Accounting Careers Path and Goals

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.

Accounting Information Systems Specialist

An AIS specialist is unique in their ability to bridge the gap between accounting and IT.

Accounts Payable

Work in a wide variety of settings in a crucial and much-used accounting role.

Accountant

Typically, an accountant takes care of the financial operations of a business, organization, franchise or company

Actuarial Accounting

Work in statistics-based accounting in industries such as insurance.

Bookkeeping

If you are great at organization, keeping up with facts and figures, and calculating balances, perhaps a career as a bookkeeper is right for you.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysts provide important expertise on planning and managing finances for a wide range of organizations.

Capital Accounting

A career in accounting promises competitive compensation, consistent job security, and abundant opportunities across the country.

Cost Accounting

The role of the cost accountant is often tailored to the needs of a specific industry or agency.

Comptroller

Work as a high-level accounting executive in a large organization or agency.

Environmental Accounting

Help measure the costs of an organization’s resource use on the environment.

Enrolled Agent

They are licensed professionals who go to bat for taxpayers who face asset forfeiture, are undergoing audits

Financial Analyst

In general, financial analysts help to guide investment decisions for both corporations and individuals.

Forensic Accounting

Discover problems and diagnose issues in your role as a forensic accountant.

Fund Accountant

Experience a different side of accounting as a fund accountant in big business.

Government Accounting

Work for a government agency as a CPA or other licensed accountant.

Internal Auditing

Hold your company accountable with checks and balances as an internal auditor

Jobs with the IRS

Learn the inner workings of the IRS as an analyst, auditor or other role.

Managerial Accounting

Manage process, workflow and other accountants as a managerial accountant.

Payroll Accountant

Deal with payroll and benefits in companies of all sizes as a payroll specialist.

Public Accounting

Certified public accountants serve a wide variety of needs for both businesses and individuals.

Tax Attorney

Make a legal impact and represent clients in trouble as a tax attorney

Tax Consultant

Tax Consultants are experts in federal and state tax laws, rules, and regulations. They manage annual tax filings for organizations, businesses, and individuals.

Tax Preparer

The professional tax preparer must fill out forms either by hand or by using online software, check and reconcile figures with various paperwork such as W-2s & 1099s.

Tax Accounting

Tax accountancy is a profession that offers many different routes within its general scope. Tax accountants are found in a variety of environments.

Accounting—What it Is

To work as an accountant means that you’ll help your employer maintain the business’ financial accounts. No matter the specific type of accounting you were hired for, you will be expected to have a high level of information about your employer’s financial operations. To obtain this knowledge, you’ll have to keep track of financial transactions in balance sheets, profit and loss statements and a general ledger. Your analytical skills help you figure out where accounting discrepancies have begun.

Your employer may also want you to make recommendations on various financial actions they may want to take. Expect to justify your recommendations to your employer.

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 education or certification.

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.

Accounting Careers

Explore career paths in accounting

Accounting Information Systems Specialist