Best Accounting Degree Jobs

Accounting is one of the most lucrative careers that almost anyone can have. The reason behind this is that of late people have been keen to invest and find alternative sources of income that they can combine to get a better living standard. This has led to an increase in the needs of the financial world. This is why you will find most universities and colleges will be offering a course that has been termed as accounting jobs.

Most of the accountants of the present day are not that licensed or they just have a college diploma. That is why institutions are stepping up and introducing the accounting degree program.

This program has been welcomed in the cooperate world and thus has led to the advertising of various accounting degree jobs. Once a person has decided to pursue an accounting career, the first step would be to get an accounting degree. It will guarantee any of the available accounting jobs and thus will mean that once one has started working, they can be able to further their education while paying for their tuition through the salary they get from such a job.

The factor that is the sole contributor to any of the accounting degree jobs is a strong economy. A strong economy will mean that there is a constant flow of money. This in turn means that there will be very many people who will be starting their own businesses. It also means that those who already have their business running may want to expand them.

A business that is being started or expanded will need to have its books set up. This can be in the form of preparing profit and loss accounts as well as tax. At the same time, they will need financial advice and this is where most of the accountants get their jobs.

In the corporate world, the laws and requirements are becoming stricter by the day.

To be able to keep up with the changing laws and requirements, cooperate firms and companies will need to employ full time accountants so that they can be able to be functioning with the current requirements. That is why an accounting degree is important.

Discover what are the best accounting degree jobs and their starting salaries at my site. Learn which are the best online accounting degree programmes online.

Accounting Jobs Popularity - Ever Increasing Scope And Plump Salary

Experienced accounting seniors however, have the view that dedication to work, careful planning and putting in those long hours at work do eventually pay off – Big Time – if their pay packets and partner positions are anything to go by! Even with 12% more accounting grads likely to be taken up by various firms this year as the number of graduates increase, there are no signs of the trend reversing for the demand of this elite class of employees, which first began in 2000!

This is sure good news in good measure for the thousands of accounting graduates who thought they’d be stuck with log-books and slaving over little typewriters as horror tales of their former colleagues some 3 decades ago were anything to go by; but, luckily for the current crop of accounting graduates, there’s a lot of doors opening up for them as far as good, paying accounting jobs are concerned. Research reveals that an estimated 60% of business houses in India alone are looking at employing the same number of graduates this year as they did the year before so that’s a record increase of 55% from the previous year - an amazing percentage no doubt, revealed to us by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute, CERI at MSU.

Other market surveys on business trends that have studied the pattern of employment at various organisations reveal that this increase in hire-staffing of accounting graduates is at par with the increased popularity of employment preferences of corporate houses towards those with a graduate degree in other fields, such as business, biological and physical sciences as well. So, skills and higher qualifications rule – 2000 and beyond, it seems!

Well, if the decline in employment rates in other industries is anything to go by, it is no wonder that more youngsters are taking to highly paying fields like accounting, construction management, engineering and health care – all of which are up and coming industries with an eye to growth.

Some experts feel that this 3-4% increase in the hire-staffing of accounting graduates and those in their ilk is due to the expected growth forecast for the economy in the coming year as revealed by the Federal Reserve Bank’s most recent survey. But, whatever the truth behind the increased staffing of accounting graduates actually is, what does remain as a universal fact is that many businesses are coming up from a slump period and looking to conduct fresh-hire campaigns to make up for lost time, so accounting interns

, entry-level positions and permanent accounting jobs for those with an accounting degree are a given.

Choosing a Career in Accounting

When making a career choice, many young people with an affinity for numbers make a decision to enter accounting. Business schools have bachelor programs for accountants, and there are openings in businesses, government and auditing firms.

Questionable business practices and the resulting government regulation have increased positions for accountants. A Certified Public Accountant with expertise in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance is very valuable.

The long hours, hard work and pressure situations make the accounting field inappropriate for some people. Even those with great mathematical skills may be ill-suited to the rigor and monotony of the life of accountant.

Positives of an Accounting Career

The primary reason many end up in accounting is that it is a specific career. Courses taken in college provide specific training. Many students can walk out of college and apply the lessons immediately at a job.

In contrast, a major in mathematics or economics does not train the student for a particular occupation. There is more flexibility, but less security.

