The 14 Different Types of Accounting Jobs
When you are studying accounting, it might feel to you that the options with regard to the type of work that you are directly qualified for are rather few. This actually couldn’t be further from the truth! When you are qualified to be an accountant, there are a whole series of different jobs that you are able to then go into. If you are interested in learning more, this guide — spanning from entry-level jobs to the top finance roles in prestigious institutions — outlines over 14 different accounting jobs that you can directly go into. Read on now in order to learn all about it.
Government Accountant
Starting Salary: $56,000 per annum
As the name suggests, a government accountant works on either a federal or state level to help manage public funds, look into any potential mismanagement of said funds, look into the financial dealings of governments and act as a bulwark against corruption, as well as make sure that public coffers do not end up running dry.
Accounts Payable Specialist
Starting Salary: $21,000 per annum
When it comes to handling transactions in a company, an accounts payable specialist is the person to look to. They ensure that a company actually pays out its invoices and bills and sometimes even salaries. As people rely on the swift payment of invoices, this makes the work of an accounts payable specialist particularly invaluable. They definitely shouldn’t make the mistake of these companies, however, paying out invoices to someone who never actually worked there!
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Starting Salary: $28,000 per annum
Similar to an accounts payable specialist, an accounts receivable specialist also looks at payments, but is more interested in those that are incoming, tracking how they arrive into the system and making sure that a business has clean bookkeeping records. They may also be responsible for looking for chasing payments that are owed to a company.
Auditor
Starting Salary: $61,000 per annum
Simply put, an auditor is responsible for making sure that all the operations of a business are being processed in a legal way. They look at money coming both in and out of a company and are dedicated to seeing if the books meet their high levels of standards. Due to the high level of skill and responsibility this job involves, auditors can expect to start with a high salary.
Bookkeeper
Starting Salary: $39,000per annum
A bookkeeper keeps an eye on the day-to-day accounting of a company. They are responsible for recording all in-comings and out-goings, and posting them all in a ledger. Bookkeepers are expected to be highly proficient at both mathematics and computer data entry.
Finance Manager
Starting Salary: $60,000per annum
Finance managers are crucial to the lifeblood of a company, monitoring their financial health. Without someone making sure that the business’ finance plan is solid, it is likely that most businesses would fail. That’s why finance managers can usually expect to begin with high starting salaries.
Forensic Accountant
Starting Salary: $30,000per annum
A forensic accountant works in a very important role, combining both accounting and investigation skills to uncover if a company has been committing any financial crimes. If you enjoy being in a courtroom a lot, this could be the job for you, as you will be expected to compile evidence and then talk about your findings in front of a jury.
Budget Analyst
Starting Salary: $49,500per annum
Working for businesses whose main aim is to turn a profit, a budget analyst is tasked with looking at how much a company is spending and figuring out ways that this spending can be used more effectively so as to save the company money.
Internal Auditor
Starting Salary: $60,000per annum
Usually shortened within the business to just IA, internal auditors are responsible for keeping their employers up to date on both the company accounting rules and industry procedures. This can help a company stay compliant with the law while also keeping standardized practices at every single different level.
Public Accountant
Starting Salary: $40,000 per annum
There is particularly high demand for this job due to the twin threats of both the coronavirus pandemic and a wave of early retirements. People working as public accountants usually work for a particular accounting firm and are responsible for providing services to other companies with their accounting expertise.
Certified Public Accountant
Starting Salary: $66,000per annum
This is a step up from a public accountant as it requires an extra level of certification. As a result of that step up, CPAs can expect to command higher starting salaries than their mere PA counterparts.
Gas and Oil Accountant
Starting Salary: $57,750 per annum
As it features so many moving parts and a reliance upon a working global supply chain, the gas and oil industry offers many pleasures and challenges for any accountant. To learn more about gas and oil accounting, check out what COPAS has to offer over at https://www.copas.org/oil-and-gas-accounting-cpe-courses/.
Chief Financial Officer
Starting Salary: $302,000 per annum
While not necessarily an accounting job, chief financial officer is often the biggest role that someone with a background with accounting could eventually land. It’s usually the third biggest role within an entire company after the CEO and the COO.
Comptroller
Starting Salary: $71,000 per annum
The comptroller has a large role within a company as they are responsible for making sure all accounting reporting procedures are successfully overseen. They usually have a high level of seniority and report directly to the CFO.
Conclusion
As the above guide has shown, there are a whole host of different careers that are available to you after completing a degree in accounting. This guide has only truly scraped the surface of what is available to you. That’s why, after reading this guide thoroughly, it’s worth doing your research in order to find an accounting niche that truly works for you. You will be surprised by what you find in the process.