Accountant

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Become An Accountant

As a child, did you jump for joy when you got your first calculator? Do you enjoy analytical brainteasers, Sudoku and carefully tracking your own finances? If so, accounting might be a good career fit for you.

Fortunately, healthy business growth in the US, as well as a demand for complex specializations, has made accounting more fascinating than ever. Forensic accountants, for instance, help investigate white-collar crimes from fraud and embezzlement to money laundering by organized criminals.

Accounting in a Nutshell

Typically, accountants are responsible for maintaining accurate records for companies, preparing and analyzing financial documents, and providing financial and investment planning. As with most industries, computers have revolutionized accounting, and they are further changing the antiquated definition of the profession; no longer are accountants chained to the task of tedious manual bookkeeping. These days, a good accountant needs the skills to run sophisticated accounting and auditing software

Education Requirements for Accountants

Successful accountants usually pursue these degrees and qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field (such as business or finance) is a good start.
For some specializations, such as forensic accounting or tax specialist, potential employers might require a master's degree in accounting, along with special certification or licensure.
Accountants can continue their education and advance their careers to become Certified Public Accountants. Becoming a CPA involves passing a series of challenging tests administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The advantage of certification is that it provides more opportunities for job growth and a dramatically higher income.

Day in the Life of an Accountant

Most accountants work 40 hours a week in a typical office environment, but this can vary depending on the type of accounting one chooses. Self-employed accountants, for example, have the option of working from home, while tax specialists may work long hours from January through April.

Job Growth for Accountants

Accountants are in demand everywhere, from rural businesses to multinational corporations, which makes finding a job anywhere an easy task. Regardless of your focus, the demand for accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster than the average growth for all occupations through the year 2014. Those are numbers just about anyone can get excited about.