Do you like numbers? Does it come naturally to you to keep your personal finances organized and accounted for? You may want to consider being trained for a career in accounting. With all the recent exposure of financial scandals in big business, meticulous and ethical accounting has become an even more valuable role to play in a company. Primary topics covered in accounting programs include math, cost accounting, economics, taxation, and statistics. Accounting programs are offered at all education levels and many schools offer online accounting programs. Look for online bookkeeping diplomas to associate degrees, online bachelor’s degrees, and online master’s degrees or MBAs in public or management accounting.

Accounting Careers

Accountanting and auditing workers confirm that organizations’ public records are kept properly, that their taxes are paid correctly, and that operations are run cost-effectively. Accountant careers include:

• Auditor: ensures the internal records of organizations are accurate and that organizations are free from waste, fraud, and mismanagement.
• Government Accountants or Auditor: maintain and audit the records of government agencies and audit the financial records of individuals and businesses that are subject to regulations or taxation.
• Management Accountant, also known as a cost, managerial, industrial, corporate, and private accountant, provides financial information to company executives for business decisions and strategic planning.
• Public Accountant: provides accounting, auditing, and tax services for individual clients, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations. Accountants may work as independent private contractors or for public accounting firms.

Certification or licensure exams for each type of accountant are:

• Auditor: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Government accounting: Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• Management accounting: Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Public accounting: Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

What’s the Job Outlook?

Growth of accounting jobs is predicted to be very strong between 2010 and 2016, fueled by the recent financial scandals and the resultant regulations. If the economy recovers from the recession and begins to grow again, that will also boost accounting job growth.

How Much Does It Pay?

According to Payscale.com, median salaries for accounting range from nearly $60,000 to over $100,000 per year, depending on the industry you’re in, your employer, your years of experience, and whether you have appropriate licensing. Bookkeeper jobs pay between $12 and $20 an hour; Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk jobs, between $10 and $20 per hour; and Bookkeeping Management jobs, between $24,000 and $55,000 a year.