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Snapshot

Snapshot

Career Cluster: Banking & Finance; Business Administration; Government & Public Administration

Interests: Keeping records, working with numbers, offering guidance, analyzing data

Earnings (Yearly Median): $69,350

Employment & Outlook: Faster than Average Growth Expected


Profile

Profile

Working Conditions: Work Indoors

Physical Strength: Light Work

Education Needs: Bachelor's Degree

Licensure/Certification: Required

Physical Abilities Not Required: No Heavy Labor

Opportunities For Experience: Internship, Military Service, Part-Time Work

Holland Interest Score*: CRS

[1] * See Appendix A


Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Designing or modifying accounting systems and procedures

  • Maintaining accounts or records

  • Auditing contracts, purchase orders and vouchers and preparing related reports

  • Preparing periodic financial statements and other management reports

  • Directing and coordinating activities of workers engaged in keeping accounts and records


Relevant Skills and Abilities

Relevant Skills and Abilities

Analytical Skills

  • Analyzing data

Communication Skills

  • Speaking effectively

  • Writing concisely

Interpersonal/Social Skills

  • Being able to work independently

  • Working as a member of a team

Organization & Management Skills

  • Paying attention to and handling details

Research & Planning Skills

  • Laying out a plan

  • Organizing information

Technical Skills

  • Working with data or numbers

  • Working with machines, tools or other objects


Famous First

Famous First

The first Certified Public Accountant (CPA) was Frank Broaker of New York City, who was certified on December 1, 1896. Several other candidates were certified on the same day, but Broaker's name appeared first in the alphabetical list. Later, he was criticized for publishing a crib sheet to aid other aspiring CPAs in their effort to pass the state exam.

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Careers in Business

Accountant

by Simone Isadora Flynn

⇒ View PDF: View this Article as a PDF

Overview

Sphere of Work

Accountants are responsible for the financial record keeping, financial efficiency, and fiduciary reporting of individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government entities. Accountants offer diverse financial services, including financial document preparation and review, payroll, budget analysis, investment guidance, auditing, bankruptcy filing, and tax preparation. The main fields of accounting include internal accounting, public accounting, managerial accounting, and government accounting. Certified public accountants (CPAs) are the most common accounting position. CPAs may be independent contractors or employed by public accounting firms providing financial services to businesses and individuals.

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Work Environment

An accountant's work environment is generally office-based. Depending on the employer and particular job description, an accountant may telecommute from a home office, visit client offices as a contractor, or work on a full-time basis in an employer's office. Accountants may work as a full-time member of a team responsible for targeted financial responsibilities or may be hired as a project contractor. An accountant's work environment is dependent on technology (computers and accounting software programs), as well as having access to the most recent government regulations.

Occupation Interest

Individuals attracted to the accounting profession tend to be well-organized and detail-oriented people who find satisfaction in manipulating numbers and tracking financial trends. Accountants may also have an interest and affinity for technology and regulatory issues. For instance, those who excel in accounting tend to be adept at educating themselves about and responding to technological and regulatory change. Analytical people choosing to pursue the occupation of accountant may find satisfaction in implementing and auditing financial record keeping, as well as staying up to date on accounting best practices, ethical issues, and legal matters in accounting.

A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities

TTypical daily work tasks of a general accountant will include activities such as tax preparation, payroll, bookkeeping, and auditing. Organizations may also require accountants to select, implement, and troubleshoot accounting software systems, as well as stay up to date with regulatory and ethical issues and news in accounting by reading accounting industry journals and participating in industry associations. An accountant's daily occupational duties and responsibilities may also include meeting with clients, colleagues, supervisors, and employees as needed.

Clients, on a daily basis, may require accountants to provide financial counseling, tax preparation, payroll management, purchase order tracking, auditing, bankruptcy help, and contract preparation. Colleagues, on a daily basis, may require accountants to participate in discussions of work teams, workflows, dynamics, and best practices. Supervisors, on a daily basis, may require accountants to present their work and account for their work hours, take on extra work as needed, and strategize about organizational operations and best practices.

The duties of those accountants who have or supervise employees in their organizations will include managerial roles and responsibilities. Employees, on a daily basis, may need their supervising accountants to provide a review of the employee's financial document preparation or specific training related to accounting practices or technology. It is not unusual for accountants to advise or provide analysis to senior management on the financial implications of corporate performance, growth or acquisitions. Periodically, supervising accountants will also need to perform employee performance reviews.

External accountants who work for organizations with remote or multiple locations often travel to those locations to perform in-house auditing and bookkeeping work. Busy accountants will need to accommodate educational training, certification renewal, extended work travel, and commuting into their daily work schedules.

Occupation Specialties

Public Accountants

Public Accountants prepare federal, state and local tax returns of individuals, businesses or other organizations.

