Why Accounting Jobs are Always in Demand

No matter what the state of the economy is, there will always be a demand for accounting jobs. This is because businesses and other organizations need to have someone to manage their finances and ensure that they are running smoothly.

High Demand

There are several reasons why accounting jobs are always in high demand. First, accounting is a very important function in any organization. Without someone to manage the finances, it would be very difficult for businesses to operate effectively.

Job Stability

Another reason why accounting jobs are in such high demand is that they offer a lot of stability. Unlike other jobs that may be affected by economic downturns, accounting jobs tend to be much more stable. This is because businesses will always need someone to manage their finances, no matter what the state of the economy is. Accountants also play a vital role in tax preparation and filing, which is another reason why their skills are always in demand.

So if you are looking for a stable and rewarding career, then accounting may be the right field for you. There will always be a demand for accounting jobs, so you can be sure that you will always have plenty of job opportunities available to you. Check out our business and accounting programs.

What You Need to Know About an Accounting Degree

An accounting degree can be a wonderful thing. The accounting industry is growing faster than any other industry. Online accounting degrees are offered at many colleges and universities throughout the world, and accounting jobs often come with high salaries and benefits. Even if accounting will not be your career in a decade, accounting skills are relevant across all industries. So is an accounting degree right for you?

What to Know About Accounting Degrees

Accounting involves communication, mathematics, and information technology. Accounting is a career that demands attention to detail, as accounting errors can result in steep fines and penalties for large corporations as well as small business owners. In accounting work, you’ll typically need to summarize your accounting data into reports that are understandable for accounting purposes, but that is also understandable for non-accountants. Even if you have accounting expertise, accounting can be complex and may require accounting software to help you create accounting reports.

What to Know About Accounting Careers

Accounting jobs can include financial analyst and auditor jobs as well as many other accounting jobs such as accounting clerk, accounting manager, accounting supervisor, bookkeeper, payroll, and so much more.

Each of these accounting careers may require different qualifications, so for accounting jobs in the accounting industry, you’ll need to show employers your accounting skills. Since there are many different potential types of accounting jobs, an accounting degree program will allow you to prepare for a variety of accounting careers.

What Skills Are Needed to Become a Successful Accountant?

Accounting is an occupation that focuses on data, so there are many analytical skills to learn. When you’re considering an accounting career, many tools and software can be beneficial. since they optimize the process of analyzing data. The more accounting training you have, the more accounting software you can learn to use, and accounting skills are necessary for many jobs throughout the accounting industry.

The Benefits of a Business Administration Degree

Earning a business administration degree can have many advantages. It can help you land your first job or even start your own business, as graduates can often get a job with better pay than people in similar jobs. It also allows you to develop your networking skills and network with professors and employers. With a business administration degree, you can take advantage of these advantages. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider earning a business administration degree.

A business administration degree gives you a plethora of career options. Once you graduate, you can choose to become an accountant, finance manager, or even start your own company. You may even decide to work in human resources or marketing firms or start your own business. You will be able to take charge of a variety of projects, so you will be able to decide which one will best fit your skills and your personality.

As a business administration graduate, you can move seamlessly between different positions and work environments. A business administration degree will help you get hands-on experience working with real companies, and you’ll have an excellent understanding of the world of business. You will also develop management skills that will be useful in a variety of industries and organizations. These skills are in high demand in almost any sector, so they are an invaluable asset. The benefits of a business administration degree are numerous.

4 Top Mistakes Every New Accountant Makes

When it comes to starting your career as a new accountant, mistakes are bound to happen. However, many professionals believe that this helps grow them personally and professionally. If you’ve decided to start your education in accounting, it’s important to know the top four mistakes every new accountant is bound to make.

Pushing Yourself Too Thin

Overworking is common for many new professionals, as a yearning to use your skills, is fairly common. You want to be able to impress your peers and superiors, however, this can lead to burnout. Many accountants will have a busy season with work weeks that stretch beyond the 40-hour mark, but the fact of the matter is, this shouldn’t be your regular work schedule. Pushing yourself over the limit will lead to burnout, which can impact your job satisfaction negatively.

Lack of Attention to Detail

There are many new responsibilities every professional has after they leave college. As An accountant, paying close attention to detail is incredibly important. This is going to be much different than paying attention in college–your tasks require your utmost attention, as there is very little room for error. Quick lapse of judgment will bear more problems down the road, so make sure you tune up your attention to detail.

