Accountants do much more than crunch numbers all day and their role is much more important to their company than many give them credit for. If you are good with numbers and want to enter the world of accounting, you’ll want to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a closely related field. Accountants that will have a distinct advantage are those that have professional recognition through certification, proficiency in auditing and accounting software, or a master’s degree.
Efficient businesses will keep their public records accurate and current. These records are often administered by an accountant along with other services, it can often depend on the branch of accounting entered into as there are different conventions between public sector accounting and business accounting for example.
For any would-be accountants there are a variety of positions available in different sectors. Governments, charities and corporations fall under the umbrella of public accounting and typical tasks for an accountant in these sectors can include dealing with a fair amount of tax related matters, consulting and monitoring financial transactions. There can also be a degree of auditing involved, so this is a good area to aim for if you like variety.
Those who choose to work for the government will often manage and audit the accounts of individual government agencies as well as any government funded schemes or initiatives. One of the main tasks facing an accountant in this area is to ensure all financial transactions are in line with spending agreements and laws. Often these budgets are large and there are many individual parties both sending and receiving money.
There is also the chance to work as an internal auditor. Auditing records and accounts is perfect for those who lover delving into the detail and examining the ins and outs of each and every record. Processes and procedures are also often taken into consideration, the overall purpose of an audit being to minimise the amount of waste in an organisation, make it more efficient and discover any potential fraudulent activity.
Accountants work 40-hour work weeks in normal office conditions. Those that are self-employed are allowed the luxury of working from home. Government agency and public accountants may travel frequently to work for clients at their business, government faculties, or branches of their firm.
Training to be an accountant or working towards a job in finance does come with the advantage of equipping you with skills that are transferable to other jobs and professions. Financial managers and bank workers are jobs that spring immediately to mind, however, there are many other jobs such as teaching where a strong grasp of numbers and the ability to work and think in a process driven critical manner can be extremely useful.
Thames Valley accountant Eacotts offer a range of accounting services including services for business and individuals.