Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Your career as a successful accountant


Many people think that being an accountant would be a boring job, but in most cases that is far from the truth. Some people who enjoy numbers; who enjoy working them, knowing that they can always count on the results as long as they do their part, get pleasure out of an accounting career. Not only this, but there is security in this career. Even though there are computer programs that can do a lot of the actual number crunching in mere seconds, you still need people who know when to apply what calculations and where-as well as why you need certain ones at certain times. If you're interested in pursuing a career in this field, there are some simple guidelines that you can follow that will help keep you on the right path.

Finding the Right School: Obviously, when you have decided that you want to be an accountant, the first thing that you have to do is find the right institution. You may be a genius at numbers, but that doesn't mean that you know the intricacies of this particular career choice, and how to practically apply your talent. Fortunately, you have a lot of choices when it comes to school. Every college offers degree programs in this field, plus there are business schools that offer certification classes that can qualify you for a lot of jobs. You want to make sure that any college or business school that you choose is reputable, established, and accredited. Also, check into their programs to make sure that they are offering studies that fit your particular interests.

Qualifications: Certain accountancy degrees can get your foot in the door of many different types of jobs in this field. There is also certification, which can open doors for you in this field as well. With certification or an associate's degree, you can easily get into such profiles as payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable and general bookkeeping. A bachelor's degree in accounting could put you in a managerial position in those types of work, and possibly get you an entry level into such jobs as tax accountant, tax preparer, and auditor. With a master's degree, you can almost pick and choose what type of job you want in this field.

Interning and finding Your Niche: Even though you may know that you want to be an accountant, you may not necessarily know where exactly you want to apply your talents. Interning can be a great way of testing out different types of work profiles and getting more experience in a variety of jobs. Not all internships are unpaid, either. Talk to your business school or college counselor about interning opportunities. Being an accountant can be rewarding, and definitely lucrative. As long as you make good choices along the way, you can be sure to have a solid career that serves you well for life.

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