An Accountant is responsible for monitoring and recording the flow of money through an agency, business or organization. Accountants verify the accuracy of all money and cash flow that goesin and out of a company following current local, state and federal guidelines. An Accountant may work directly for a public accounting/CPA Firm or in the private sector. Private sectorbusinesses include privately owned or publicly traded companies.

Accountants are formally trained at a university or community college and will earn a Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting or Economics. Most senior -level accountants have obtained their CPA or hold other certifications that show that they have met all training requirements as an accountant.

Accountants may use a variety of software programs to keep general ledgers and to prepare the different types of forms and financial statements. Tax accountants may also be able to electronically file tax returns and to set up payment plans through customer accounts with the various taxation departments. Accountants may work long hours especially during tax preparation time. They also may be required to participate in audits, either for their own company or other companies that have hired them to perform the audit. Corporate accountants may also be required to provide financial analysis and even risk analysis for large corporations to make future investment decisions.

Common work activities include:

Entering data regarding taxes, sales, profits, bills payable and other transactions in a timely fashion.

Preparing and paying local, state or federal tax returns for large corporations or preparing and discussing tax returns for private individuals.

Balancing accounts on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Preparing financial statements on either a regular schedule or when requested.

Ensuring all financial practices are legal and within guidelines as outline in federal or state laws.

Participating in budget and planning meeting with individuals or business to provide necessary information and recommendations for investments or financial opportunities.

The typical salary range for Accountants is $40,000 for more entry-level Accounting to $150,000+ for the more executive and senior level positions like VP of Director of Finance, Controller, and CFO.

**Annual earnings are determined by a variety of factors including field, title, place of employment, level of education, experience and geography.**

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