Accounting is an indoor job, not a lot of heavy lifting, other than briefcases. Today, computers play a large role, and accountants need to be able to use spreadsheets and word processing software.

As a white collar occupation, the pay is good, with starting salaries above $50,000 in some markets. Mobility is fairly easy, within a country. Crossing borders is more difficult since rules vary by country.

Accounting is not bookkeeping. There is considerable challenge in identifying issues and solving mathematic problems. There is often interaction with others, which may include clients, peers or subordinates.

There are many opportunities for advancement, to the highest financial position in the organisation; partner, chief financial officer or treasurer, depending on the type of company.

Negatives of an Accounting Career

Accounting is a rigorous profession. Most accountants, especially at the beginning of their career, are expected to work long hours and weekends.

Staff at auditing firms, particularly, work many hours in their first years, doing basic accounting reviews on the road, in firms that tolerate their presence at best.

The expression used at these firms “three years, up or out” embodies the experience. Staff either get used to the hours, or move to other companies or professions.

The work can be tedious and become monotonous. In a business, there is a regular month end closing process, and no vacations can be taken during this time, and weekends are expected.

There is a stigma of the bean counter, applied by people in other professions. The role itself is a matter of monitoring and reporting on others, rather than creating business. It is not a good fit for an entrepreneurial person, or someone needing a lot of human interaction.

With the long hours and indoor work accomplished mostly by sitting, it is not a healthy occupation. Exercise is very important during those few non-work hours.

Finding the Right Career

A student should carefully assess their strengths and desires before deciding on a career. Accounting offers stability and financial rewards, but requires mathematical ability and a strong work ethic.

Accounting: Facts & Trends

Future is Bright The future of accounting is bright according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics which projects a 16% increase in job openings by the year 2016. Much of this reflects the increasing complexity of corporate transactions, the introduction of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements after the Enron scandal and growth in government. Demand is especially high in the tax and health care areas. Tougher Certification Requirements for CPA After most States instituted the 150-hour rule for CPAs, enrollment in accounting programs at many universities declined. Enrollment has now started to rise and the job prospects for CPAs are better than ever. Managerial Accounting Ideas Taking Off Many firms are focusing on activity-based management, process-view analysis, constraint checking and business process analysis as well. The world of management accounting is evolving rapidly and there is high demand for accountants who are knowledgeable about these trends. Learn more at the Institute of Management Accountants. Educational Requirements Climbing Most accountant and auditor positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Beginning accounting and auditing positions in the Federal Government, for example, usually require 4 years of college (including 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing) or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree in accounting, or with a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. Image of Accountants Improving Accountants are working on their image. The AICPA announced a $3 million campaign to spread the word about how CPA's add value. In a Wall Street Journal on the topic Mitchell Klein, a partner of Fasman, Klein & Feldstein, a New City, N.Y., accounting firm, "Too many people associate accountants with death, tax and bad news and question our integrity because of the big audit failures that major accounting firms have failed to catch." Ever Think of Working as a Temp? An interesting option for persons interested in not spending their entire lives in the office is become an accounting temporary. There is high demand for specialized accounting temps and CPA firms have started to hire temps to smooth out their staffing through seasonal cycles in the business. Skill Requirements Becoming Broader There is high demand for individuals who can go beyond technical skills and display good interpersonal abilities, legal knowledge sales abilities and foreign language skills. Accountants are broadening as business globalizes and becomes more team-oriented. Experienced Players Gaining Currency There is also rising demand for persons with consulting skills or industry experience and falling demand for college graduates. CPA and CMA Both Highly Valued A recent survey found that over half of corporations which hire accountants feel that the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation and the CMA (Chartered Management Accountant) as very important.

Skills and Talents required for an accounting Job

Accounting offers superb career opportunities in many different contexts. The field is normally divided into three broad areas: auditing, financial/tax and management accounting. The skills required in these areas differ as follows:

Skill	Audit Accounting	Tax & Financial	Management Accounting
People skills	Medium	Medium	Medium
Sales skills	Medium	Medium	Low
Communication Skills	Medium	Medium	High
Analytical Skills	High	Very High	High
Ability to synthasize	Medium	Low	High
Creative ability	Low	Medium	Medium
Initiative	Medium	Medium	Medium
Computer Skills	High	High	Very High
Work hours	40-70/week	40-70/week	40-50/week

Accounting is very team-oriented.

