The term ‘accounting’ is probably one of the most misused terms in the world of finance and business. When people think of accounting they think of someone taking the financial records of a company and comparing those records with the year end results to see if there are any obvious discrepancies. While this is one of the major functions of an accountant, in actuality accounting is much more complex than that. A qualified accountants usually renders accountancy or auditing services for several different employees, each of them paying an independent fee to the accountancy accountant for his services rendered. He does much more than simply bookkeeping though; he doesn’t usually have all of the credentials of a licensed public accountant and doesn’t typically have all of the specialized knowledge and skills needed to perform the various tasks required of an accountant.
Who wishes to pursue a career in accounting?
Generally any prospective accountant who wishes to pursue a career in accounting will need at least a bachelor’s degree, though some positions might prefer those accountants who have earned a master’s degree in accounting. While it isn’t common for every accountant to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, many law schools and business colleges will offer accounting programs that will allow you to earn your bachelor’s degree, plus a one-year associate’s degree in accounting. If an accountant also wishes to obtain their master’s degree in accounting, it would be ideal for them to go to an accredited school with a major in accounting.
Because there are so many accounting jobs available in today’s economy, it has never been more important for accountants to learn as much as they can about the many accounting subjects that are out there, along with the career opportunities that exist within each of those areas. While the accounting field is wide open for anyone willing to put in the effort, it is important that prospective accountants spend time getting to know all of the different options. Once they have learned enough to begin applying to accounting internships, they will be ready to jump into the field with confidence.
