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Accountant

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AVG. SALARY

$81,740

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Accountants and Auditors Career Video

About This Career

Examines, analyzes, and interprets accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Installs or advises on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

This career is part of the Finance cluster Accounting pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Prepares detailed reports on audit findings.
  • Reports to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommends changes in operations and financial activities.
  • Inspects account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
  • Supervises auditing of establishments, and determines scope of investigation required.
  • Collects and analyzes data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
  • Confers with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
  • Examines and evaluates financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
  • Inspects cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
  • Examines records and interviews workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
  • Prepares, examines, or analyzes accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Overnight travel
  • Overtime work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Accounting Officer
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Cost Accountant
  • General Accountant
  • Audit Partner
  • Internal Auditor
  • Revenue Tax Specialist
  • Financial Auditor
  • Auditor

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.