If you’re wondering what types of accounting jobs are available to college grads and job seekers with accounting degrees, you’ve come to the right place. We’re a CPA firm that’s been around a while (40 years and counting), so we’ve seen a thing or two.
One thing we know is that there’s never been a better time to jump into the world of accounting. You’ve got more opportunities than ever to put your skills to work…in more ways than you can imagine.
Why Be An Accountant?
Let’s start with one reason that will directly impact your life: it pays well. Accountants (on average) earn nearly twice as much as the median income of all other jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual accountant salary is $78,000. (Some make more; some less. And while that’s probably not going to be your starting pay, it won’t take long to make a very good income.)
Secondly, accountants are in demand. Public sector accountants who focus on taxes and bookkeeping services are only one part of the industry. Every large corporation, as well as many small businesses and nonprofits, has accountants on staff. Government offices are always depending on them. One thing is certain: no matter what happens, people will need accountants.
There’s never been a better time to jump into the world of accounting.
Beyond that, accountancy is a highly respected field with a fantastic network of support built into it. Groups like the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and others provide valuable resources and ongoing educational opportunities so that you can always be growing, connecting, and rising in your profession.
And surprisingly to many people, accounting isn’t necessarily dull. Depending on where you choose to put your skills to work, you can find yourself in a career where no two days are the same. With that said, let’s explore some of the types of accounting jobs that are out there.
Types of Accounting Jobs
When people hear the word “accountant”, they automatically picture an introverted “bean counter” who sits alone at their desk (occasionally having awkward interactions with people they are forced to talk to) while looking at spreadsheets with endless rows of numbers.
Or maybe they picture someone in a public accounting role who only files taxes in the Spring.
Few stereotypes could be further from the truth. There are so many types of accounting jobs and a variety of personality types who do them.
We’ve already talked about some of these in earlier posts. (See “How to Become An Accountant…More Options Than You Might Think” and “What Jobs Can A CPA Do?”) In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the best accounting careers as well as opportunities to work in online/virtual accounting positions.
Indeed.com lists “9 Types of Accounting” that you can find work in. You can check out their article for more details, but we’ll list them here just to give you an idea of what a wide range of options there are.
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Cost Accounting
- Auditing
- Tax Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Forensic Accounting
- Public Accounting
- Governmental Accounting
Within any of those categories, there are more specific roles than we could go into in just one post. But take our word for it, no matter which area of accounting you decide to go into there is no shortage of interesting work to be done.
Best Accounting Careers
If your goal is to work your way up into a position making a 6-figure salary, there are plenty of options. Ziprecruiter.com listed some of the highest paying accounting jobs recently, and they include titles like:
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Chief Accounting Officer (CAO)
- VP of Finance
- Chief Accountant
- Senior Finance Manager
- Controller
- Payroll Director
Some of the best accounting careers, though, don’t require you to fight your way to the top of a corporate ladder to find “success.” The most popular types of accounting jobs are:
- CPA
- Tax Accountant
- Finance Manager
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
- Bookkeeper
Other accounting jobs that pay well include:
- Certified Financial Planner
- Personal Finance Adviser
- Financial Analyst
Additionally, several accounting jobs are much more unique and unexpected, according to Accounting.com.
- Fashion Purchasing Manager – If you enjoy shopping as much as comparing prices to make sure buyers are getting the best prices, this could be a career to consider.
- Forensic Auditor – Maybe you’ve always wanted to work with law enforcement to help solve crime mysteries. Agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security regularly use financial records to convict bad guys and use accountants to do it.
- Nonprofit Development Manager – Charities aren’t often as good at managing finances as they see needs in their communities to meet. Good accountants can help them manage resources and develop plans to ensure that the organization can keep doing good for years to come.
- Entrepreneur – Who says you have to work for anyone? If you’ve got an entrepreneurial drive, you could market your accounting skills independently and create your brand.
- Film Production Manager – Blockbuster movies (and even streaming platform series) have massive budgets. It takes someone with a keen eye for managing a lot of numbers to keep everything in order. If you’d like to see your name on the screen when the credits roll, this could be the job for you.
Online/Virtual Accounting Positions
Let’s not overlook the fact that the internet has revolutionized how accounting can be done. Gone are the days when accountants had to physically be in the same area as their customers. Thanks to how connected the entire world is, accountants can remotely serve clients from anywhere.
A quick search on Indeed.com for “virtual accounting” will generate thousands of results. And there are several opportunities available by partnering with virtual job-finding companies like Flexjobs. (They did a post on “13 Companies That Hire For Remote Accounting Jobs” that’s worth checking out if you’re interested in working like that.)
Accounting Recruitment
Hiring a recruiting service to help you land an accounting job is also an option that many people use. They are often connected to good firms actively looking for employees, and they can help you present your resume (and yourself) in the best way possible to get noticed.
There are some things to be aware of, however.
- Make sure you vet out the recruiter’s credentials. They should be CPAs themselves.
- Remember that they get paid by the employer only when positions are filled, so they could be motivated to simply plug you into the first available spot…regardless of whether or not it’s a good fit for you.
- Talk to local CPA firms and accounting organizations (like AICPA) to get names of good recruiters to work with.
Start Here For Help With Accounting Employment Opportunities
We’ve been serving clients in West Tennessee (and all around the country remotely) for over 40 years. In that time, we’ve been able to help many people get their start in the world of accounting. (In fact, we were named one of the best accounting firms to work for in 2023 by Accounting Today.)
Even if you don’t end up working with us, we can certainly help as you launch your rewarding career in accounting. To find out how, schedule a call with someone from our team today!
P.S. – While you’re waiting on a callback, check out a recent post we did on “How to Land Your First Entry-Level Accounting Job.”
