Job titles and career paths
- Accountant
- Actuary
- Assistant Controller
- Auditor
- Bank Examiner
- Benefits/Compensation Administrator
- Budget Analyst
- Business Teacher
- Commercial Banker
- Commodities Trader
- Consumer Credit Officer
- CIA Agent
- Claims Adjuster
- Collector/Collection Agent
- Estate Planner
- FBI Agent
- Financial Aid Director
- Inventory Control Specialist
- Financial Analyst
- Fund Raiser
- Industrial Buyer
- Internal Auditor
- IRS Investigator
- Loan/Loan Administrator
- Management Analyst
- Payroll Manager
- Personal Financial Advisor
- Revenue Agent
- Securities Broker
- Stock Broker
- Tax Examiner
- Tax Manager/Tax Specialist
- Underwriter
Career paths
CPA
- To obtain the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification a student must meet additional credit hour requirements and pass the four-part Uniform CPA exam prepared by the AICPA.
- It includes accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting for clients (small/medium-sized businesses, corporations, governments, non-profits, individuals) .
- CPAs often specialize in areas such as Tax, Compensation/Employee Benefits and Asset Protection.
- Some CPAs audit the financial statements of their clients and produce reports to investors and authorities to certify that the statements have been correctly prepared.
- CPAs generally have their own practice or work for accounting firms.
- Forensic accountants investigate white collar crimes such as fraud and embezzlement and may work closely with law enforcement and attorneys.
Management, industrial, corporate, and private accountants
- They generally work "in-house" recording and analyzing financial information.
- Management accountants are usually part of a senior management team and work to interpret data that executives need to make business decisions.
- They prepare financial reports for non-management groups including stockholders, creditors, regulatory agencies and tax authorities. Other responsibilities include budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management and asset management.
- As part of a an accounting department, they may work in planning budgets, cost accounting and analysis.
Government accountants and auditors
- They work in the public sector, maintaining and analyzing records of government agencies.
- They audit private businesses and individuals who are subject to government regulations or taxation.
- They guarantee that revenues are received and expenditures are made in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Federal government accountants may work as Internal Revenue Service agents, or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration
Internal auditors and "business risk services"
- They verify the accuracy of internal records and check for mismanagement, fraud or waste.
- They analyze financial systems, management procedures and internal controls.
- They review company operations, evaluating efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with corporate policies and procedures, laws and government regulations.
- Some internal auditors may recommend controls for organizations’ computer systems to ensure the reliability of a system and the integrity of data.
Top accounting firms
- Deloitte & Touche, LLP
- Clifton Gunderson LLP
- Tull Forsberg & Olson PLC
- Price Kong & Co. CPAs PA
- Eide Bailly LLP
- Moss Adams LLP
- Semple, Marchal & Cooper LLP
- Grant Thornton LLP
- Price Kong & Co. CPAs PA
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Ernst & Young LLP
- KPMG LLP
- CBIZ Miller Wagner Mayer Hoffman McCann PC
- RSM McGladrey
- Sarvas King & Coleman PC
- GenSpring Family Offices
- Mukai Greenlee & Co. PC
- Gaintner Bandler Reed & Peters PLC
- Lohman Co. PLLC
- BDO Seidman LLP
- Larson Allen Weishair & Co LLP
- Schmidt Westergard & Co. PLLC
- Henry & Horne PLC
Source: The Business Journal Book of Lists (2009)