Accountants manage financial records, including payroll, billing, and accounts payable/receivable. Larger companies employ specialized accountants, while small businesses may have one accountant handle all tasks. Private accounting firms and freelancers also offer accounting services. A high school diploma is required, but a college degree in accounting or related fields is preferred. Certification is not required but can increase job opportunities.
Accountants enter, maintain, and evaluate a company’s financial records. Accountant jobs can entail performing a wide range of accounting tasks such as managing payroll, billing, invoices, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In larger companies, accountants tend to specialize in certain aspects of financial management. As businesses of all types require careful record keeping, there is a constant demand for qualified people to fill a variety of accountant jobs.
Larger companies tend to employ multiple accountants to handle specific accounting and auditing tasks. Accounts payable accounting clerks are responsible for paying bills and fulfilling purchase orders on behalf of the company. Accounts receivable employees ensure that customers are billed correctly and pay in a timely manner. Payroll accountants ensure that all employees in a company are adequately compensated for the time worked. Other accountant jobs at a large company might involve tracking fixed assets, entering financial data into a computer system, and auditing multiple accounts.
In small business, an accountant may take over all accounting tasks. An accountant usually keeps a ledger, which includes all of the company’s financial records. Most bookkeepers work exclusively with electronic records, although some small businesses still keep physical records and receipts. Employees must be skilled at efficient and accurate data entry when managing electronic records and exhibit strong organizational skills when filling out paper records and receipts.
Some accountants choose to work for private accounting firms, which handle accounts and financial matters outsourced to various companies. These companies often stress that accountants are extremely careful to keep various financial account numbers and information confidential. Many experienced accountants offer their services as freelancers, doing work-at-home contracts for various companies. In addition to standard accounting duties, freelance accountants must manage all aspects of their own business from home.
To qualify for employment in most accountancy jobs, a person must have at least a high school diploma, although many employers prefer candidates with college degrees in accounting, business administration, mathematics or other related fields. While certification is typically not required, some people choose to become certified to increase their chances of finding jobs as an accountant. In the United States, the American Institute of Professional Accountants (AIPB) offers a Certified Bookkeeper program, which requires individuals to pass a comprehensive accounting and ethics exam. Many other countries have organizations similar to the AIPB that offer certification programs for financial specialists.
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