You will usually start as a junior member of a team responsible for auditing an important account or preparing financial statements. It is important then that you enjoy working as part of a team and that you learn to do so in your education.

You've Got to Surf Waves of Innovation

The field of accounting has seen constant technological and intellectual innovation in recent decades. Firms are implementing new electronic systems for submitting and preparing financial statements. And ways of tracking costs have improved with the introduction of techniques such as activitity-based costing.

Cultivate Your Network

It's important to have a good network of business contacts in consulting as you progress. New business development becomes part of your job. As your classmates rise in their respective business areas it is important to stay in touch with them as they may become your future customers.

People Skills Matter

The stereotype of the green eye shaded accountant in the back room is not representative of the world today's accountant lives in. The best accountants will rise far in their organisations - whether it be to partner in a public accounting firm or controller / CFO in a corporation. The main skill that will differentiate those who make it to the top is the ability to to interact well with people. In a public accounting firm setting business success depends on getting your client to want to do business with you, to want to use other services offered by your firm and to understand the various accounting factors that arise. In a corporate setting, its even more important to be able to engage with colleagues across the organization and to elicit cooperation.

Tips on How to Write a Resume For a Career in Accounting

If you are looking for a career in accounting, you should be able to write a resume that will make your employers believe that you are the right person for the job. Accountants are people whose main responsibilities lie on the financial department of a company, and people who work under this department must be trustworthy. The first thing that will note if you are trustworthy is your resume, thus you should only write things which are true.

Accountants do the bookkeeping, making of financial reports and writing invoices. Thus applicants with an experience doing these things already have an edge. When you write your resume, you should start with your full name and your contact details which should include your address and numbers. A straightforward resume is preferred by some companies while others prefer formally written resumes. No matter what kind of format you use is not important. What is important is you be able to highlight your qualifications for the accounting position.

Qualifications usually include being a graduate of accountancy, having proficient skills in the different processes done in accounting and being a computer literate. Thus if you have these qualifications you should definitely include them. The highlights of your qualifications should be written after your contact information. After your qualifications, you should also include your experience including the number of years that you have spent in a company, the name of the company that you have worked for, the position that you took and the duties or tasks assigned to you.

All the mentioned information are vital parts that your employer wish to know and will make them decide if you are worth it for an interview spot. If you follow the tips mentioned in this article, then you are sure to be hired as the new accountant in that particular company given the fact that you have the necessary qualifications and experience.

Accounting as a job option

Accounting is the study of how businesses track their income and assets over time. Accountants engage in a wide variety of activities besides preparing financial statements and recording business transactions including computing costs and efficiency gains from new technologies, participating in strategies for mergers and acquisitions, quality management, developing and using information systems to track financial performance, tax strategy, and health care benefits management.

There's a lot to get out of a job in accounting. Perhaps most important: you will learn how business works. Accounting jobs offers stimulating and challenging work that is constantly evolving. Because accountants spend a lot of time looking under the hoods of businesses they really learn the nuts and bolts of business. It's no surprise that many successful players in business began their careers in accounting jobs. It's also no surprise that most Chief Financial Officers of large corporations have a background in accounting. An accountant is perfectly positioned to become a CFO because he or she probably has the best understanding of what drives business and profits in a company.

It's also worth bearing in mind that accountants are in perennial short supply. Accounting jobs are plentiful even in the current weak economy and the money for well trained accountants is good. Taxes, audits, bookkeeping will always need to be done. With the various financial scandals in recent years, the field has expanded.

To begin your career, your first accounting job will most likely be at a public accounting firm such as Ernst & Young or PriceWaterhouseCoopers . Most people do not make partner at public accounting firms but the experience and training can be excellent. From there, many move on to careers with an accounting focus in business or government.

Over 20,000 join public accounting firms in entry level jobs each year. These positions open up primarily to newly minted business graduates, many of whom already had accounting internships in college. Key hiring factors are major in college, communication skills and your grades. A typical starting job will be in auditing of businesses - both large and small. There are, of course, many job options available in this area to those without a four year college degree. Most bookkeepers have two years of college.

Welcome to this site on accounting careers. We've pulled together a substantial amount of background information to help you determine if an accounting job is a good fit for you.