Not Staying Focused When Trained

Let’s be honest, employee training isn’t usually luxurious, but that doesn’t mean you should snooze off while being taught the principles and regulations of the organization you’re working with. Every firm does training differently, and even if you thought you knew something from college or a past job, it might not apply to this specific circumstance. New accounts need to invest every minute of their time early on to learn as much as their company is showing them. Not only will this help guide you in the right direction in the early stages of your career, but it will also help you be less negligible in the future.

Every firm does mandatory employee training to keep their staff up to date on the current software, accounting principles, and changes in the regulations. Sometimes, however, employees can neglect the importance of the content presented during training. In turn, their knowledge falls behind and they are not up to date on the current issues. Meaning, new accountants should invest the necessary time to learn everything that the firm showcases to them during training. Doing so will make them less likely to cause errors of negligence that can be quite expensive. Additionally, it will present them as reliable team members who have the necessary skill sets.

Putting Zero Effort Into Networking

Like most graduates, accountants may believe they are done with networking once they snag a job. This can be fatal to your career, as you should always be expanding your network. The chances of you staying at that one job for the rest of your life are pretty slim. So what happens if you want to transition, but your network is abysmal? Networking is an ongoing process, and you should try to connect with as many relevant professionals in your field. You just never know what could pop up in your LinkedIn feed or message box!

While this list may be short, there are many more problems that accountants can make in their career. However, understanding which pitfalls to avoid will help you achieve great success in your career.

How to Advance Your Career in Accounting

Accounting has remained a popular career option because the skills and need for accountants is always in demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1.3 million accounting jobs in the United States in 2016 with an expectation to grow to 1.5 million by 2026.

Being an accountant comes with great job security with an increasing number of employment opportunities. Accountants make an average of $69,000 a year, which is far more significant than the national average. Of course, a big part of higher salaries is driven by senior positions, but the trajectories of accounting careers can put you well on your way to earning that solid average salary and well beyond.

There are some steps you can to ensure your path in the accounting industry is prosperous, challenging, and enjoyable. Here are some tips to advance your accounting career.

Get Certified

Earning the CPA credential is widely recognized across the industry and instantly gains credibility. The reason being is because it’s a tough process to become a CPA. If you earn certification, you earn more prestige & respect, better trajectory, and increased salary.

Find a Mentor

Finding a mentor who’s certified and has years of experience in the field is a great way to get ahead. Your mentor will have faced all of the challenges you have yet to take on and can provide valuable insight on the industry itself.

As long as you do your part, you can build a relationship that’s sustainable and helps your career in a unique way. Eventually, you could pay it forward and become a mentor yourself.

Keep up with New Technology

Just like any industry, accounting software will continue to expand. There will be one new standard after another. Becoming familiar with these changes on an expert level will either make you indispensable or allow you to become an incredibly valuable candidate for a higher position.

Focus on Soft Skills

While knowing the ins and outs of accounting on an expert level is essential, you should always work on your ability to lead, connect with your team, and efficiently finish projects. This will seal the deal on continually working your way up in the field.

Following all these steps will play a crucial part in building your career. There won’t be any doubt that you put your mind to it, you’ll be a successful accountant.

Why Should I Pursue a Career in Accounting?

The modern job market seems to be ever shifting and it can be hard to find a career where your work won’t be outsourced or replaced by automation. Right now the accounting job market is experiencing a period of growth and is expected to grow during the next decade. Part of this is because baby boomers are starting to retire, leaving a lot of jobs in the accounting field open.

These are jobs that are hard to shift overseas and the automation that is expected to happen in the industry already has happened. One of the best things about the current market for accounting positions is that the openings go all the way from entry level to C-Level positions. These are jobs that aren’t just available in Fortune 500 companies, but these are positions in small and medium sized businesses. That means that people with accounting skills and experience can find jobs just about anywhere in the country.

Unlike many jobs in the service industry, most of these jobs are relatively stable, not just in the longevity of the jobs, but in the hours that you work. Instead of having to be available and on-call at all hours and all times including holidays and weekends, most accounting jobs are 8-5 Monday through Friday with paid holidays and vacation. This is very attractive to those who are looking for jobs that offer the ability to find a happy work life balance.

