Introduction
If you are exploring career options in the field of accounting, there are numerous areas to consider. An accounting degree can open up opportunities in any industry. Additionally, individuals with an accounting degree can pursue non-accounting roles.
Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and laws is crucial, and accountants play a vital role in this process. Accountants provide advice, maintain records, prepare budgets, manage assets and investments, help with retirement planning, and identify potential areas of financial risk. With a CPA license, individuals have even more career options available to them. In this blog, we will explore various industries and accounting careers that may be of interest to aspiring CPAs.
There are many industries and organizations that offer accounting careers, from trucking companies to small stores. After passing the CPA Exam, accountants often look for lucrative opportunities that provide a good return on their investment of time and money. Accounting careers can also lead to non-accounting jobs in various industries. Here are some examples:
1. Public accounting firms, including the Big Four (KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and Ernst & Young), offer high-profile positions that can advance an accountant’s career.
2. Consulting firms employ accountants to provide financial forecasts, proposals, and advice to guide companies in the right direction.
3. Corporations of all sizes have entire accounting departments, providing opportunities for accountants to work for large Fortune 500 companies or smaller businesses.
4. Accountants can work for local, state, or federal government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, or the General Accounting Office.
5. Accounting careers are also available in academia, including in classrooms, financial aid, auditing, and the comptroller’s office.
6. Non-profit organizations require accountants to ensure financial compliance with government grants and other financial rules.
7. Accountants can also serve on the board of directors of for-profit or non-profit organizations, ensuring that financials are in order and providing guidance on tax implications.
8. Some accountants choose to work as sole proprietors, offering their services as consultants or completing major projects for corporations.
Conclusion
Preparing for the CPA Exam may be intense, but it is worth the effort. A CPA career can lead to positions such as audit or tax manager, senior associate, finance manager, or consultant. Accounting careers are not only financially rewarding but can also provide personal satisfaction. Becoming a sole proprietor requires knowledge of business and marketing fundamentals, but it can be very lucrative. Successful accountants often have clients all over the country and travel to meet them periodically, although remote servicing of major clients is also possible with today’s technology.