National Application Center :: career details :: Accountants
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Career Details :: Accountants
Description
Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Analyzes operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred, to project future revenues and expenses, using computer.
- Predicts revenues and expenditures and submits reports to management.
- Surveys establishment operations to ascertain accounting needs.
- Computes taxes owed, ensures compliance with tax payment, reporting, and other tax requirements, and represents establishment before taxing authority.
- Directs activities of workers performing accounting and bookkeeping tasks.
- Adapts accounting and record-keeping functions to current technology of computerized accounting systems.
- Appraises, evaluates, and inventories real property and equipment and records description, value, location, and other information.
- Prepares forms and manuals for workers performing accounting and bookkeeping tasks.
- Audits contracts and prepares reports to substantiate transactions prior to settlement.
- Establishes table of accounts and assigns entries to proper accounts.
- Develops, implements, modifies, and documents budgeting, cost, general, property, and tax accounting systems.
- Develops, maintains, and analyzes budgets and prepares periodic reports comparing budgeted costs to actual costs.
- Analyzes records of financial transactions to determine accuracy and completeness of entries, using computer.
- Reports finances of establishment to management and advises management about resource utilization, tax strategies, and assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
- Prepares balance sheet, profit and loss statement, amortization and depreciation schedules, and other financial reports, using calculator or computer.
Related Careers
- Actuaries
- Auditors
- Budget Analysts
- Cost Estimators
- Credit Analysts
- Economists
- Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Treasurers, Controllers, and Chief Financial Officers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Processing Information
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Documenting/Recording Information
Important Skills
- Information Gathering
- Management of Financial Resources
- Problem Identification
- Mathematics
- Solution Appraisal
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Indoors
- Job-Required Social Interaction
Related Majors
| Major (A) Associate (B) Bachelors (C) Certificate (D) Doctor (M) Master | Add to MyPortfolio |
|---|---|
| Accountancy (A) |  |
| Accountancy (B) | |
| Accountancy (D) | |
| Accountancy (M) | |
| Accountancy/Computer Information Systems (B) | |
| Accountancy/Finance (B) | |
| Accountancy/Finance (M) | |
| Accountant (A) | |
| Accountant (C) | |
| Accounting (A) | |
| Accounting (B) | |
| Accounting (C) | |
| Accounting (A) | |
| Accounting (B) | |
| Accounting (C) | |
| Accounting (D) | |
| Accounting (M) | |
| Accounting & Financial Management (M) | |
| Accounting Administration (A) | |
| Accounting and Business/Management (B) | |
| Accounting and Finance (M) | |
| Accounting and Financial Management (M) | |
| Accounting Applications (A) | |
| Accounting Applications (C) | |
| Accounting Assistant (A) | |
| Accounting Basics (C) | |
| Accounting Clerk (B) | |
| Accounting Computer Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting Control Systems (B) | |
| Accounting Economics (B) | |
| Accounting for Business (C) | |
| Accounting Graduate Certificate (C) | |
| Accounting Information for Management (B) | |
| Accounting Information Management (B) | |
| Accounting Information Management (M) | |
| Accounting Information Management/Internal Auditing Specialty (B) | |
| Accounting Information Management/Management Accounting Specialty (B) | |
| Accounting Information Systems (A) | |
| Accounting Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting Information Systems (M) | |
| Accounting Information Systems/Accounting Business Administration (M) | |
| Accounting Information Technology (B) | |
| Accounting Information/Management (B) | |
| Accounting Management (A) | |
| Accounting Microcomputer Specialist (A) | |
| Accounting Microcomputer Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting Operations (C) | |
| Accounting Paraprofessional (A) | |
| Accounting Paraprofessional (C) | |
| Accounting Science (M) | |
| Accounting Software Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting Specialist (A) | |
| Accounting Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting Systems Administration (A) | |
| Accounting Systems Administration (C) | |
| Accounting Systems Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting Systems/Information Management (A) | |
| Accounting Technology (B) | |
| Accounting Technology/Full Charge Bookkeeper (A) | |
| Accounting Technology/Staff Accountant (A) | |
| Accounting Technology/Technician/Bookkeeping (A) | |
| Accounting Technology/Technician/Bookkeeping (C) | |
| Accounting/Accounting Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting/Actuarial Science (B) | |
| Accounting/Automation (C) | |
| Accounting/Banking/Financial Support (D) | |
| Accounting/Banking/Financial Support Services (B) | |
| Accounting/Banking/Financial Support Services (M) | |
| Accounting/Bookkeeping/Finance (A) | |
| Accounting/Bookkeeping/Finance (C) | |
| Accounting/Business (C) | |
| Accounting/Business Administration (A) | |
| Accounting/Business Administration (C) | |
| Accounting/Business Administration (B) | |
| Accounting/Business Administration (M) | |
| Accounting/Business Management (A) | |
| Accounting/Business Management (B) | |
| Accounting/Business Practice (B) | |
| Accounting/Computer Applications (A) | |
| Accounting/Computer Applications (C) | |
| Accounting/Computer Information Systems (A) | |
| Accounting/Computer Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting/Computer Science (B) | |
| Accounting/Computer Systems (A) | |
| Accounting/Computer Systems (C) | |
