5 Most In-Demand Accounting Jobs

Five Top Careers in Accounting

  • Staff Accountant
  • Financial Analyst
  • Auditor
  • Controller
  • Bookkeeper

There are many in-demand accounting jobs for individuals with appropriate training. Accounting is one of the top departments in an organization. They’re the professionals who set the pace financially for a company or organization and determine if the organization is meeting their financial goals. The career outlook for accountants continues to be good year after year. Here are five most in-demand accounting jobs.

1. Financial Analyst

Financial analysts are often the individuals behind an organization’s financial success. They work in mutual funds, banks, securities firms, insurance companies and pension funds. They study present and past financial data, analyze business and economic trends and make financial and investment recommendations for the company’s growth. They also prepare written reports of their findings and meet with company officials. Financial analysts spend a great deal of time researching profitable investment opportunities for an organization.

2. Auditor

Auditors often work alongside of accountants and are often in the category as accountants. They prepare and examine financial statements to ensure they are in compliance with laws and accurate. They assess financial operations to make sure the company is running as efficiently as possible. Auditors prepare tax returns, inspect account books and accounting systems for correct usage of accounting procedures. They’re also in charge of making sure taxes are paid on time. Auditors may be internal auditors or external auditors. Although duties are very similar for both, the external auditor is hired by outside organizations as opposed to the company where he or she works.

3. Staff Accountant

Staff accountants find employment with accounting firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations and public companies. They generally work under the supervision of controllers and certified public accountants (CPAs). Staff accountants prepare monthly reports, income tax returns, and financial statements. They also maintain general ledgers, records, and financial reports while also analyzing budgets and doing general bookkeeping. Depending on the company, staff accountants may also be responsible for billing activities, such as accounts receivable and accounts payable. Staff accountants may represent clients on their financial transactions. They also perform some administrative duties. U.S. News & World Report ranks accountants number seven among best business jobs, number eight among best STEM jobs and number 36 among 100 best jobs.

4. Controller

Controllers are the employees responsible for the financial stability of an organization. Controllers are in charge of preparing balance sheets, income statements, future earnings analyses and similar financial reports that summarize and predict the company’s financial standing. Analyzing market trends and creating expansion opportunities is also part of their duties. They prepare government-required regulatory business reports. Controllers also supervise audit, accounting, and budget departments within an organization. Controllers are listed under the category of financial managers by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bureau predicts these professionals should see a job growth of 19 percent between 2016 and 2026.

5. Bookkeeper

It seems as though bookkeepers have been around forever. While years ago, they sat with their pencils, pads, and calculators, today they use specialized computer accounting software. They still have the same responsibilities to an organization, which are recording financial transactions, checking transactions for errors, updating statements, producing financial records, receiving and recording payments, posting debits and credits, and reconciling the accounting books. Receipts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, expenditures, and profit and loss statements are also some of the reports prepared and maintained by bookkeepers.

The BLS reports that 140,300 new auditing and accounting jobs should open up by 2026. With accounting such a large field with so many career options, graduates of accounting and accounting-related programs should have little trouble finding many in-demand accounting jobs.

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