How to Begin a Career in Accounting

If you enjoy working with numbers and the like to help people, you may want to consider a career as an accountant. Becoming an accountant is no simple task and involves a thorough amount of classroom training as well as certification. Once you complete the process of becoming an accountant, you can typically choose between working for a specific company or starting your own accounting business in the accounting field. Accountants help with bookkeeping, taxes and other financial aspects of businesses.

Instructions

1. Go to college and obtain a bachelor's degree. Most accountants get a degree in accounting or some other related field. While obtaining your bachelor's degree, it is important to take many math-related and business classes.

2. Consider getting your master's degree in accounting. While a master's degree is not required for accounts, it does give you an advantage over the competition. Customers may feel more comfortable working with someone who has a master's degree over someone with a bachelor's degree or no degree.

3. Choose which type of certification, if any, you would like to pursue. Accountants can choose between becoming a certified public accountant or a certified management accountant. CPAs specialize in dealing with the public in areas such as tax preparation and business planning. CMAs typically work in management roles within organizations or in government jobs.

4. Take the appropriate certification exams. To become certified, you will pay a fee and then take an exam. If you do not pass the test, you have the option to take the test again. Once you pass, you will become a certified accountant.

5. Apply for jobs as an accountant or start your own business. CPAs can typically apply for jobs with accounting firms or tax preparation services, or start their own companies. CMAs can apply for upper-level management jobs in accounting departments within organizations. They also have the option of applying for government accounting jobs.

Tips & Warnings

• Put an emphasis on getting certified, regardless of the discipline you choose. According to Ledger Link, certified accounts make more than $20,000 more per year when compared with accountants without certification.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Accountants and Auditors; 2010-11
• Ledger Link; 5-Step Guide to Becoming an Accountant; Steve Berman
• Cal CPA: What It Takes -- A Guide to Becoming a CPA