Accountants And Auditors Work Part Time example essay topic

The four careers of accountants, auditors, bookkeepers, and auditing clerks are all very well respected careers that are very similar in many aspects, yet very different in others. When comparing the description of the jobs, the work activities of each, the skills required, and the career opportunities, it is easy to see how similar and different they actually are. Accountants's et up and design accounting systems and procedures, record financial transactions, and analyze and evaluate records for businesses, government, and the general public. Auditors determine whether established accounting record keeping procedures are being followed by analyzing records and inspecting and verifying journal and ledger entries. Accountants and auditors help to ensure that the Nation's firms are run more efficiently, its public records kept more accurately, and its taxes paid properly and on time. Bookkeepers prepare numerical records for reports, research, financial statements, and payroll use.

Auditing clerks verify records of transactions posted by other workers. They check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes. They also correct or note errors for accountants or other workers to adjust. Bookkeepers, accountants, and auditing clerks are an organization's financial record keepers.

The work activities of these four careers all deal with the records of companies and money, but each career specializes in a certain field pertaining ultimately to the same principles. Accountants design and use accounting systems and budgeting systems, prepare balance sheets and profit / loss statements, may direct the work of others performing similar duties, prepare various reports and documents such as payroll and sales tax reports, income tax returns, and personal property schedules, and examine and evaluate data relevant to the financial status of an organization. Auditors examine and evaluate data relevant to the financial status of an organization, make recommendations to management about operations and the financial position of the company, and determine correctness or lack of compliance. Bookkeepers post entries in ledgers, check items on reports and make necessary corrections, review computer printouts for accuracy, prepare invoices or monthly statements to be sent to customers, maintain financial files, complete claim, tax, or payroll forms, prepare and check financial reports used by management, and record details of transactions in account and cash journals. Auditing clerks update and maintain one or more accounting records, including those that tabulate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. They have a wide range of skills and knowledge, from full-charge bookkeepers, who can maintain an entire company's books, to accounting clerks who handle specific accounts.

When looking at the work activities of each occupation it is obvious that accountants and auditors have very similar jobs, and the same is true with bookkeepers and auditing clerks. Every career has its own aptitudes, physical demands, specific work setting, training and a certain amount of education that is usually required. The aptitudes of accounting include having good numerical and verbal abilities. They should be able to evaluate, analyze, and interpret records, concentrating for long periods. They should be able to work with people. These accountants should be able to make decisions and accept responsibility for directing and planning work.

The physical demands of an accountant include occasionally use arms and hands to reach and handle objects, frequently use fingers to manipulate objects, frequently need to carefully listen to and talk with clients, and frequently need to see printed material up close. Most accountants work indoors in an office setting. Overtime is common, especially during tax season and year-end closing. Nationally, about 6% of all accountants and auditors work part-time. Accountants sit for long periods.

Eyestrain may result from close work. Travel may be required. Accountants are needed in all industries and businesses. Auditors need good numerical and communication skills. They should be responsible and able to direct the activities of others. They should be able to make decisions based on facts and follow standards.

Auditors should be able to move often from one task to another using a variety of skills. The physical demands of an auditor includes occasionally use arms and hands to reach and handle objects, frequently use fingers to manipulate objects, and frequently need to see printed material up close. Most auditors work at a desk in an office setting. Frequent travel is common. Some work nights and weekends. Auditors work for banks and other financial institutions, large corporations, government agencies, utilities, and insurance companies.

About 11% of all accountants and auditors are self-employed. All these occupations require working with numbers. It is essential for bookkeepers to be able to work with numbers. They should be able to do detailed work with data and to be precise while working within set standards. Good eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity are important. They should be able to perform the same tasks continuously.

The physical demands of all these occupations includes the frequent use arms, hands, or fingers to reach and hold and the frequent need to see clearly up close. Most work a 40-hour week in various types of office settings. Nationally, about 26% work part-time. This work requires long periods of concentration, with little room for error. Computers are often used. Most work for manufacturers, businesses, insurance firms, government agencies, and financial institutions.

About 7% are self-employed. The amount of education for each of the careers is different. Accountants employers require a high school diploma and a four-year college degree in accounting. Additional education is necessary for advancement. Internships and experience are helpful. Accountants need knowledge of accounting principles and methods and the ability to apply them.

The ability to operate business machines and a familiarity with computers are important. These accountants should be able to prepare reports. For Auditors Employers require a high school diploma and a four-year bachelor's degree in accounting. Additional education is important for advancement.

Accounting and bookkeeping experience is helpful. Internships are also helpful. Auditors should have knowledge of the principles and procedures of accounting and auditing. Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing accounting and tax record keeping is important. Auditors should be able to prepare reports. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of personnel management and supervision is helpful.

For bookkeepers and auditing clerks most employers require a high school diploma. Some employers provide informal on-the-job training for advancement from general office clerk positions. Post-high school training available at two-year colleges and technical schools offers the necessary background required for most positions. Bookkeepers and auditing clerks should be able to use a variety of office machines.

They need knowledge of accounting methods or statistical procedures. Clerical skills are helpful. Computer skills are important. The education necessary to become an accountant or auditor is more demanding than that required to become a bookkeeper or auditing clerk.

A job as an accountant or auditor would be more suited for a individual who wishes to pursue his education further than high school, and who wants to have a more demanding job. The wages, outlook, and advancement possibilities of accountants and auditors are similar, as are bookkeepers and auditing clerks. The average yearly wage of accountants and auditors in the United States is $39,840 a year. The average yearly wage of bookkeepers and auditing clerks is $23,760 a year. However, the outlook for bookkeepers and auditing clerks is greater than the demand for accountants and auditors. While there may be no clear advancement path for any of these occupations, many opportunities do exist.

For accountants and auditors the opportunity may exist to move to higher pay and seniority within a company or organization. For some, supervisory opportunity may become available. Others may decide to open their own business. Work experience in this occupation may be transferable to other occupations. Bookkeepers and auditing clerks, opportunities may exist to move to higher pay and seniority within a company or organization. While the wages and advancement opportunities are greater for accountants and auditors, there are more jobs available as bookkeepers and auditing clerks.

These statistics make perfect sense, because accountants and auditors require a higher education level and therefore there are more bookkeepers and auditing clerks who hold a lower ranked job below them. A job as an accountant or auditor is obviously more rewarding than that of a bookkeeper or auditing clerk. However it requires more education and the outlook is not as good. All the careers require constant dealing with numbers, sitting an office for long hours, looking at small print, and there is no room for errors. Personally, I think a job as an accountant would be best suited for me. I would like to get a college degree and I enjoy working with numbers.

I have good numerical and verbal abilities am able to evaluate, analyze, and interpret records, and concentrate for long periods. I enjoy working with people. I am able to make decisions and accept responsibility for directing and planning work. I enjoy carefully listening to and talking with individuals, potential clients, and am able to see printed material up close.