ACCOUNTING CAREERS—
Your guide to finding a fulfilling and rewarding job in the profession
LET'S GET STARTED–
Every business needs a certified public accountant (CPA). No matter what industry interests you, there’s a CPA for it.
CPAs come from all backgrounds, personalities and proficiencies. Essentially, they are:
Smart (after all, they passed the CPA Exam).
Business savvy (without CPAs, most businesses would fail).
Moneymakers (no slouchy salaries here).
Highly respected (not everyone has what it takes to be one).
In demand (money makes the world go 'round).
This guide provides you the clarity and direction to find an accounting career path that fuels your passion.
Once you’ve gained your accounting or finance degree and passed the CPA Exam, opportunities will open, and you will have an exciting career and a respectable paycheck.
Click on the boxes below and explore:
Meet the new-school side of accounting.
Technology rules our lives and businesses. Without it, pretty much everything would grind to a halt. Systems must run smoothly, and money has to be well protected.
That’s where tech-savvy CPAs come into play. They are so in demand there is even a credential called CITP® (Certified Information Technology Professional) that makes you more specialized and known for your superior financial and technological prowess.
Consider jobs like ...
Financial analyst, global software company. You’re responsible for keeping software projects on track and on budget. Your analytical brain will also help you spot and price mistakes.
Cybersecurity analyst, national bank.You are the knight in shining armor protecting your organization’s computer system, networks and data from cyber threats.
Owner/CEO, website start-up.It is all on you: Finding the start-up money. Figuring out your business model. Getting things off the ground. Hiring. Firing. Excelling under pressure will take you (and your business) far.
You need to be passionate about what you do, and to feel that you’re helping to improve the world. That’s why I became a CPA.
Donny Shimamoto, IntrapriseTechKnowlogies, Hawaii
Accountants use AI for repetitive jobs, like data entry, freeing up time to focus on creative and critical thinking tasks.
From social media to the silver screen, CPAs keep the action rolling.
Everyone knows there is big money in the entertainment industry. And it doesn’t just go to the folks with the names and faces we all know and love.
CPAs are sprinkled all over the industry, from advising the rich and famous on their financials to negotiating contracts and keeping TV shows and video games on budget. This behind-the-scenes CPA is what keeps productions profitable.
Personal financial planner for a celebrity.Everyone listens when celebrities talk, but they’ll hang on your every word when you tell them how to spend their money (or how not to).
Content accountant, digital streaming platform.The company’s accounting team has set the stage for you to provide analysis and forecasts while being responsible for the accurate financial reporting of the money spent on content.
Tax accountant, video game company.International gaming notoriety means paying international taxes. You would need to make sure they are done right — and could get asked to help beta test the next big game. Win-win!
Studying accounting and becoming a CPA has allowed me to work closely with content creators to help them understand the financial side of their business. I am grateful to have found a career that allows me to merge both my love for accounting with my love for content creation.
Courtney Arrington
Get paid good money to do good.
Talk about a balancing act. CPAs working for nonprofits ensure their organizations do not spend more money than they bring in.
CPAs do it all, from helping their group set up internal control systems to managing the budget and preparing financial data for the board of directors and tax purposes. They are super-accountants that allow nonprofits to do what they do best: Make money for good causes.
Accounting manager, children’s museum.Ticket sales, concessions, the gift shop and much more — all revenue and spending must be tracked and recorded. It won’t be child’s play, but it will be pretty cool.
Senior accountant, emergency response organization.You keep track of donations coming in and going out to those who need it most — and ensure those donations are doled out correctly to make the most of relief missions.
Controller, pet shelter.Finding homes for four-legged friends is hard work. But without you taking care of all the financials behind the scenes, it wouldn’t be possible. Purrs and tail wags all around.
Being a CPA allows me to use my accounting skills to have a profound impact on the next generation of leaders. I get to make a difference and shape a brighter future!
Jessica McClain, CFO of Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital
So many places to go. So many audits to do. So many CPAs on the next flight.
Hotels, airlines, new cities and new faces — does the mere mention of these prepare you to pack your bags?
We hope so, because they all need help managing their software, sales figures and year-end budgets. There are plenty of travel and tourism opportunities for you to choose your own adventure as a CPA.
Global controller, candy company. Ah, the sweet, sweet taste of financial success. The many accountants under your management will be scattered across the globe.
Financial analyst, online travel company.Keeping track of financial trends, properly pricing promotions, and tweaking things to keep profits from going south for the winter — hello, frequent-flyer miles!
Director of financial reporting, international hotel chain.You’re the boss of financial reports and share them with top-tier executives. Your expertise keeps profits sitting pretty. You’ll have your bags packed for whenever duty calls.
My journey as a CPA has transformed me into a global citizen, proving that with determination and credentials, you can turn dreams into a reality.
Charlene Rhinehart, CPA
Many CPAs meet their clients where they are, which means travel to different cities, states and even countries!
Be all that you can be — in governmental accounting.
Checks and balances is the name of this patriotic accounting game. CPAs who work for the government help keep local, state and national government departments honest and make sure these agencies are fiscally responsible for all that taxpayer money.
Financial reporting, auditing, management accounting, advising key decision-makers and investigating financial crimes are all performed by civil servant CPAs, who are responsible for the economic state of the union.
Auditor general, any state, USA.In this role, you will look at tourists in a new light. After all, they bring money in and leave it behind when they go. You manage it all and keep state spending in check.
Payroll accountant, U.S. Army.You’ll be on the frontline, ensuring every single “Army of One” across the organization gets paid. Protecting our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness!
