If you have strong quantitative analysis skills, enjoy working with numbers and are detail-driven and highly organized, you might enjoy a career working in accounting. Accountants provide fundamental financial services to all types of businesses, from large corporations to small firms and everything in between, meaning they’ll always be in demand. If you have a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in accounting, there are several exciting options open to you. For the top careers in accounting, a salary guide and some extra information to help you make your choice, read on.
1. Certified Public Accountant
When you think of accounting career options, there’s a good chance that certified public accountants, or CPAs, come to mind. In order to earn your CPA, you’ll have to earn a certain number of academic credit hours to qualify for the exam, and then pass a rigorous multi-step exam. While earning your CPA can take a lot of time and effort, you’ll then be qualified to open up your own accounting firm or take on more prestigious roles at various organizations. For instance, you could help a private firm prepare taxes, conduct audits or run other financial reports. A mid-career CPA can also be a good way to climb the corporate ladder.2. Financial Analyst
Whether you’re interested in working with big corporations or directly with individual clients, you could potentially find interesting work as a financial analyst. These professionals are key to helping investors and companies mitigate risk and increase profitability. To become a financial analyst, you’ll need strong data analysis skills and the ability to make conclusions from large data sets. Financial analysts also tend to be well paid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they earned a median annual salary of $81,590 in 2019, more than double the national median across all occupations of just under $40,000.3. Auditor
If you’re particularly good at catching small details or have any interest in forensic accounting, you might enjoy a career as an auditor. You’ll work to ensure that financial records are accurate and that companies’ financial states really are what the company says. This job requires you to pore over financial documents to find patterns and detect possible mistakes or even fraud.4. Consulting Manager
Finally, if you enjoy examining clients’ situations and giving them advice on how to improve their finances, you might enjoy moving into consulting. With a master’s degree, you can climb the corporate ladder to become a consulting manager. This role will allow you to take on a leadership position while still engaging with financial reports on a regular basis. Additionally, it can be a lucrative position, with most consulting managers earning an average salary of $87,000 a year.Pursuing a career in accounting can be a good move for detail-oriented, quantitatively skilled individuals. If you’re completing your accounting degree and wondering which career path to pursue, the good news is, there are several lucrative, stable and in-demand options available to you. Keep these top choices in mind as you’re looking and you’ll be well prepared to make the best decision for your professional future in this important field.
