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Careers for accounting majors

Accounting is an exciting field in which to be employed. By working closely with money and financial statements or records, you can see how a company's finances actually mesh. Potomac College, with locations in Virginia and Washington, DC, offers an accounting program at the associates and bachelors degree levels. Upon completing accounting class work and an accounting degree, students will have the tools they'll need to seek interesting careers in the accounting field.

Graduates of Potomac College's associates degree in accounting program can find work as bookkeepers, accounts receivable clerks, or business and office managers. Below, interested students can find some information about these entry-level careers.

Bookkeepers

In this position, accounting professionals will handle all of the financial transactions and records for a business. Bookkeepers of small businesses will have more job roles than bookkeepers of large businesses. Some job duties include keeping logs of the business's financial transactions; creating financial reports for company use; and preparing company bank deposits. They usually also are in charge of tracking the company's financial expenditures and gains. At smaller companies, they might perform payroll duties, as well, including tabulating employee hours worked, and preparing forms for employee compensation.

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Accounting Clerks

This is a more specialized career area, and individuals employed as accounting clerks will probably handle one specific aspect of the accounting process. Associates degree-holding clerks are commonly found in the "accounts receivable" departments of larger companies. In this type of position, the accounting clerk is in charge of billing clients and organizations for work the company has performed. The clerk will also likely follow up on delinquent payments and send out due and past-due notices.

Office or Business Managers

The job duties of an office or business manager do include financial activities and transactions, but they might also vary somewhat from traditional bookkeeping roles. The office manager might be in charge of payroll management and administration; employee and business records-keeping; office supplies management and purchase; and business expense reimbursements. They can also take on more complex accounting tasks, and assist with human resources functions, such as employee screening and interviewing.

Graduates of the bachelors of accounting program can seek these jobs, and will also be prepared to take on more advanced accounting career roles, such as those described below. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

This job category has the broadest description of job duties. Many accounting students will start out in a large public accounting firm, where they will either eventually make partner or will take the experience they've acquired to another, smaller firm. CPAs have a number of job duties and responsibilities; some of these include calculating cost expenditures for the company; preparing and filing company taxes; and preparing contracts and financial statements. Some accountants specialize in employee benefits; the investment of company assets; or the investigation of business and accounting crimes.

Internal Auditor

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in 2002 with specific provisions for companies to make their financial activities public and transparent. In accordance with the passage of this act, many businesses are in need of qualified accountants to adhere to auditing schedules and perform auditing processes. Other accounting professionals are needed to enforce company financial controls or perform risk assessments of a company's financial ventures.

One much-needed type of accountant is an internal auditor. These individuals check company financial records for examples of Enron-like deceit or fraud. They also make sure that a company's financial records and record-keeping methods are honest and legitimate, and that stringent controls are in place to combat financial waste and fraud.

Government Accountant

Government jobs are highly desirable, as they tend to be more stable and offer better benefits packages than corporate sector jobs. Accountants can work for local, state, or federal government agencies. In these roles, they maintain the financial records of the agency, and examine them for waste or fraud. They can also audit citizens or other businesses if there is the suspicion that their financial activities are fraudulent. Some government accountants work for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Washington, DC, or for the IRS. Training for an accounting degree at Potomac College allows students to learn in proximity to three major state governments - Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware - and right by the capital of the federal government, Washington, D.C.

Tax Accountant

These accountants help individuals and businesses to file for their yearly tax returns. They assist people with determining how much money they owe, or their business owes to the federal government; as well as what sorts of tax returns or credits they are eligible for. With the assistance of tax accountants, individuals and businesses can also determine what kinds of items are acceptable to write off on taxes.

Financial Advisor

Financial advisors can work with individuals or companies to evaluate and set short- or long-term financial planning goals. These goals might include setting up college or healthcare savings accounts or trusts; hiring more employees; saving for retirement; or doing major upgrades of business technology systems. Some financial advisors might manage others' money completely; this is especially true in the case of wealthy clients, who usually have large amounts of money to invest in stock and mutual fund portfolios.

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