Accounting Career Paths: Finding Purpose and Prosperity in Numbers
Your accounting career path can lead you through many sectors and to diverse career opportunities.
Think about it: Public, private, and nonprofit organizations all require accountants. Accounting jobs exist in companies of almost any size or industry, and each role encompasses several duties and responsibilities.
If you have the proper training and leverage your skills strategically, you can enjoy a rewarding career rife with professional advancement. Whether you're drawn to managing financial records for government agencies, strategizing for corporate growth, or navigating the complexities of tax laws, accounting career paths hold immense potential.
Are you wondering which steps to take to start your journey? Here’s what you need to know.
A High-Level Overview of the Accountant Career PathCheck out our Accounting Program
Accounting is an in-demand skill. Those who pursue it can explore several job openings after graduation and likely count on years of job security and development in their chosen field.
That’s quite the accomplishment … if you’re well-suited to these roles.
Accountants spend their days analyzing, preparing, and examining financial records. They ensure those records are accurate and compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. They may also advise their teams, employers, or clients on financial strategies to enhance a business’s efficiency and profitability.
That may sound dry, but it’s essential, stable, and often quite rewarding—especially if you apply creativity to your job growth or use your degree to seek an outside-the-box career path. For example, numerous accounting majors have used their talents to make a difference through government positions.
Whether you’re looking for exciting and fresh possibilities or are keen on the stability of the field, accounting can get you far.
The question now is: What types of job prospects can you qualify for immediately after getting a degree in accounting?
Accounting Career Options and Job Prospects: What’s Out There?
Accounting professionals can tackle a wide array of responsibilities with their versatile skills.
For example, public accountants can serve multiple companies. Private accountants, on the other hand, may handle all of the paperwork for one specific firm. In other cases, accountants may work in entirely different industries, such as tax preparation, auditing, or business management.
Here are a few of the possible accounting career paths you could pursue:
Government Accountant
Government public accountants manage the financial records of local, state, and federal agencies.
These accounting professionals conduct audits on private organizations and individuals subject to tax regulations. They also ensure that governing bodies follow all applicable rules when collecting and spending money.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), government accountants earned an average salary of about $77,000 in 2022.
Management Accountants
Management accountants help companies make the best financial decisions by creating budgets and planning for business costs. They may also supervise a company’s financial investments and develop strategies to enhance performance.
Typically, these professionals operate in the private sector and are sometimes referred to as managerial, corporate, or industrial accountants. On average, management accountants earn more than government accountants. The BLS found that, in 2022, the average management accountant brought home a salary of around $80,000 annually.
Tax Accountant
Tax accountants are professionals who help individuals and organizations file their taxes to avoid audits and receive the maximum available return. Tax accountants also draft reports and help their clients find potential credit opportunities.
It’s an important job—though certainly one with a busy season; if you’re a tax accountant, prepare to buckle down each year for hard work in the spring! In 2022, the median wage for tax accountants was $78,000 annually.
Financial Accountant
Financial accountants evaluate the financial performance of their company.
They may also be in charge of drafting reports for external parties, such as creditors, stockholders, and taxing agencies. Financial accountants often serve as consultants to senior managers, performing internal audits and drafting budgets.
According to the BLS, as of 2022, financial accountants earn a median salary of around $81,000 each year.
Public Accountant
A Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, helps large firms maintain financial information they are legally required to disclose, including tax forms and investment documents.
These professionals often specialize in other areas of accounting, such as auditing, consulting, and forensic investigations. Although many CPAs work for public accounting firms, some own their own agencies.
The pay range for a CPA varies widely. Depending on what sector they work in, public accountants can make anywhere from around $48,000 to more than $132,000 annually, according to BLS data from 2022.
Auditor
Auditors monitor an organization’s financial activities to ensure it properly manages revenue. Auditors may also develop strategies to minimize risk from cyberattacks or supply chain issues.
There are two general types of auditors—internal and external. Large corporations employ internal auditors to improve business processes and mitigate inefficiencies. External auditors conduct the same tasks but work outside the companies they audit.
According to the BLS, these professionals earned a median annual salary of $78,000 in 2022.
How Can You Qualify for the Top Accounting Career Paths for Graduates?
There are numerous accounting career paths to consider, but getting started with a rewarding career in accounting generally begins with the same first step: getting a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Once you obtain your bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in accounting can open up additional opportunities and give you the hours you need to become a CPA. (To become a CPA, you’ll usually need to complete around 150 semester hours of coursework.)
At MVNU, we offer a concentration in accounting as part of our Master in Business Administration program. This online program is accredited by HLC and tailored to working students and explores the complexities of the field. It also fosters a high-level understanding of financial advising, management, and regulatory compliance.
What about specialized accounting career tracks?
After you achieve your master’s degree, you can pursue certifications or experience in areas ranging from forensic accounting (in which you would investigate fraud) to environmental accounting (in which you would support resource management or companies focused on sustainable initiatives). These certifications can keep you even more competitive in your field, helping you position yourself as a sought-after applicant for the positions you want!
Established by the Church of the Nazarene in 1968, MVNU Online helps busy students advance their goals while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. If you would like to pursue accounting careers at a school with strong Christian values, reach out to us today for more information about our degree programs.
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