Budget Analysts

Budget Analysts apply principles of accounting to analyze past and present financial operations in order to prepare a budget.

Management Accountants

Management Accountants plan, set up and direct the operation of an accounting system to determine the cost of producing or selling an item or service.

Property Accountants

Property Accountants identify and keep records of company owned or leased equipment, buildings and other property.

Systems Accountants

Systems Accountants devise and install customized accounting systems and related procedures in establishments that do not use a standardized system.

Internal Auditors

Internal Auditors examine and analyze the accounting records of a business and prepare reports concerning its financial status and operating procedures.

Work Environment

Physical Environment

Accountants generally work in office environments. The work of an accountant largely requires sitting at a desk and using computers for long periods of time each day. Accountants often meet with their immediate staff, and may be required to meet with corporate officers and outside auditing firms. Access to meeting spaces is often necessary.

Human Environment

An accountant's human environment may be social or isolated depending on the assignment and organization. Accountants, depending on their work assignments and organization, may interact with clients, employees, supervisors, or colleagues.

Technological Environment

An accountant's technological environment will generally include computers, financial software packages for bookkeeping and auditing, telecommunication tools, and reference materials outlining legal and regulatory matters.

Education, Training, and Advancement

High School/Secondary

High school students interested in someday pursuing a career in accounting should prepare themselves by building good study habits and exercising personal discipline. For those who feel at ease with numbers and mathematical functions, it is helpful to maximize the school's offering of mathematical and business courses, as well participate in any extracurricular activities relative to business and mathematics. Students should consider applying for internships or even volunteer work with local accountants or financial organizations to learn what it is accountants do on a daily basis.

Suggested High School Subjects

  • Accounting

  • Algebra

  • Business

  • Business & Computer Technology

  • Business Data Processing

  • Business Law

  • College Preparatory

  • Computer Science

  • Economics

  • English

  • Mathematics

  • Social Studies

Postsecondary

Postsecondary (college and university) level students interested in pursuing a career in accounting should prepare themselves by building a foundation in mathematics, basic accounting, and business. Due to the importance of technology, law, and ethics in the practice of accounting, postsecondary students interested in pursuing a career in accounting will also benefit from studying computer science, political science, and possibly even philosophy (in order to explore the field of ethics). Postsecondary students committed to pursuing accounting may gain experience and build connections through accounting internships and entry-level employment with accounting businesses and firms. It's important to note that a college degree is a condition of CPA licensure in most states.

Related College Majors

  • Accounting

  • Business Administration

  • Financial Management

Adult Job Seekers

Adults seeking accounting jobs have generally earned a bachelor's degree and, in some cases, an MBA. Adult job seekers will benefit from joining professional accounting associations as a means of professional networking. Professional accounting associations generally maintain job lists advertising open accounting positions. Adult job seekers who wish to join the accounting profession, but who lack a college degree, may gain access to the field by seeking out entry-level bookkeeping and clerk positions. Supervisors and mentors can help junior accountants to plan their career and educational choices.

Professional Certification and Licensure

Professional recognition through certification and licensure is extremely valuable in the job market. Most states require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework - an additional 30 hours beyond the usual 4-year bachelor's degree. Prospective accounting majors should research the requirements of any states in which they hope to become licensed.

To become a CPA, it is also necessary to take a four-part two-day examination that is the same for all states. Candidates are not required to pass all four parts at once, but most states require they pass all four parts within 18 months of passing the first part. Most states also require applicants for a CPA certificate to have some public accounting experience. Accountants may join professional associations, although membership is not required.

Additional Requirements

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Individuals dedicated to training and advancing in the accounting field generally work to develop their analytical, mathematical, and business abilities. Written and verbal communication skills are also important for accountants, as is proficiency with accounting software. High levels of integrity and ethics are required of accountants, as accountants often work with confidential documents. Membership in professional accounting societies is encouraged among junior and senior accountants as a means of building status within a professional community and networking.

Fun Fact

Roll over, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ohio houses another hall of fame: The Accounting Hall of Fame, established at Ohio State University in 1950. As of 2014, 92 accountants had been elected to it.

Source: http://fisher.osu.edu/departments/accounting-and-mis/the-accounting-hall-of-fame/

Earnings and Advancement

Earnings depend upon the accountant's experience, level of education and certification as a public accountant. While larger firms usually pay higher starting salaries than small or medium-sized firms, the small and medium-sized firms usually offer the well-qualified employee an opportunity for more rapid advancement. Generally, certified public accountants (CPAs) and those with graduate degrees earn a higher beginning salary.

According to a salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, graduates with a Bachelor's degree in accounting received average annual starting salaries of $53,536 in 2012; graduates with a Master's degree in accounting earned $54,403 annually.

