Job Description of an Accounting Investment Specialist
An accounting investment specialist handles critical financial transactions for a company or client. Accounting investment specialists hold a variety of titles, from those who focus on auditing and investigation to those who work in accounts receivable and accounts payable departments. Accounting investment specialists work in a variety of industries, such as banks, government agencies and accounting firms. They handle responsibilities such as ensuring taxes are deducted, payments are collected and bills are paid.
Other People Are Reading
-
Basics
-
Duties of accounting investment specialists vary somewhat depending on their job descriptions and titles. Some are responsible only for cost and asset management, tax matters, budgeting and finding methods of cutting costs. Others deal strictly with audits, bankruptcies and frauds. Then there are those who work in accounts receivable and payable departments, keeping track of invoices and making sure bills are paid and balances are received, respectively. Finally, some accountants work as accounting clerks. They mainly are responsible for light bookkeeping and general clerical duties.
Skills
-
An accounting investment specialist needs to be an expert mathematician, considering much of his job centers around numbers and statistics. He should be organized, motivated, analytical and an accomplished problem solver. He also will need to possess sound communication skills, as he often passes on important financial information to superiors and clients. Along with those things, accounting investment specialists should have an understanding of how to operate general office equipment such as adding machines and computers, as well as a thorough knowledge of the various software used for financial transactions.
-
Background
-
Most companies favor candidates with a master's or bachelor's degree when hiring an accounting investment specialist. Areas of study typically include economics, business, finance, administration, mathematics and, of course, accounting. Some investment specialists obtain certifications, which vary by title and industry. Meanwhile, those who begin accounting clerks typically work their way up after learning detailed aspects of the field.
Prospects
-
Employment of accountants is projected to grow by 22 percent during the 2008 to 2018 decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is a much faster rate than all occupations. Nearly 1.3 million workers were employed in the accounting field in May 2008, the BLS reported.
Earnings
-
Wages for accountants vary based on industry, responsibilities and even education. Accountants earned from $37,000 to more than $51,000 per year in March 2010, according to PayScale.com. The website also reported that accounts payable specialists earned as much as $40,000 per year, while accounts receivable specialists made slightly less at $39,000 per year, also in March 2010.
-
References
- Photo Credit businessman image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