You do not have to be a math genius, but it helps if you enjoy working with numbers. Accounting is now highly automated and having good data entry as well as so skill in accounting programs and MS Excel is probably more key than having taken advanced math classes. If you do have a knack for numbers and enjoy job stability, Accounting has a lot to offer as a career.

Become an Accountant

With Academy College, you will be exposed to all areas of accounting – financial, tax, auditing, information systems, and more. We can help you accomplish your goals through our Accounting Bachelor of Science Degree program. Learn more by contacting us online or by calling 952-851-0066.

What Are my Career Opportunities in Accounting?

It often surprises people how much accounting plays a role in almost everything we do. It is the study of how people, businesses, or organizations account for their assets and income. To understand business, you must have at least a basic knowledge of accounting. Many accountants, in fact, run their own businesses, since they are so familiar with accounting systems and practices. There is a lot of work in accounting for those who do not work in it themselves, however. Here is a rundown of some accounting career options.

Public Practice

A public accountant is someone who hires out their accounting services for a fee. They can work with businesses, individuals, governments, and any type of organization. To work as a public accountant you must be properly certified. Public accountants can perform audits, advise on taxation, provide guidance to management, and perform all of the cost and expenses tracking needed. It is a good way to get a solid overview of the business world before perhaps striking out on your own.

Education

Accountants can also get into the education field. They can do research, or they can teach. Research can be extremely valuable in that it will allow the entire field to move forward with new ideas and ways to think about old ideas. The best people to pass on knowledge are the experts, so many accountants get into teaching to guide the next generations of accounting talent.

Commerce

No matter the size, every corporation has an accounting department. They need people to put together financial statements, handle any tax issues, and track costs. They can also work on international transactions to make sure they are processed correctly. Many top executives at some of the biggest companies in the world started out in the accounting department before moving their way up.

Government Service

If anyone needs to keep track of their spending, it is governments. Every level of government needs accounting professionals to help with any number of tasks. For one, they can help create and manage budgets. They can also track government spending and analyze programs and services for inefficiencies. There is, however, always the difficulty in working in the political arena, when there is not always a guarantee that your ideas and recommendations will be implemented if the political winds are not blowing the right way.

These are just a few of the many options available for an accountant. Money is what makes the world go ‘round, and being able to properly and accurately track spending and manage budgets is a massively important skill that can lead to any number of exciting careers.

Are you pursuing a career in accounting?

Academy College can help you reach your goals through our Accounting Bachelor of Science Degree or Associates of Applied Science Degree. Contact us to learn more about our program.

What Are Common Terms Used in the Accounting Field?

There is no shortage of accounting-related terms, and if you work in the accounting field, you are most likely acquainted with all of them. If you are planning to pursue a career in accounting, there are a few basic terms that you should be familiar with.

An accountant is an individual who is trained in logging and reporting financial transactions. He or she might report to various people within an organization, updating their team and/or clients on all financial situations. He or she may be the one who attends to tax-related matters as well.

An account payable is an amount owed to a creditor for products and/or services. In a clothing store, your account payable would refer to the price of a jacket or shoes. If you were living in an apartment, an account payable would refer to amount owed for rent.

An account receivable is a claim against a debtor for an unresolved amount. As an accountant, you are planning to obtain this debt. By doing so, you will achieve a balanced sheet. If this debt cannot be collected for a specific reason, it is labeled a bad debt. It will not be receivable.

This brings us to balance. Balance refers to a straightforward financial statement that reveals who owes what and who has paid their debt up to that point in time. The bottom line, comparably, refers to the financial statement that displays net income or loss from a specific date to another.

Everyone desires a positive cash flow. This necessitates that we have cash and we are spending less than we are being afforded. A cash flow refers to the net of cash receipts and cash disbursements in relation to a specific activity during a certain period of time.

A bookkeeper is often referred to as an accountant. While they might perform some of the same tasks, a bookkeeper’s primary job is to document the financial transactions of an organization. He or she will record incoming and outgoing finances in the hopes of preserving a balanced account and adequate cash flow.

Are you pursuing a career in accounting?

Academy College can help you reach your goals through our Accounting Bachelor of Science Degree or Associates of Applied Science Degree. Contact us to learn more about our program.