Accountants are and will always be in high demand. There isn’t an individual or business that can’t use the expertise of a financial professional.
Accounting jobs come in all shapes and sizes, from broad bookkeeping duties to industry-specific roles like sports accounting. There’s no end in sight to career potential.
Whether you’re a high school student thinking about your future or a recent college graduate, this article will help you with step-by-step information to land your dream accounting job.
Know the Possibilities
Do accounting duties sound like something you would enjoy in a career?
You could do any money-related duty depending on the industry and your specialization. For example, you might:
- Prepare, file, and pay taxes for employees or clients
- Assure financial accuracy of data
- Ensure compliance with guidelines and laws
- Analyze data for trends
- Prepare budgets and approve expenses
- Reduce costs
- Raise money
- Organize financial books and records
- Audit or assist external auditors
- Identify and prevent financial risks
Accounting Abilities
Do you have the interests and skills to enjoy working in accounting and be good at it, too?
● At the very least, accountants must love working with numbers. Strong, basic math skills are essential: add, subtract, multiply, and divide with precision–accuracy is crucial.
● Organization is essential. Accountants will maintain records for numerous individuals or businesses. They should structure information so that it’s convenient to find and easily understood.
● Soft skills are as vital as the technical aspects of accounting. Soft skills include teamwork, communication, management, organization, detail, ethics, and critical thinking. These skills aren’t taught in finance classes. Hopeful accountants must take electives on them or learn through on-the-job and life experiences.
● Computer and tech know-how is critical, too. Accountants will work with various types of software in their careers. General experience with computers, as well as accounting and spreadsheet software, is necessary.
Study
Are you ready to expand your knowledge and grow professionally?
If you are in high school or college and interested in becoming an accountant, start taking math, finance, accounting, computer, and business courses as soon as possible. Look into virtual and online courses to help you save time.
A Bachelor’s degree isn’t always necessary to get your foot in the door in an entry-level position. However, a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business is highly recommended to advance your career.
Work towards your Master’s degree for greater advancement and earning potential. Then, pass your certified public accountant (CPA) exam to earn a well-renowned certification that opens tons more doors and possibilities.
Alternatively, consider certifications in other closely related fields. For example,
- Enrolled agents (EAs) are experts in tax codes and tax law.
- Certified management accountants (CMAs) have the managerial abilities to become chief financial officers (CFOs).
- Certified internal auditors (CIA) can carry out internal audits for organizations.
Higher education facilities aren’t just for coursework–they also help their students network and find jobs. Colleges and universities often hold job fairs, set up students with internships, or allow businesses to post job openings.
Schools create ways and means for students to network internally and externally with others within their career field. With all they do, we highly recommend exploring all your school has to offer.
Find a Job
Networking is vital. No man is an island–it takes people to expand your knowledge, improve your soft skills, and help you enter and move along your career path as an accountant.
Look for networking opportunities, starting as a high schooler and continuing forever. Build and consult your network of peers, teachers, friends, and colleagues to learn about the latest trends in your field, find entry-level positions, learn about job advancement opportunities, and so much more.
Don’t overlook accounting membership societies. They offer their subscribing members tons of benefits, including:
- Test prep materials to help you ace your exams
- Networking and meet-up opportunities
- Reduced-cost and free continuing education courses (CPE)
- Current event news affecting your career
- Job fairs
- Advocacy at local and national levels to improve the accounting profession and local economies
Check the websites of firms you’d like to work for. Most accounting firms have a careers section on their web pages for accounting job openings.
Know What Employers Look For
Employers will look at your academic performance. To gauge your understanding of accounting concepts, they look at your GPA. Generally, if you earned a GPA of 3.5 or better, you make an excellent candidate for any accounting firm.
All is not lost for those whose GPA isn’t quite up to par. Other factors like your coursework, experience, and whether or not you held a job while you earned your degree can all work in your favor, too.
Nail the Interview
Be ready to highlight your strengths in your interview. Also, mention your stand-out qualities on your resume and cover letter and how those have helped you on the job or in life. For example, let them know about the time your management skills helped keep your group on task, and you finished your team project way before the deadline.
Did you choose a particular concentration or specialization in your education or career? Be ready to explain why you specialized in an area. Hint: Ask other accountants in your field what they like about it if you need help explaining.
Dress well. Maintain good posture. Be alert and have a good attitude during your interview. Show up a few minutes early to show your eagerness and punctuality.
Research the company you are interviewing with. This doubles as time to ensure they are a good fit for you and helps you come up with questions to ask the interviewer to show you’ve done your homework and are fully engaged.
Welcome to the Profession
Accounting is a rewarding profession with endless possibilities. As long as you have a love for numbers, you can always work to strengthen any weak areas. Use your interests and strengths to your advantage to build the accounting career of your dreams.
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