Occupation Details
Accountants and Auditors
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
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Interests
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$62,660.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$100,550.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$130,700.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
121,960
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
142,070
+2,011 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
13,511
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Certified Public Accountant
Learn MoreApprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
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.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
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.
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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.
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.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- 10-key calculators
- Computer data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Photocopying equipment
- Scanners
Technology
- 1099 ProsSoftware
- ACCUCert
- ACL Audit Exchange
- ACL Business Assurance Analytics
- ADP Super Report Writer
- ADP Workforce Now
- ATX Total Engagement Office
- Abacus Tax
- Accountants Templates JAZZ-It!
- Accounting compliance software
- Accounting fraud detection software
- Accurate NXG
- AcornSystems Corporate Performance Management
- AdaptaSoft CyberPay
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- American Riviera Magtax
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- appraise, evaluate, or inventory real property or equipment
- develop budgets
- maintain record of organization expenses
- advise clients on financial matters
- advise clients on financial matters
- prepare audit reports or recommendations
- prepare audit reports or recommendations
- direct and coordinate financial activities
- direct and coordinate financial activities
- prepare tax returns
- fill out business or government forms
- fill out business or government forms
- prepare financial reports
- prepare financial reports
- prepare tax reports
- write administrative procedures services manual
- write administrative procedures services manual
- prepare correspondence relating to financial discrepancies
- prepare periodic reports comparing budgeted costs to actual costs
- write business correspondence
- make presentations on financial matters
- confer with taxpayer or representative
- confer with taxpayer or representative
- use cost benefit analysis techniques
- use cost benefit analysis techniques
- follow tax laws or regulations
- follow tax laws or regulations
- use statistical cost estimation methods
- use accounting terminology
- use accounting terminology
- analyze financial data
- analyze financial data
- evaluate degree of financial risk
- conduct financial investigations
- conduct financial investigations
- make revenue forecasts
- perform general financial analysis
- perform general financial analysis
- analyze applicant's financial status
- analyze financial information to project future revenues or expense
- analyze budgets
- determine tax liability according to prescribed laws
- determine tax liability according to prescribed laws
- compute taxes
- compute financial data
- compute financial data
- verify bank or financial transactions
- verify bank or financial transactions
- compile data for financial reports
- compile data for financial reports
- note discrepancies in financial records
- note discrepancies in financial records
- maintain account records
- inspect account books or system for efficiency, effectiveness, or acceptability
- inspect account books or system for efficiency, effectiveness, or acceptability
- use spreadsheet software
- use spreadsheet software
- use computers to enter, access and retrieve financial data
- use computers to enter, access and retrieve financial data
- use accounting or bookkeeping software
- use accounting or bookkeeping software
- develop or maintain budgeting databases
- obtain financial information from individuals
- obtain financial information from individuals
- gather relevant financial data
- interview client to obtain additional tax information
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Develop, maintain, or analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
- Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate financial planning.
- Process invoices for payment.
- Review data about material assets, net worth, liabilities, capital stock, surplus, income, or expenditures.
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
- Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office.
- Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
- Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries.
- Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
- Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.
- Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues.
- 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.
- Evaluate taxpayer finances to determine tax liability, using knowledge of interest and discount rates, annuities, valuation of stocks and bonds, and amortization valuation of depletable assets.
- Direct activities of personnel engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records.
- Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives.
- Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned.
- Audit payroll and personnel records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Accountants and auditors
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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