Median annual earnings of accountants were $69,350 in 2017. The lowest ten percent earned less than $43,020, and the highest ten percent earned more than $122,220.

Accountants may receive paid vacations, holidays, and sick days; life and health insurance; and retirement benefits. These are usually paid by the employer.

Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Level in this Occupation

Metropolitan area Employment(1) Employment per thousand jobs Hourly mean wage New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ 90,050 13.45 $48.81 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA 42,940 9.69 $40.42 Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL 36,280 9.90 $39.74 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 34,290 11.70 $42.92 Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX 32,880 13.20 $39.94 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 31,620 12.55 $45.14 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 28,690 10.95 $37.20 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA 24,040 13.06 $39.62 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 22,930 15.89 $39.25 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 19,240 9.96 $35.44

[1] (1) Does not include self-employed. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment and Outlook

Accountants and auditors held about 1.4 million jobs in 2016. Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2026, which means employment is projected to increase 10 percent to 15 percent. Stricter financial laws and regulations, recent financial crises, and increased scrutiny of company finances will drive job growth. In addition, the need to replace accountants and auditors who retire or transfer to other occupations will produce thousands of additional job openings annually, reflecting the large size of this occupation. The changing role of accountants and auditors will also spur job growth. In response to market demand, accountants and auditors will offer more financial management and consulting services. By focusing on analyzing operations, rather than simply providing financial data, accountants will help to boost demand for their services.

Opportunities are expected to be favorable for college graduates seeking accounting and auditing jobs who have worked part-time in a business or accounting firm while in school. In fact, experience has become so important that some employers in business and industry seek persons with one or two years experience for beginning positions.

Employment Trend, Projected 2016–26

Accountants and Auditors: 10%

Business and Financial Occupations: 13%

Total, All Occupations: 7%

Note: “All Occupations” includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program

Related Occupations

  • Auditor

  • Bookkeeper & Accounting Clerk

  • Budget Analyst

  • Credit Manager

  • Energy Auditor

  • Financial Analyst

  • Financial Manager

  • Personal Financial Advisor

  • Public Administrator

Related Military Occupations

  • Finance & Accounting Manager

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Selected Schools

Many large universities, especially those with business schools, offer programs in accounting. The student can also gain initial training through enrollment at a liberal arts college or community college. Below are listed some of the more prominent institutions in this field.

Brigham Young University

Marriott School of Management

Campus Drive

Provo, UT 84602

801.422.4121

marriottschool.byu.edu

Indiana University—Bloomington

Kelley School of Business

1309 E. 10th Street

Bloomington, IN 47405

812.855.8100

kelley.iu.edu

New York University

Stern School of Business

665 Broadway, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10012

212.998.4500

www.stern.nyu.edu

Ohio State University

Fisher College of Business

120 Schoenbaum Hall

210 W. Woodruff Avenue

Columbus, OH 43210

614.292.2715

fisher.osu.edu

University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign

College of Business

1515 East Gregory Drive

Champaign, IL 61820

217.333.2740

business.illinois.edu

University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Ross School of Business

701 Tappan Avenue

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

734.763.5796

michiganross.umich.edu

University of Notre Dame

Mendoza College of Business

Notre Dame, IN 46566

574.631.7505

business.nd.edu

University of Pennsylvania

The Wharton School

1 College Hall

Philadelphia, PA 19104

215.898.6376

www.whatron.upenn.edu

University of Southern California

Marshall School of Business

3670 Trousdale Parkway

Los Angeles, CA 90089

213.740.8674

www.marshall.usc.edu

University of Texas—Austin

McCombs School of Business

1 University Station, B6000

Austin, TX 78712

512.471.5921

www.mccombs.utexas.edu

More Information

Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation

1010 North Fairfax Street

Alexandria, VA 22314-1574

888.289.7763

www.acatcredentials.org

American Accounting Association

5717 Bessie Drive

Sarasota, FL 34233-2399

941.921.7747

info@aaahq.org

aaahq.org/index.cfm

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

212.596.6200

www.aicpa.org

The American Institute of CPA Student Scholarships

www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/Scholarships/Pages/default.aspx

Institute of Internal Auditors

247 Maitland Avenue

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

407.937.1100

www.theiia.org

Institute of Management Accountants

10 Paragon Drive

Montvale, NJ 07645-1718

800.638.4427

www.imanet.org

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

150 4th Avenue North, Suite 700

Nashville, TN 37219

615.880.4200

www.nasba.org

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Accountant." Careers in Business, edited by Michael Shally-Jensen, Salem Press, 2015. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CIB_0004.
APA 7th
Flynn, S. I. (2015). Accountant. In M. Shally-Jensen (Ed.), Careers in Business. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Accountant." Edited by Michael Shally-Jensen. Careers in Business. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2015. Accessed September 17, 2025. online.salempress.com.