Accounting is the process of analyzing, verifying and reporting the results of financial information to an organization, government agency or individual. Although many people immediately think of accountants, that is only one of the numerous career paths to choose from. Some of the most popular fields include:
Forensic Accounting
Certified Internal Auditor
Comptroller/Controller
Accounting Clerk
Chief Financial Officer
Accounting has quickly become the backbone of almost every business entity and is key to a number of high level decisions within a company, including: budgetary planning, financial aims and the deliberate, strategic and executive initiatives.
Prepare, examine, and analyze accounting records, financial statements, and other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting and other tax requirements.
Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations, to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
Establish tables of accounts, and assign entries to proper accounts.
Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
Prepare forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel, and direct their work activities.
Survey operations to ascertain accounting needs and to recommend, develop, and maintain solutions to business and financial problems.
Work as Internal Revenue Service agents.
Advise management about issues such as resource utilization, tax strategies, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
Provide internal and external auditing services for businesses and individuals.
Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting and data processing systems, and long-range tax and estate plans.
Investigate bankruptcies and other complex financial transactions and prepare reports summarizing the findings.
Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues.
Appraise, evaluate, and inventory real property and equipment, recording information such as the property's description, value, and location.
Maintain and examine the records of government agencies.
Serve as bankruptcy trustees and business valuators.
Skills required
Accounting careers require more than just solid bookkeeping skills. Whether accountants focus on auditing, management, or tax and financial matters, a strong skill set is one that is diverse, flexible, and constantly being improved upon. The top job candidates in the accounting field never stop learning. No matter which area of accounting you enter, you will need strong analytical and computer skills. You will also need to develop a fine-tuned ability to synthesize data to identify trends and predict possible outcomes. Other skills that are key to success in an accounting career include:
Account Analysis
Account Reconciliation
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Software
Accounts Payable
Accounting Processes
Accounting Principles
Accounts Receivable
Accuracy
ADP
Aging Reports
Analytical
Analysis
Annual Reports
Asset Management
Attention to Detail
Audits
Audit Schedules
Balance Sheets
Banking
Bank Deposits
Bank Reconciliations
Bill Payment
Bookkeeping
Budgets
Business Awareness
Cash Receipts
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Chart of Accounts
Check Runs
Collections
Commitment
Communication
Compliance
Computer
Corporate Reports
Corporate Tax
Cost Accounting
Credit Management
Credits
Crystal Reports
Debt Management
Depreciation
Detail Orientation
Federal Tax Law
Finance
Financial Analysis
Financial Reporting
Financial Software
Financial Statements
Financial Statement Analysis
Fixed Assets
Forecasts
Forecasting
Full Charge Bookkeeping
Full Cycle Month-End Close
Full Cycle Year-end Close
GAAP
General Ledger
Great Plains Accounting
Great Plains Dynamics
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Finding a job in the accounting field is a smart decision. Accounting is a field that will always be in demand and it is a field that you can continue to grow and move up inside your company. There are so many different positions you can find in the accounting field. Careers in accounting can range from entry level positions to executive level. Accounting career information for each career path listed below can be found in full detail.
Accountant
Accounting Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Accounting Manager
Accounts Payable Clerk
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Bookkeeping
Budget Analyst
Certified Internal Auditor
Chief Financial Officer - CFO
Comptroller/Controller
CPA
Forensic Accounting
Government Accounting
Payroll Clerk
Staff Accountant
Tax Accountant
Earnings
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for an accountant was $63,550 in 2012, or $30.55 per hour. The best-paid 10 percent earned roughly $111,510, while the lowest-paid made approximately $39,930. The best-compensated in the field work within the federal executive branch and for securities and commodity exchanges, and the highest-paid accountants work in the metropolitan areas of New York City, Ocean City, N.J., and Newark, N.J.
Recruiting Companies
Wipro Ltd.
Wipro Infotech
Wipro BPO
VSoft Technologies Private limited
Water Health India Private Limited
Zensar Technologies Limited
Unisys global Services
United HR Solutions Private Limited
TIBCO Software India Private Limited
TATA Technologies Limited
Tech Mahindra BPO
Tech Mahindra Business Services Limited
Nous Info Systems
NIIT Technologies Limited
Micro land Limited
Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd.
ITC Infotech India Limited
Intuit Technology Services Private Limited
Infosys Limited
Infinite Computer Solutions INC
HSBC Electronic Data Processing India Pvt Ltd
Hex aware TechnologiesHex aware Technologies
HDFC Life
HCL Info systems Limited
HCL Technologies limited
Hallmark Global Technologies Limited
First source solutions Limited
Deloitte Consulting India Private Limited
ACS of India Pvt. Ltd., A Xerox Company
Adyta Technologies Private Limited
Adyta Birla Management Corporations Private Limited
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