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Careers in Accounting

accounting firm as a staff accountant. Some states in the oversight of the total organization. Internal auditors who
United States require experience in auditing for certifica- are certified are expected to adhere to the professional
tion. While public accounting firms hire recent graduates standards as they perform their responsibilities. CIAs have
of college programs for beginning positions, such firms promotional opportunities in internal auditing through
expect new employees to have taken the examination or moving into managerial positions within the department
be planning to sit for it. While many CPAs leave public or moving to operational units where they assume super-
accounting to enter other positions in all types of organi- visory and executive responsibilities.
zations, some remain in public accounting.
The promotional opportunities in public accounting Government Accountants. The most common certifica-
for CPAs are related to level of responsibility. Successful tion for government accountants is that provided by the
staff accountants become seniors; seniors become man- Association of Government Accountants. An examination
agers; a limited number of managers become partners. In and relevant experience are required. The designation
many public accounting firms, there are additional levels achieved by a successful candidate is certified government
for all of these categories. financial manager. Government accountants are employed
In addition to accounting and auditing, public throughout the public sector, at federal, state, and local
accounting firms provide other services, such as tax levels.
advisement and management consulting. Some CPAs
choose to move to other services after they gain experience CAREERS FOR ACCOUNTANTS
in accounting and auditing. Others decide to establish WITHOUT CERTIFICATION
their own firms; in 2002, for example, 10 percent of There are more accountants in the United States who are
accountants were self-employed. Many choose to work in not certified than there are those who are certified. Of the
other types of positions after gaining certification and
1.1 million workers classified as accountants and auditors
experience. Many accept positions in corporations, not- in the United States in 2002, it was estimated that fewer
for-profit entities, and government agencies, where pro- than half were certified. Individuals who have studied
motional opportunities include both accounting and
accounting at the community college, business college, or
nonaccounting responsibilities. Some accountants
university level are employed in beginning accounting
become chief executive officers in corporations or other
positions. Through on-the-job training and experience,
types of organizations.
many of these individuals move into higher-level posi-
tions.
Accountants in Organizations. The range of positions for Many individuals who study in accounting programs
accountants in organizations is extensive. Accountants are
in universities choose not to be certified. Others study
employed in corporate reporting, in controllers’ offices,
some accounting as an elective program and then enter a
and in budget and strategic planning departments. Certi-
beginning accounting position, such as staff accountant.
fication is provided for management accountants through
Many promotional opportunities are available to
the Institute of Management Accountants. To be a certi-
fied management accountant (CMA), a candidate must accountants. Technical skills and managerial skills are
successfully complete a comprehensive examination that both important if an individual aspires to higher-level
positions. Employees who are knowledgeable about
includes accounting and related topics relevant to the
broad responsibilities assumed by management account- accounting and continue to learn as new accounting rules
ants. Work experience in some aspect of management and interpretations are introduced by professional bodies
are invaluable to employers. Such knowledge, however,
accounting before a candidate is certified is required.
CMAs have many promotional opportunities in organiza- must be accompanied by strong organizational and inter-
tions. They are identified for leadership positions, in personal skills if promotional opportunities are to be real-
ized. Some commonly identified positions for persons
much the same way as CPAs, at executive levels of their
who have studied accounting at the college level are listed
own and other organizations.
in Table 1.
Accountants as Internal Auditors. Some accountants
choose to work as internal auditors. The Institute of Inter- CHANGING REQUIREMENTS FOR
nal Auditors provides a certification program for candi- ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDITORS
dates who seek to be certified internal auditors (CIA). The basic education requirements for those who aspire to
Certification requires experience as an internal auditor. In be CPAs have been increased in most U.S. jurisdictions
many organizations, especially large ones, there is a sepa- (the 50 states, Guam, the District of Columbia, Puerto
rate department of internal audit that provides valuable Rico, and Virgin Islands). As of the end of 2003, there

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