City Town Info

Accounting Careers And Degrees

  • Overview
  • Top Cities
  • Find Schools
  • Video
Accountants And Auditors picture

Accountants And Auditors

Accountants and auditors are business professionals who perform a wide range of financially related tasks. As a group, accountants and auditors record, report, and analyze financial information. There are four major branches of accounting and an accountants's job specifics vary depending on the branch:

Government accounting and auditing - Government accountants and auditors work in the public sector (federal, state, and local government). Depending on which branch of government they work in, they:

  • Analyze and administer budgets
  • Audit private companies and individuals who are subject to government regulation or taxation
  • Ensure that government revenues are received and expenditures are made in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
  • Examine financial institutions
  • Maintain and examine the financial records of government agencies

Accountants And Auditors image

Internal auditing - Internal auditors evaluate their company's internal controls, financial and information systems, and management procedures to ensure that financial records are accurate and that internal controls are adequate to identify fraud, mismanagement, and waste. They also evaluate the company's compliance with corporate policies and government regulations, as well evaluating company efficiency.

Management accounting - Management accountants may also be referred to as cost, managerial, industrial, corporate, or private accountants. Regardless of their title, management accountants responsibilities include:

  • Analyzing and interpreting financial information to support sound business decisions by corporate management
  • Managing assets
  • Budgeting
  • Cost management
  • Preparing financial reports for groups such as creditors, regulatory authorities, stockholders, and tax authorities
  • Recording and analyzing the financial information of the company for which they work

Public accounting - Public accountants provide services to corporations, governments, non-profit organizations and individuals. Public accountants are not employed by, and are independent of, the organizations for which they provide services. Services that a public accountant may provide include:

  • Advising on compensation, employee health care benefits and other financial matters
  • Advising on tax matters
  • Auditing client financial statements and providing their opinion for investors and regulatory authorities of the accuracy and compliance of those statements with accounting standards
  • Designing of accounting data-processing systems
  • Forensic accounting-investigating and interpreting white-collar crimes
  • Preparing income tax returns
  • Selecting financial controls to safeguard assets

Accountants And Auditors photo

It should be noted that accountants that audit an organizations financial records may not also provide advice on human resources, technology, investment banking, or legal matters to the same company.

Accounting and Auditing Job Characteristics

Accountants and auditors work in office settings. While many work a "normal" work week of approximately 40 hours, many may work substantially more hours during "crunch times" such as:

  • Tax season for tax accountants
  • End of quarter or end of year for management accountants
  • End of year for public accountants providing audit services

As of 2006, there were approximately 1.3 million accounting jobs in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL BLS). Of these, 21% were working for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms. 10% were self-employed.

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics expects "strong growth" (18 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is "faster than average") in accounting jobs due to stricter accounting and auditing regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), as well as the potential implementation of new standards such as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Accounting ranks as the 10th hottest job area in terms of growth through 2012 according to the USDL BLS.

Increasing focus on financial crimes (embezzlement, bribery, and securities fraud) will drive the demand for forensic accountants (forensic auditors or investigative auditors), accountants who specialize in auditing and investigation and provide analysis that is suitable for use in court proceedings.

Demand for accountants and auditors, combined with somewhat decreased supply of individuals going into the field after the institution of the 150 semester hour education requirement, helps accounting salaries to remain strong. In fact, according to a 2006 Hudson survey published on CFO.com, accounting and finance employees are more likely than the rest of the workforce to have received a raise in the last year (Job Satisfaction Higher in Finance. Stephen Taub. CFO.com. June 8, 2006). That same survey indicates that finance and accounting employees are also more satisfied with their jobs than other workers.

The top three attributes that hiring companies find most desirable when comparing accountants seeking a job are:

  • 41% - Internship
  • 33% - Software/ technology knowledge
  • 15% - Certification or advanced degree

Source: Average Starting Salary for Accountants (PDF), Compiled by: The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 2008 from the 2008 Salary Guide: Accounting & Finance from Robert Half International.

Accounting Education, Certification, and Licensing

Accountants and auditors must have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. Accountants who will be filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are required to be Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).

Nearly all states (42) require that a CPA complete 150 semester hours of college coursework, which is 30 semester hours beyond the typical bachelor's degree. In addition, for all states CPAs must also pass the Uniform CPA Examination prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and be licensed by their state board of accountancy. Continuing education for CPAs, referred to as continuing professional education (CPE), is also required by nearly all states.

The specific requirements to be licensed in a specific jurisdiction (state, territory etc.) vary. An individual who wishes to become a CPA in a specific jurisdiction should familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for that jurisdiction. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy provides the Accountancy Licensing Library, which is an excellent resource for CPA licensing information.

There are also voluntary certifications for accountants, including:

  • The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) - Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) - Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), and Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
  • The ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) - Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
  • The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) - Accredited Business Accountant (ABA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP), and Elder Care Specialist (ECS) for accountants preparing their clients for retirement
  • The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) - Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) - Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
  • The AICPA offers CPAs - Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)

Resources for Accountants and Auditors

Schools for Accountants And Auditors are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Accountants And Auditors by major US metro area.

