Advice for a Successful Career in the Accounting Profession

CHAPTER FOURCareer Paths

Key Takeaway

There are many desirable career paths available for individuals possessing an accounting degree. Make the time to understand your options and think about your preferences.

The really great thing about accounting is that virtually every organization needs the skills, capabilities, and services of accounting professionals. Every business, large or small, needs, at a minimum, to file a tax return, requiring it to maintain a set of accounting records. Many also need to prepare financial statements subject to external audit to be provided to investors, creditors, or regulatory agencies. Perhaps most important, business owners need to understand how their businesses are performing and a good accountant can facilitate financial analysis and assist with necessary operational corrections. These circumstances apply to global, sophisticated Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses like your neighborhood dry cleaners or pizza shop. Nonprofit and government organizations are also required to maintain accounting records and, ideally, use them to guide strategic decisions.

All these organizations either need to employ accountants directly or to engage an accounting firm or other consultants to assist them in meeting their responsibilities. As a result, accountants work in every industry you can think of, from internet and software companies to ...