All About Accountants
Example of Accountant Job Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Life As an Accountant: What Do They Do?
- Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
- Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.
- Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
- Prepare forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel and direct their work activities.
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Accountant Skills
When polled, Accountants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Accountant Jobs
- Asset Analyst
- Medical Accountant
- Fund Accountant
- Cost Accounting Manager
- Accounting Systems Analyst
Accountant Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 1,397,700 jobs for Accountant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 139,900 new jobs for Accountant by 2026. The BLS estimates 141,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Accountant are Utah, Colorado, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Accountants Salary
The typical yearly salary for Accountants is somewhere between $43,650 and $122,840.
Accountants who work in District of Columbia, New York, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Accountants in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $70,310 |
| Alaska | $82,920 |
| Arizona | $69,190 |
| Arkansas | $67,700 |
| California | $84,430 |
| Colorado | $82,320 |
| Connecticut | $84,890 |
| Delaware | $78,120 |
| District of Columbia | $98,130 |
| Florida | $71,790 |
| Georgia | $75,930 |
| Hawaii | $65,580 |
| Idaho | $66,110 |
| Illinois | $81,060 |
| Indiana | $70,780 |
| Iowa | $67,030 |
| Kansas | $66,530 |
| Kentucky | $67,080 |
| Louisiana | $66,860 |
| Maine | $70,810 |
| Maryland | $82,610 |
| Massachusetts | $81,460 |
| Michigan | $74,370 |
| Minnesota | $72,480 |
| Mississippi | $62,850 |
| Missouri | $70,240 |
| Montana | $66,410 |
| Nebraska | $67,920 |
| Nevada | $66,600 |
| New Hampshire | $72,690 |
| New Jersey | $90,400 |
| New Mexico | $66,370 |
| New York | $96,300 |
| North Carolina | $76,880 |
| North Dakota | $61,870 |
| Ohio | $72,370 |
| Oklahoma | $73,040 |
| Oregon | $71,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,250 |
| Rhode Island | $81,090 |
| South Carolina | $64,750 |
| South Dakota | $65,800 |
| Tennessee | $69,690 |
| Texas | $80,200 |
| Utah | $70,980 |
| Vermont | $75,360 |
| Virginia | $85,640 |
| Washington | $78,970 |
| West Virginia | $68,160 |
| Wisconsin | $68,410 |
| Wyoming | $66,180 |
What Tools do Accountants Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Accountants:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Intuit QuickBooks
How do I Become an Accountant?
Are there Accountants education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become an Accountant?
Where Accountants Work
Accountants work in the following industries:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Accountant in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
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