Schools for Accountants And Auditors

Schools for people wanting to be Accountants And Auditors; these schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).

Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

SchoolStatesDegreesQuick Info
Aakers CollegeNDAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Andover CollegeMEAssociateGet Info
Antonelli CollegeMSAssociateGet Info
Argosy UniversityAZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, MN, TN, VA, WADoctorateGet Info
Ashford UniversityOnlineBachelorGet Info
Ashworth UniversityOnlineAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Baker College CampusMIAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Baker College OnlineOnlineAssociate, Bachelor, MasterGet Info
Berkeley CollegeNJ, NYBachelorGet Info
Bohecker CollegeOHAssociateGet Info
Bradford School ColumbusOHAssociateGet Info
Bradford School PittsburghPAAssociateGet Info
Bradford School of Business HoustonTXAssociateGet Info
Briarcliffe CollegeNYAssociate, Bachelor, CertificateGet Info
CDI collegeONDiplomaGet Info
California College San DiegoCAAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Central Pennsylvania CollegePAAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Champlain CollegeOnlineBachelorGet Info
CollegeAmericaCO, WYBachelorGet Info
Colorado Technical University OnlineOnlineAssociate, Bachelor, MasterGet Info
DeVry UniversityMN, Online, WAAssociateGet Info
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of ManagementOnlineCertificateGet Info
Dover Business CollegeNJDiplomaGet Info
ECPI College of TechnologyOnline, VAAssociateGet Info
Ellis CollegeOnlineAssociate, Bachelor, Certificate, MasterGet Info
Ellis College MBAOnlineMasterGet Info
Everest InstituteNY, OH, PAAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Everest UniversityFLAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Everest University OnlineOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Florida Tech University OnlineOnlineBachelorGet Info
Fox CollegeILAssociateGet Info
Globe CollegeMNAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Golden Gate UniversityCABachelor, MasterGet Info
Golden Gate University OnlineOnlineMasterGet Info
Grand Canyon UniversityOnlineBachelor, MasterGet Info
Harris SchoolNJCertificateGet Info
Heald CollegeCA, HI, ORAssociateGet Info
Herzing CollegeON, WIBachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Herzing College OnlineOnlineBachelorGet Info
Hesser CollegeNHAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Hickey CollegeMOAssociateGet Info
ICS CanadaOnlineDiplomaGet Info
ITT Technical InstituteAR, FL, IN, LA, MO, NC, NE, OH, TN, VAAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Indiana Business CollegeIN, OnlineAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
International Business College Fort WayneINAssociateGet Info
International Business College IndianapolisINAssociateGet Info
Jones International UniversityOnlineMasterGet Info
Kaplan Career InstitutePAAssociateGet Info
Kaplan CollegeMDAssociateGet Info
Kaplan UniversityIA, NE, OnlineAssociate, Bachelor, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Keiser UniversityFLAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Keiser University eCampus OnlineOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Keller Graduate School of ManagementNYCertificateGet Info
Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry UniversityAZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MN, MO, NC, NV, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WICertificateGet Info
King's CollegeNCAssociateGet Info
Las Vegas CollegeNVAssociateGet Info
McCann School of Business & TechnologyPAAssociateGet Info
Miller-Motte Technical CollegeNC, SC, TNAssociateGet Info
Minneapolis Business CollegeMNAssociateGet Info
Minnesota School of BusinessMN, OnlineAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Morrison UniversityNVAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Mountain State UniversityOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
National American UniversityOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
National American University CampusCO, KS, MN, MO, NM, SDAssociate, BachelorGet Info
National CollegeIN, KY, OH, TN, VAAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Northwestern Business CollegeILAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Penn Foster CollegeOnlineAssociateGet Info
Pioneer Pacific CollegeORAssociateGet Info
Pittsburgh Technical InstitutePAAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Post UniversityCT, OnlineAssociate, Bachelor, CertificateGet Info
Potomac CollegeDC, VAAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Rasmussen CollegeFL, IL, MN, ND, Online, WIAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Regis UniversityOnlineBachelor, MasterGet Info
Robert Morris CollegeILAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Sanford-Brown CollegeIL, MOAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Southwest Florida CollegeFLAssociateGet Info
Southwestern CollegeKY, OHCourseworkGet Info
Spencerian CollegeKYAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Stevens-Henager CollegeID, UTBachelor, CertificateGet Info
Stonecliffe College OnlineOnlineAssociateGet Info
Strayer UniversityAL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, TN, VAAssociate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, MasterGet Info
Strayer University OnlineOnlineAssociate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, MasterGet Info
Sullivan UniversityKYAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Technical Career InstituteFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
The College of WestchesterNYAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Tri-State Business InstitutePAAssociateGet Info
University of PhoenixAL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NM, NV, OK, Online, OR, PR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WIAssociate, Bachelor, Certificate, MasterGet Info
Utica CollegeOnlineMasterGet Info
Vatterott CollegeIL, MO, NE, OKAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Virginia College OnlineOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Webst