The Best Jobs for Accountants

Accountants are well-suited to adapt to different roles in a firm.

Accountants are often viewed by those outside of business as boring bean counters. While the field of accounting may not be overtly exciting, it does provide the trained accountant with many job opportunities within an organization. Most trained accountants are well-versed in the jargon, policies and processes of a firm, providing them with the flexibility to adapt to different roles.

Certified Public Accountant

A Certified Public Accountant, CPA, is a trained accountant that has been certified by the accounting board of their respective state. These accountants must pass a rigorous test to achieve this certification. CPAs are often employed by an accounting firm which provides financial accounting and reporting services to businesses and tax preparation services to both businesses and individuals.

Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer, CFO, of a company or nonprofit firm is, in addition to assisting the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, in running the company, the senior financial officer in charge of financial accounting and reporting. Most CFOs hold a degree in business and are also Certified Public Accountants. It is helpful for a CFO to be a CPA because their deep knowledge of regulations and policies relating to accounting and financial reporting can be of great assistance to other accounting and support staff.

Auditor

Financial auditors are employed by companies and government agencies to inspect the financial statement of firms for accuracy and regulatory compliance. Auditors that inspect the finances of their employer are called internal auditors. Their main function and responsibility is to ensure compliance with government accounting policies and detect embezzlement or theft from employees. External auditors consist of third-party firms and governmental agencies that seek to ensure that the financial records of a business are in compliance with corporate controls and government regulations.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts are often trained in the field of accounting to understand how the accounting decisions of a firm affects its financial performance. Financial analysts must be able to translate the numbers found in financial statements into reports that can be utilized by the management of the firm as well as current and potential investors. In addition to a knowledge of accounting, financial analysts should be well-versed in mathematics and grammar.

References

• Ohio.gov: The Practice of Public Accounting and Regulated Services Definition and Explanation
• Inc: How to Hire a Chief Financial Officer
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition Accountants and Auditors
• "AOL Jobs"; Financial Analyst Job Description; Joyce Hanson; Sept. 2010