Blog Post: Accounting as a Career

Accounting is a broad field, as there are many options for someone that is looking for a career in accounting. Most accounting positions require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, such as finance.

As a new accountant, positions can vary greatly. Some major categories of accounting are public, management, government accounting and internal auditing. Some accountants do tax work, such as personal taxes or corporate taxes. Some examples of entry-level positions are accounting analyst, financial analyst, auditor, budget analyst and so on.

Some required skills for an accountant or auditor are analytical, communication and the ability to work well in teams. Accounting is a field that good grades in college can make a major difference in getting a good accounting job versus a great accounting job. The Big Four accounting firms have a strong emphasis on academic records in order to land an entry level position.

Accounting is currently a great field, as demand for accountants is good, even in the current poor economic times. Starting salaries can be high relative to many other disciplines.

If you are considering a change to accounting or a move within the field, do your homework and determine what you really like doing. There are positions in accounting firms, as well as general industry. Accounting firms vary in size from a one-person firm to firms with several thousand employees. Consider whether you like working for large firms or a small firm.  This is also a consideration if you become an accountant in general industry. 

The field is so diverse, I could spend all day writing about it. We will expand on this field in subsequent articles.

A. L. BEAN & Company

Consulting, Tax and Accounting

www.albeanco.com