How to find information on various accounting careers

Career opportunities in accounting know no limits. From an entry-level junior accountant, you can grow into a partner in your organization with the right qualifications and proven expertise. CPA or Certified Public Accountant may be the most esteemed in the public eye; there is no dearth of career prospects awaiting accountancy graduates/ undergraduates.

Graduate Internships

As a fresher you may like to work with one of the top public accounting firms like KPMG, Arthur Anderson, Ernst & Young or Price Waterhouse Coopers for an enriching and satisfying experience. Nevertheless, you can get placement at local/ state/ federal level or secure a suitable job profile at one of the big or small corporations flourishing across US.

The salary package of an accountant is generally relative to the location, size and type of the employer firm. In US, the broad range of annual salary can fall between a satisfactory five-figure to a whopping six-figure denomination, directly relative to an individual's job profile, experience and scale of employer organization. A study of the salary packages offered by reputed public accounting firms like Deloitte & Touche and Grant Thornton reflect that a fresher can fetch between $33,000 to $ 55,000 in this profession.

Here is an outline of a few career options for you to utilize your knowledge and education in accountancy-based programs,

Management Accountant (Cost Accountant):

The job responsibilities of a Management Accountant essentially involve capital budgeting and business analysis. The scope of functions of a management accountant includes cost accounting, budgetary control, standard costing, inventory control, investment appraisal, pricing decision, transfer pricing and ratio analysis.

As the corporate scene is growing more competitive, management accountants are also working in coordination with marketing and finance departments to exploit newer business avenues.

Types of qualifications:

Although there are many qualifications to become Management Accountant, namely,

• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants);
• CMA (Certified Management Accountant);
• ICWAI (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India);
• AAFM (American Academy of Financial Management).

CIMA is considered to be the most business-focused of all. The details may be checked out at

Financial Accountant

A financial accountant basically prepares financial statements based on bookkeeping for people outside the organization namely stockholders, suppliers, banks, government agencies, owners, and other stakeholders. He is also responsible for participating in long-term financial decisions (like mergers & acquisitions), as well as, visit client or supplier in case of need.

Types of Qualifications to become a financial accountant:

• Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• CCA Chartered Cost Accountant (cost control) designation offered by the American Academy of Financial Management

Book-keeper

Also known as accounting clerk, Bookkeeper can be any accounting undergraduate/ graduate who records all financial transactions undertaken by a commercial entity and maintains the books of the organization. The bookkeeper ensures that all transactions of a business are duly recorded in correct “daybooks” like supplier's ledger, customer ledger and general ledger etc., to bring them to trial balance stage for a financial accountant. Bookkeeping is a vital part of any business.