Accounting Specialties: Which Path Should You Explore Further
When it comes to a career in accounting, you have your choice of where you choose to specialize. In this blog, we’ll walk through a variety of account specialties & focus on what the perks of each are. For help finding great accounting opportunities near you, start your search with PrideStaff Financial.
Tax Accountant:
A big plus for being a tax accountant is job security. The Department of Labor and Statistics shows that the area of expertise has grown by more than eight percent in the last three years. That also means that there is opportunity. Accountants work in many different industries: government, higher education, healthcare, and more. Certified public accountants can do so many different forms of accounting. Another great perk of being an accountant is flexibility. While tax season can create long work hours and some stress, during less busy seasons, many companies offer hybrid work situations and Fridays off. The median salary average for this field is $55,000 for less experienced and as high as $125,000 for top earners.
Forensic Accounting:
Forensic accountants use their expertise in finance to investigate fraud and other financial misrepresentations. The work includes analyzing financial information to enable lawyers to prosecute criminals, and with insurance companies and other clients to resolve disputes. Forensic accountants are trained to look beyond the numbers and deal with the business realities of situations. Analysis, interpretation, summarization, and the presentation of complex financial and business-related issues are prominent features of the profession. A big perk of this role is the ability to gather intelligence and conduct research. If that is a skill you possess and are passionate about, then this could be a great career choice for you. There is also sometimes travel involved with this career path. Due to the nature of the job, there are many types of industries you can work in, including the private sector, government, law firms, consulting as a risk consultant (working for yourself), accounting firms, and more. Starting salaries typically range from $65,000-73,000. Learn more about what’s required to become a forensic accountant here.
Internal Auditor:
Internal auditors are considered independent, objective assurance, and consultants designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. IAs help an organization accomplish objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. Different types of auditors include IT, Operations, and performance. Internal Auditors assess business processes within organizations to identify improvements related to the accuracy, efficiency, reliability, and quality of the process and the resulting products and services. They evaluate internal controls that safeguard company assets. They promote ethics and help identify improper conduct, just to name a few of their responsibilities. There is a lot of variety in becoming an internal auditor. You could be a jack-of-all-trades and support a company through many different types of internal audits or be a focused specialist. Some examples of specialists include HIPAA compliance auditor, certified financial auditor, certified information systems auditor, medical claims auditor, PCI compliance auditor, etc. There are also many different types of certifications available to help increase your knowledge in a certain area.
Searching for your next accounting position?
PrideStaff Financial has consistently won awards for exceptional job seeker satisfaction. Our highly skilled staffing consultants can help you determine the best path for you. Explore our current financial career opportunities over on our career portal, or contact our team today to learn more!
