What Are the Job Options for Accountants?

Accountants work for individuals, businesses, nonprofit entities or government agencies. Most accountants have a bachelor's degree in accounting, but many have degrees in finance, economics, management or computer sciences. Others have an undergraduate degree in one of the above subjects and obtain a master's degree in an accounting-related field or have one or more certifications. The most common occupation is licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Introduction

Accounting job options and duties vary among the three major fields of accounting: public, management and government. Accountants examine, record and audit the financial records of individuals, businesses, nonprofit entities and government agencies. They also prepare their financial statements and tax returns.

Public Accountants

Public Accountants are employed by public accounting firms. They provide a range of accounting activities from financial statement preparation, financial analysis and tax work to consultations for account management. These services are for individuals, private businesses, public firms, government agencies or nonprofit entities. The field includes external auditors, tax advisers and forensic accountants. Most public accountants are CPAs.

Management Accountants

Management accountants are employed by private or public companies to support their goals by performing such tasks as asset management, budgeting, performance evaluation and cost management. These individuals are also called private, cost, industrial or corporate accountants.

Government Accountants and Auditors

Government accountants provide services to government agencies and private businesses that are subject to government regulation, such as utilities, telephone service, banks, drugs, food and financial service companies, including those that handle insurance or trade stocks. Also included are businesses that provide professional services, such as doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and engineers.

Internal Auditor

Internal auditors are similar to management accountants. They review their companies' financial management practices and check for mismanagement, fraud and waste. They then provide this information to management and the Board of Directors.

Benefits

The U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts that the employment of accountants and auditors will grow 18 percent from the year 2006 to 2016--an approximate increase of 230,000 jobs. This is one of the fastest-growing job categories.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor: Accounting Overview

Resources

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants