When it comes to a career as an accountant, there are many directions that you can go. Choosing one or more specialties in this field can be a way of keeping your chosen career fulfilling.
When most people think of an accountant,
they think of someone sitting in front of a computer or specialized calculator all day, crunching numbers. Though that can definitely be a part of this field of work, it is a simplified picture at best. People who study the science of numbers have many choices when it comes to their careers, and they never have to limit their education or experience to only one aspect of this field either.
Payroll
One of the most well known areas of accountant work is payroll. Because of technology, the way payroll is done has changed over the years, but the main concepts have not. Hourly and salaried employee statistics must be carefully monitored and recorded, and regular pay, plus such things as overtime, vacation pay, sick pay and bonuses must be distributed correctly.
These days, payroll software does a lot of the calculating, but input is still needed, and everything needs to be overseen. There are different levels in this field, including management and administration, and compensation can vary widely, according to such things as the level at which you work and how large of a company that you work for.
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is an accountant field that can encompass a wide area. It may or may not include dealing with payroll, but basically it involves keeping track of the money that comes in to a company and the money that goes out. Bookkeeping is important for a company, because it gives them constant input about such things as profit margins and tax liabilities.
Small companies often employ one bookkeeper who works in-house, while larger companies may have entire bookkeeping departments, or they may outsource the job to a specialty company. The chances for advancement in this field are many, and it can be challenging and interesting for people who love to crunch numbers.
Forensic
Forensic accountant can be an exciting and rewarding field. It goes beyond simply crunching numbers; it takes investigative skills and a keen eye for detail. When we hear about people being charged with such things as embezzlement or tax evasion, most of us don’t think about what went into the investigation, but one of the most important aspects was the people behind the scenes crunching the numbers.
Not only do forensic accountants help the criminals get caught; they also can be a crucial part of the litigation process so these same criminals can be brought to justice. This is a highly specialized field, but one that can always be interesting.
Obviously, accounting never has to be a boring career choice. If you love to work with numbers, there are many directions you can go with your studies and the type of work you do. Choose well, and your work can always be rewarding.
