If you have strong quantitative analysis skills, enjoy working with numbers, and are detail-driven and highly organized, you might enjoy a career 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, several exciting options are open to you. Read on for the top careers in accounting, a salary guide, and some extra information to help you make your choice.
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. 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 be qualified to open 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 an excellent way to climb the corporate ladder.2. Financial Analyst
Whether interested in working with big corporations or directly with individual clients, you could find exciting work as a financial analyst. These professionals are vital 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. Economic 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 the company’s financial status is what the company says. This job requires you to pore financial documents to find patterns and detect possible mistakes or 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 regularly engaging with financial reports. Additionally, it can be lucrative, 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 that several lucrative, stable, and in-demand options are 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 vital field.
