systems Specialist
Accounts Payable
Actuarial Accounting
Bookkeeping
Budget Analyst
Capital Accounting
Comptroller
Cost Accounting
Enrolled Agent
Environmental Accounting
Financial Analyst
Forensic Accounting
Fund Accountant
Government Accounting
Internal Auditing
Jobs with the IRS
Managerial Accounting
Payroll Accountant
Public Accounting
Tax Accounting
Tax Attorney
Tax Consultant
Tax Preparer
Accounting Breakdown
Degrees You Need for Accounting
Prepare to enter a university or college accounting program, because you’ll need to start with a an Associate's In Accounting (AA) or an accounting bachelor’s degree (BAcc), at the least, to work as an accountant. If you are looking to become a CPA, you are also going to want to pursue a master's degree in accounting.
Interpersonal Skills That Help in Your Profession
In your profession, you should possess communication skills, the ability to think critically and good analytical skills that enable you to take apart financial questions.
Job Responsibilities of an Accountant
Prepare yourself for an accounting career by polishing your organizational skills, communication and interpersonal skills, ability to solve problems, expanding your business knowledge, polishing your numeracy and being very comfortable with the IT side of your profession.
Salaries and Job Growth
In general, from one state to the next, accountants’ salaries range from $65,000 to about $150,000. The accounting profession is growing rapidly because it’s one that companies and individuals rely on heavily as they gain an understanding of their financial position. Learn more about the average accountant salaries by State.
Guide to Becoming an Accountant
Deal with your education by earning credits in every required accounting class. Next, pass your state’s certification examination and obtain your license to practice accounting.
Where Can You Work?
Accounting is a profession where you can work in a public or private setting, for a large organization or a small business. Accounting is everywhere!
Career Options
Your options may include certified public accounting, government accounting, forensic accounting and investment accounting.
Accounting is an old profession with a wide variety of career options, so you will never be bored or run out of ways to use your accounting certifications.
As you grow in your career, you can teach and mentor others, become a member of one of the many accounting organizations, and even volunteer your time to many nonprofits or fundraisers who are always looking for people with accounting skills to help out.
As you can see, there are many areas within the field of accounting that you can be a part of. Starting with the right education, you can add certification and licensure, continuing education and on-the-job experience to enter your desired career and make a difference while working as an accountant.