| Accounting/Computer Systems (C) | |
| Accounting/Computers (A) | |
| Accounting/Computers (C) | |
| Accounting/Computing (A) | |
| Accounting/Control Finance (B) | |
| Accounting/Corporate Finance (B) | |
| Accounting/CPA Exam Qualification (C) | |
| Accounting/Data Processing (A) | |
| Accounting/Data Processing (C) | |
| Accounting/Economics/Finance (B) | |
| Accounting/Finance (A) | |
| Accounting/Finance (B) | |
| Accounting/Finance (M) | |
| Accounting/Financial Accounting/Reporting (B) | |
| Accounting/Financial Analysis (M) | |
| Accounting/Financial Management (A) | |
| Accounting/Financial Management (B) | |
| Accounting/Financial Management (M) | |
| Accounting/Financial Planning (B) | |
| Accounting/General Business (C) | |
| Accounting/Health Care Administration (B) | |
| Accounting/Information Management (B) | |
| Accounting/Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting/Information Systems (M) | |
| Accounting/Information Technology (B) | |
| Accounting/Intermediate (C) | |
| Accounting/Internal Auditing (B) | |
| Accounting/International Business (B) | |
| Accounting/Law (B) | |
| Accounting/Management (A) | |
| Accounting/Management (A) | |
| Accounting/Management (B) | |
| Accounting/Management Information Systems (B) | |
| Accounting/Marketing (B) | |
| Accounting/Network Specialist (A) | |
| Accounting/Paralegal (A) | |
| Accounting/Private (B) | |
| Accounting/Professional (M) | |
| Accounting/Professional Accounting (B) | |
| Accounting/Public (B) | |
| Accounting/Public Accounting (B) | |
| Accounting/Public/Management (M) | |
| Accounting/Public/Managerial (B) | |
| Accounting/Real Estate (B) | |
| Accounting/Tax Specialist (A) | |
| Accounting/Tax Specialist (C) | |
| Accounting/Taxation (C) | |
| Accounting/Taxation (M) | |
| Administrative Accounting (C) | |
| Administrative Assistant/Accounting (C) | |
| Advanced Accounting (C) | |
| Applied Accounting (A) | |
| Applied Accounting (A) | |
| Applied Finance/Accounting (B) | |
| Basic Accounting (C) | |
| Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy (B) | |
| Bookkeeping (B) | |
| Bookkeeping/Accounting (A) | |
| Bookkeeping/Accounting (C) | |
| Business Accounting (A) | |
| Business Accounting (C) | |
| Business Accounting Technology (A) | |
| Business Accounting Technology (B) | |
| Business Administration with Concentration in Accounting & Taxation (B) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting (A) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting (A) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting (B) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting (M) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting Management (A) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting/CPA (M) | |
| Business Administration/Accounting/Economics (A) | |
| Business Administration/Higher Accounting (A) | |
| Business Administration/Specialization in Accounting (M) | |
| Business Economics/Accounting (B) | |
| Business Management/Accounting (A) | |
| Business/Accounting (A) | |
| Business/Accounting (C) | |
| Business/Accounting (A) | |
| Business/Accounting (B) | |
| Business/Accounting/Economics (B) | |
| Business/Junior Accounting (C) | |
| Business/Management Accounting (M) | |
| Career Accounting (A) | |
| Certified Management Accountant/Certified Financial Manager (B) | |
| Certified Public Accounting (B) | |
| Clerical Accounting Specialist (C) | |
| Computer Accountant Assistant (C) | |
| Computer Accounting (A) | |
| Computer Accounting (C) | |
| Computer Accounting Specialist (C) | |
| Computer Applications/Accounting (C) | |
| Computer Information Systems/Accounting (A) | |
| Computer-Assisted Accounting (C) | |
| Computer-Based Accounting (A) | |
| Computer-Based Accounting (C) | |
| Computer-Based Accounting (C) | |
| Computerized Accounting Management (A) | |
| Computerized Accounting Specialist (C) | |
| Computerized Accounting Systems (C) | |
| Computerized Accounting Systems (C) | |
| Corporate Accounting (B) | |
| Corporate Accounting (M) | |
| Corporate Finance/Accounting (B) | |
| Cost Accountant (C) | |
| Data Processing/Accounting (C) | |
| Economics/Accounting (B) | |
| Elementary Business/Accounting (C) | |
| Elementary Business/Accounting (C) | |
| Executive Graduate Certificate in Accounting (C) | |
| Finance/Accounting (B) | |
| Financial Accounting (A) | |
| General Accounting (C) | |
| General Accounting/Computer Information Systems (B) | |
| General Accounting/Financial Accounting (B) | |
| General Accounting/Taxation (B) | |
| General Office Accounting (C) | |
| Higher Accounting (A) | |
| Higher Accounting (C) | |
| Higher Accounting Management (A) | |
| Honors Professional Accountancy (B) | |
| Intensive Accounting/Comp Apps (C) | |
| International Accounting (B) | |
| International Finance/Accounting (B) | |
| Junior Accounting (C) | |
| Management Accounting (B) | |
| Management Accounting (M) | |
| Management/Accounting (B) | |
| Managerial Accounting (C) | |
| Managerial Accounting (B) | |
| Managerial Finance/Accounting (B) | |
| Master of Business Administration/Accounting (M) | |
| Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy (B) | |
| Micro Accounting (C) | |
| Microcomputing/Accounting (C) | |
| Microcomputing/Accounting (C) | |
| Office Accounting (C) | |
| Office Professional/Accounting (A) | |
| Office Professional/Accounting (C) | |
| Office Specialist/Accounting (C) | |
| Online Business Accounting Technology (B) | |
| Para-Accountant (C) | |
| Practical Accounting (C) | |
| Pre-Accounting (A) | |
| Pre-Accounting (A) | |
| Pre-Accounting (B) | |
| Private Sector Accounting (B) | |
| Professional Accountancy (B) | |
| Professional Accountancy (M) | |
| Professional Accountant (A) | |
| Professional Accountant (C) | |
| Professional Accounting (B) | |
| Professional Accounting (M) | |
| Professional Accounting/Statistics (M) | |
| Professional Bookkeeper (C) | |
| Public Accountancy (B) | |
| Public Accounting (B) | |
| Tax Accounting (M) | |
| Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting (C) | |
