Government accountants review financial documents, prepare budgets and financial statements, and conduct audits to ensure compliance with laws and policies. They may also investigate financial irregularities and conduct reviews of taxpayers. A college degree and special licensure may be required, and a background check is often necessary.
Government accountants review financial documentation on behalf of the government and taxpayers. Your work can range from auditing tax accounts to confirm their accuracy and completeness to investigating the financial accounts of government agencies for signs of financial irregularities. Working as a government accountant usually requires a college degree and may involve special licensure, depending on the position and agency. You may also be required to pass a background check to become a government accountant.
Within government agencies, accountants participate in the process of preparing budgets and financial statements. This can be important for agencies when planning activities during a given financial period, such as a fiscal quarter or year. These same reports are also important to legislators who may be responsible for allocating funds. Some are open to members of the public with an interest in how the government spends its money, while others may be confidential because they may contain information relating to national security.
Individual agencies need government accountants to prepare financial statements, administer payroll, and perform similar activities. This job requires a thorough knowledge of all relevant laws and agency policies so that the accountant can record accurate and complete statements. The government accountant can network with human resources and other agency staff to discuss concerns and exchange information about new hires, changes in salary levels for existing staff, and other important matters.
Legislators and government agencies can also request audits. In an audit, a government accountant evaluates all of an agency’s financial information, including bank statements, accounting records, and so on. Government accountants look for indicators that an agency is illegally spending resources and check for signs of embezzlement and other illegal activities. These audit accounts become part of the records associated with the agency and can be subject to legal penalties if agency members commit crimes.
Taxpayers may be subject to review by government accountants. Tax agencies often select random accounts for closer review in an audit and may initiate investigations in response to concerns or reports from members of the public. Accountants arrive on site to collect financial documentation, compare it with tax returns, and look for signs of hidden accounts or other illegal activities. On investigation, a government accountant may be able to seize assets and receive court judgments against targets who have failed to pay taxes or file incorrect returns.
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