How Do I Become an Accountant?

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Accountants are the mathematical backbone of the finance world. Experienced accountants work daily with financial records to ensure clients and business accounts run smoothly. Anyone thinking of a career as an accountant should be prepared to get a higher education degree and work in a demanding, stressful environment.

Education & Certification Requirements

Starting a career as an accountant begins with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university. Once a degree is acquired, candidates will also need to gain certification such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). If a specialty program is offered at the college of choice, it is a good idea to take the time to complete the specialty course offered.

Anyone serious about a career as an accountant needs to focus just as much on certification as acquiring a degree. Employers will hire certified accountants quite a bit faster than accounting graduates without certification. Becoming certified shows knowledge and competency in accounting principles and a commitment to excel.

Skills Needed

Accountants must be analytical by nature. Strong math skills are crucial and clear organization has to be a top priority. Due to the nature of the job, professional attire and demeanor are expected at all times. Since accountants work with long, exhausting lists of numbers, a fierce attention to detail is necessary. Without these qualities, success as an accountant will be difficult. However, for those possessing these kinds of skills, accounting is a promising career choice with high earning potential and steady growth.

Salary & Job Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, experienced accountants average $63,550 per year ($30.55 per hour). An average job growth of 13% in the field of accounting is expected through the year 2022, with over 166,700 new jobs being added.

Work Environment

There are several accounting specialties available for those wishing to pursue accounting as a career. Public accountants, management accountants, and government accountants are just a few of the many choices available. Depending on the type of accounting work being done, accountants can work from an office, on site at a client’s place of business, or from home where an accountant work isn’t quite as important. This is especially true during tax season, as accountants must be willing to work long, hard hours for several weeks in order to meet the increased demands of tax time.

Overview

Choosing a career as an accountant is a great option for candidates with strong math and analytical skills. In addition, those looking for a job with high earning potential and stable job growth will do well by pursuing a career in this field. Accountants are always in demand as businesses and individuals alike rely on them heavily to manage finances, especially during tax time.

Becoming an accountant is time consuming and challenging, but the payoff for those successfully working in the accounting field is worth the sacrifice. Accountants rarely need to search for work, work will usually find its way to them.