Accounting Career, Finance Jobs and Accounting Jobs

Tax examiners review filed tax returns for accuracy and determine whether tax credits and deductions are allowed by law.

Budget analysts provide advice and technical assistance in the preparation of annual budgets. Budget plans outline prospective programs, including proposed funding increases and new initiatives, estimated costs and expenses, and capital expenditures needed to finance these programs. Analysts examine the budget estimates or proposals for completeness; accuracy; and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives. Budget analyst professionals also examine past and current budgets and research economic and financial developments that affect the organization’s spending.

Accounting Career Aptitude

Persons planning an accounting career should have an aptitude for mathematics and be able to analyze, compare, and interpret facts and figures quickly. Accountants must be able to clearly communicate the results of their work to clients and managers both verbally and in writing. Accountants and auditors must be good at working with people, as well as with business systems and computers. At a minimum, accountants should be familiar with basic accounting software packages.

Capable accountants and auditors may advance rapidly. Many graduates of junior colleges or business or correspondence schools, as well as bookkeepers and accounting clerks who meet the education and experience requirements set by their employers, can obtain junior accounting positions and advance to positions with more responsibilities by demonstrating their accounting skills on the job.

Accounting Career Outlook

Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. An increase in the number of businesses, changing financial laws and regulations, and increased scrutiny of company finances will drive growth.

The growth of international business also has led to more demand for accounting expertise and services related to international trade and accounting rules, as well as to international mergers and acquisitions. These trends should create more jobs for accountants and auditors. Also, in an effort to make government agencies more efficient and accountable, demand for government accountants should increase.

Overall, job opportunities for accountants and auditors should be favorable. Those who earn a CPA should have excellent job prospects. Regardless of specialty, accountants and auditors who have earned professional recognition through certification or licensure should have the best job prospects. Applicants with a master’s degree in accounting, or a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, also will have an advantage.