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This occupation is expected to grow rapidly and is projected to have large numbers of job openings.
Description
Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Sample Job Titles
Accountant
Accounting Manager
Accounting Officer
Accounting Supervisor
Business Analyst
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Cost Accountant
General Accountant
Project Accountant
Staff Accountant
Skills
Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities
Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning
- The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Near Vision
- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility
- The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Knowledge
Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Tasks
Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
Prepare adjusting journal entries.
Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
Advise management about issues such as resource utilization, tax strategies, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
Maintain or examine the records of government agencies.
Work Activities
Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Documenting/Recording Information
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Performing Administrative Activities
- Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Processing Information
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Personality Traits
Adaptability/Flexibility
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
- Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
- Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self Control
- Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.