Internal auditor, Department of Defense.Every U.S. agency needs a CPA to sniff out suspicious financial information. You’ll also ensure proper spending and keep financial records safe.
Be green. Save green. Keep everyone happy.
As global warming increases and ocean levels continue to rise, environmental accounting has become one of the fastest-growing areas of accounting.
Companies are trying to be more responsible in ways that are good for the planet and for profitability. Setting up systems to ensure compliance with regulations and becoming more proactively earth-friendly takes the specialized skill set of an all-natural CPA.
Director of accounting, renewable energy company.You fuel the entire accounting department and keep it running smoothly. Whether it’s the profitability of biodiesel or solar panel sales, you’re part of our energy future.
Senior accountant, National Park Service.Love the great outdoors? Blaze a financially healthy trail for our nation’s wild wonders. Accounting for donations, admission fees and more can save more than trees.
Ecosystem strategist, corporate company. Be a breath of fresh air as you help your organization measure and report its carbon emissions fairly.
I now use the foundational skills I gained as a CPA every day in my role designing software solutions that help organizations measure and report their carbon emissions fairly.
William Scherba, CPA, MBA
From soccer to surfing, CPAs are the ones who call the shots.
While athletes need to keep their eye on the ball, sports industry CPAs are responsible for watching much more than that.
Representing the financial needs of pro athletes and franchises takes skills in everything from analyzing the financial implications of drafting a new player to pricing box seats and negotiating the best deal for whichever budding star you happen to be financially representing at the time. It’s all about the win.
CEO, sports apparel company.You’re like the head coach of an all-star team. You call the financial shots and work closely with your top players to develop marketing plays that will lead everyone to victory.
Staff accountant, surf shop.Price merchandise, develop tubular promotions and balance those books as you would on the surfboard to keep financials looking rad!
Accounting manager, national tennis association.Serve up expertise in overseeing a team of accountants, keeping track of revenue and setting aside some of it for tennis education programs. Like tennis? Then you’ll love this job.
A recent study shows that CPAs are in the top five careers for millionaires.
Busting felons while making bank.
CPAs working on criminal investigations use their accounting expertise and sleuthing skills to catch people committing fraud and other financial crimes.
Following the paper trail — and there’s always a paper trail — forensic CPAs sniff out criminal activity. Some testify in court, while others have been known to go undercover to catch embezzlers, thieves and other unsavory scoundrels. It’s a high-stakes job and all about justice.
Fraud examiner, local police department.Bust bank robbers, catch criminals and scare the living daylights out of fiscal wrongdoers. Enjoy all the benefits of being a cop without wearing the uniform.
Special agent, FBI.Keep our country safe from people committing bank fraud and even international terrorists. Plus, you’ll have a shiny badge to accompany this high-prestige gig.
Forensic accountant, Big 4 accounting firm.Work for one of the big guys, helping put the bad guys away for good. Solve financial mysteries, uncover shady business and take home a handsome paycheck for doing it.
From hot dogs to haute couture.
The food and fashion industries rely on CPAs to ensure they’re making the best business decisions.
These CPAs answer the big questions to keep businesses in the black. Will outsourcing overseas save us money? Should our new location be in Austin or Atlanta? CPAs are involved with various business decisions — everything from what’s on the menu to what walks down the runway.
Accounting manager, national jewelry chain.Keep count of everything from inventory to advertising spending. Whether it’s coming in or going out, you’re the one who’s responsible for the business of baubles and bling.
Treasurer, international coffee company.Tall, skinny, half-caf or extra hot, the profit margins on coffee beverages are huge. You handle all the money coming in from 20,000+ stores. Perk: unlimited coffee breaks.
Global controller, sports drink company.On top of keeping athletes hydrated so they can perform their best, you’ll ensure your profits do the same as you manage a team of global experts.
Nike co-founder, Phil Knight, is a CPA. The inspiration for Nike actually came during a course in entrepreneurship while getting his MBA.
Schooling school systems on their accounting acumen.
Accounting teachers and professors teach courses on everything from financial literacy to ethics. College deans and department heads oversee students’ grasp of these important concepts.
If teaching is not your calling, there are always opportunities behind the scenes in school districts and accounting departments of colleges and universities — think payroll and approving education investments.
Professor, local college or university.Share your invaluable wisdom on general accounting principles, audits and international tax law with tomorrow's accountants. Plus … summers off!
Staff accountant, local school district.Help future generations get the best public education possible by tracking school finances, staying within budget and making sure all the teachers get paid.
Fund accountant, university endowment foundation.Keep track of monetary gifts from friends, families, companies and alumni by ensuring the funds are used according to the donor’s wishes.
The AICPA provides students with scholarship opportunities, professional insights and career tools to develop their accounting careers.
Turns out variety is the spice of life for CPAs, too.
CPAs who work for public firms do various things for numerous companies.
They act as unbiased third-party financial advisers to their clients and can either work at their firm or on-site at a client’s office. The 46,000 accounting firms in the U.S. range from small one-person shops to large international operations, and the accountants who work for them learn every angle of business.
President, your accounting firm.Big decisions and an even bigger office. The good thing is that you are in charge and don’t have to report to anyone.
Audit manager, regional accounting firm. Finally, a job where you get paid to be nosy and to travel. Hop on a jet to clients’ offices and review their financial information to uncover things that don’t add up. It’s better for you than the IRS.
Director of finance, international accounting firm.You’re the one who ensures your worldwide offices operate within budget, no matter what currency they work in. (There’s no pressure or anything.)
Bubblegum was invented by an accountant, Walter Diemar, in 1928. The color was bright pink because it was the only dye he had available.
