When you decide that you want to become an accountant, you have to pursue a university degree program leading to a Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or business administration. There is a wide range of services available in the accounting industry, such as public or government accounting and auditing. Within each of these fields there is also a wide array of choices. You can choose to specialize in a particular field such as private accounting, management accounting, tax accounting or forensic accounting, just to name a few. You can also continue on to obtain an advanced degree, such as an MBA or Master of Accounting.

You have more options in obtaining a position as an accountant with an advanced degree. Both the MBA and the MAcc degrees will allow you to move easily into management positions. You will also meet the eligibility requirements for certification as a public accountant as you will have the extra courses required beyond a Bachelor’s degree and you8 can substitute one year of your advanced studies for a year of experience, This means you only have to work as an accountant for one year before becoming eligible to write the comprehensive certification exam. The MAcc curriculum generally includes all the courses you need to prepare for both the CPA exam and the CMA certification exam (Certified Management Accountant).

To work as an accountant you need to meet the certification and licensing requirements of the state in which you intend to work. Some of the states have different requirement than others so it is important that you check them out to make sure you have the right credentials. In your job, you will need a thorough knowledge of US and international tax laws, economics and money markets, since you may be working with investments. You also need to have a broad range of skills, such as:

• Excellent computer and math skills
• An ability to solve problems and make important decisions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills

When you graduate with either an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting, you can work as a financial analyst, a financial planner, an auditor or in accounting information systems. You will likely start your career as a public accountant working in a large firm. At the entry level, you will start off with routine tasks and gradually work up to more challenging cases. When you gain experience, you an advance in your career to become a supervisor or manager in a company or in a government office.

The general outlook for a career as an accountant is expected to grow steadily in the next few years. As more and more businesses develop, there will be an increased need for accountants to manage the books and financial records. There will also be an increased need for consultants to work in an advisory capacity and to develop more sophisticated systems that make the work easier. Since white collar crime seems to be on the rise, there will also be an increased need for internal and external auditors and in the area of forensic accounting.

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