What Can I Do With A Major In Accounting?

A professional worker who directs and coordinates activities and personnel involved with examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting records or procedures for the purpose of giving advice or preparing reports - may specialize in budget, cost, management, public, tax, internal, etc.

Educational Requirements

Most public accounting and business firms require applicants for accountant and internal auditor positions to have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. Those wishing to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting should carefully research accounting curricula before enrolling. Many States will soon require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of coursework prior to taking the CPA exam. Some Employers prefer those with a master's degree in accounting or a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. Most employers also prefer applicants who are familiar with computers and their applications in accounting and internal auditing. The Institute of Internal Auditors confers the designation Certified Internal Auditor to graduates from accredited colleges and universities who have completed 2 years' work in internal auditing and who have passed a four-part examination.

Avg. Maine Salary: $17.71 per/hour

Avg. # Maine Employment 3769

Avg. Starting Salary N/A

Annual Openings: 118

Projected Growth: 13%

AUDITING CLERK

Verify records of transactions posted by other workers. They check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes. They also correct or note errors for accountants or other workers to adjust.

Educational Requirements

The Institute of Internal Auditors confers the designation Certified Internal Auditor to graduates from accredited colleges and universities who have completed 2 years' work in internal auditing and who have passed a four-part examination.

Avg. Maine Salary: $15.00 per/hour

Avg. # Maine Employment 3411

Avg. Starting Salary N/A (Masters)
N/A (Ph.D.)

Annual Openings: 125

Projected Growth: 29.2%

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RELATED OCCUPATIONS

Accountant	Actuary
Auditor	Bank Officer
Bookkeeper	Budget Accountant
Controller	Cost Accountant
Credit Manager	Educator
Financial Analyst	Financial Planner
Insurance Agent	Internal Auditor
Internal Revenue Agent	International Accountant
Investment Banker	Management Accountant
Management Consultant	Public Accountant
Purchasing Agent	Research Analyst
Statistician	Tax Accountant
Tax Specialist/Preparer	Treasurer
Underwriter

SKILLS

Accuracy	Focus
Reporting and Recording Business Transactions
Efficiency Recording	Aptitude for Mathematics
Designing and Reporting for both Individuals and Businesses
Ability to Analyze, compare and Interpret Facts and Figures Quickly

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SAMPLE JOBS

(taken from past issues of our Career Services Husky Job Board)

Accountant-
Staff accounting duties with a local CPA firm.
Qualifications: Accounting degree; up to two years experience.

PM Tax & Accounting Administrator-
Prepare and submit tax filings for real estate and personal property taxes; review, code and process payment of all company's real estate and personal property taxes; assist in the budgeting of all real estate and personal property taxes.
Qualifications: strong background in accounting with understanding of tax matters; strong communication and computer background.

Administrative Finance Coordinator
Prepare and submit Medicaid and Private billing Invoices, manage Receivable Accounts, Coordinate Financial Activities in Quickbooks and Maintain Financial Records, Reconcile Bank Statements, Prepare monthly balance statements and Income and Expense reports, and assist the Executive Director with other projects as needed.
Qualifications: Formal accounting or business training (degree in Accounting or Business preferred but not required), experience with computerized accounting software, strong communications skills for working with various teams and analytical skills with financial reports.

A/R Accounting Team Member -
Process Payments; invoice and billing; credit memos and returns; auditing support.
Qualifications: BS in Accounting or Business Administration with accounting coursework.

Cost Accountant -
All aspects of the costing system reporting to the Controller; very involved with inventory analysis, overhead analysis, month end closing, quarterly financial reviews, in addition to daily financial accounting duties.
Qualifications: BS in Accounting, 2-5 year's relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, excellent communication skills, strong costing experience.

Resolutions Clerk -
Closing out outstanding work orders, resolving customer work orders for all aspects of the division, weekly reconciliation, some handling of cash including back-up support for cashier and data entry.
Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent, keyboarding and spreadsheet experience. Top

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Work as a part-time or volunteer treasurer or income tax preparer.

Maintain an accurate personal check book.

Join a professional accounting organization.

Read accounting-related publications.

Join a financial advisory board.

Solve problems involving analytical and logical processes.

Attend accounting-related lectures, trade shows or conventions.

Work as a student aide in a high school or college accounting department.

Work with a home micro-computer.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

(These resources are located in our Career Resource Centers)

Maine Dept. of Labour and Occupational Outlook Handbook

Choices

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

(For more information see the National Trade and Professional Association
of the United States located in our Career Resource Centers)

Academy of Accounting Historians
University of Alabama, Culverhouse School of Accounting.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0220

AACE International

Accountants for the Public Interest

Accounting Firms Associated

Affiliated Conference of Practicing Accountants International

American Accounting Association

American Association for Budget and Program Analysis

American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants

American Association of Hispanic Certified Public Accountants

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers

American Society of Military Comptrollers

American Society of Tax Professionals

American Society of Women's Society of Certified Public Accountants

Association American Certified Public Accountants

Associated Accounting Firms International

Association for Accounting Administration

Association for Accounting Marketing

Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States

Association of Government Accountants

Association of Insolvency Accountants

Association of Water Transportation Accounting Officers

Benchmarking Network Association, The

Beta Alpha Psi

BKR International

Construction Financial Management Association

Construction Industry CPA/Consultants Association

Continental Association of CPA Firms

Controllers Council

Cost Management Group

Council of Petroleum Accountants Society

CPA Associates International

CPA Auto Dealer Consultants Association

DPMA: The Association of Information Systems Professionals

Financial Executives Institute

FSC/DISC Tax Association

Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada

Healthcare Financial Management Association

Information Systems Audit and Control Association

Institute of Certified Financial Planners

Institute of Certified Management Accountants

Institute of Internal Auditors

Institute of Management Accountants

Insurance Accounting and Systems Association

International Affiliation of Independent Accounting Firms

International Association of Hospitality Accountants

International Newspaper Financial Executives

IS Financial Management Association

National Accounting and Finance Council

National Association for Bank Cost and Management Accounting

National Association of Black Accountants

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

National Association of Enrolled Agents

National Association of Enrolled Federal Tax Accountants

National Association of Local Government Auditors

National Association of Purchasing Management

National Association of Real Estate Companies

National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

National Conference of CPA Practitioners

National CPA Healthcare Advisors Association

National Litigation Support Services Association

National Society of Accountants

National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives

National Society of Insurance Premium Auditors

Non-For- Profit Services Association

Robert Morriss Associates, the Association of Lending and Credit Risk Professionals

Society for Information Management

Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis

Society of Financial Examiners

Society of Insurance Financial Management

Strategic Leadership Forum

TAG International

Tax Executives Institute

WACRA- World Association for Case Method Research and Application

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The information on this page was taken from the following sources: CareerWare 98; Maine Dept.of Labor, 94; Occupational Outlook Handbook, 98; National Trade and Professional Associations Of the United States, 97; College Majors and Careers

Researched by C. Harriman

Website Last Updated August 8, 1999

Send your questions to the staff of Career Services & Cooperative Education at
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