Accountant

Alternative Job Titles for Accountants and Auditors

• Accountant
• Accounting Officer
• Audit Partner
• Auditor
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Cost Accountant
• Financial Auditor
• General Accountant
• Internal Auditor
• Revenue Tax Specialist

Job Tasks and Activities for Accountants and Auditors

• 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.
• Advise others on business or operational matters.
• Advise others on financial matters.
• Advise others on human resources topics.
• Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
• Analyze business or financial data.
• Analyze financial information.
• Assess financial status of clients.
• Audit payroll and personnel records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws.
• Calculate tax information.
• Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
• Collect evidence for legal proceedings.
• Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
• Conduct financial or regulatory audits.
• Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned.
• Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
• Coordinate regulatory documentation activities.
• Develop business or financial information systems.
• Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
• Direct activities of personnel engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records.
• Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers.
• Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
• Evaluate effectiveness of personnel policies or practices.
• 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.
• Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
• Examine financial records or processes.
• Examine financial records.
• Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries.
• Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
• Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives.
• Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
• Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
• Investigate legal issues.
• Oversee business processes.
• Prepare adjusting journal entries.
• Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
• Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
• Prepare financial documents.
• Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
• Report information to managers or other personnel.
• Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
• Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
• Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
• Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office.
• Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
• Verify accuracy of financial information.
• Verify accuracy of records.

Interests for Accountants and Auditors

• Conventional
  Following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting.
• Enterprising
  Managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations.
• Investigative
  Studying and researching scientific subjects and human behavior.

Skills for Accountants and Auditors

In order of importance

• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 72/100
• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 69/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 69/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 69/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 63/100
• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 63/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 60/100
• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 60/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 56/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 56/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 53/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 53/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 53/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 53/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 50/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 47/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 47/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 47/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 44/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 44/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 44/100
• Management of Financial Resources
  Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
  Importance: 31/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 25/100
• Management of Material Resources
  Managing equipment and materials.
  Importance: 22/100
• Quality Control Analysis
  Testing how well a product or service works.
  Importance: 22/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 19/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 19/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 16/100
• Operation and Control
  Using equipment or systems.
  Importance: 10/100
• Equipment Selection
  Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
  Importance: 6/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 6/100
• Installation
  Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
  Importance: 3/100

Knowledge for Accountants and Auditors

In order of importance

• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 91/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Importance: 74/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 73/100
• 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.
  Importance: 63/100
• 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.
  Importance: 63/100
• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 58/100
• 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.
  Importance: 52/100
• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 51/100
• 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.
  Importance: 41/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 38/100
• 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.
  Importance: 35/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 25/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 22/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 19/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 16/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 14/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 8/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 7/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 6/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 6/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 5/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 5/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 4/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 4/100
• Building and Construction
  Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  Importance: 4/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 4/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 3/100
• Food Production
  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  Importance: 2/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 2/100
• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 1/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 1/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 1/100

Physical Abilities for Accountants and Auditors

In order of importance

• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 75/100
• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 72/100
• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 72/100
• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 69/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 69/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 69/100
• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 69/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 69/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 66/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 60/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 60/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 60/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 56/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 56/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 50/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 50/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 47/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 47/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 47/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 44/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 35/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 35/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 31/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 28/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 28/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 25/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 22/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 22/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 19/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 16/100
• Depth Perception
  Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
  Importance: 13/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 3/100
• Spatial Orientation
  Knowing where things are around you.
  Importance: 3/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 3/100
• Sound Localization
  Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
  Importance: 3/100

Tools and Technology used by Accountants and Auditors

• Desktop calculator
• Desktop computers
• Laser fax machine
• Notebook computers
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• Photocopiers
• Scanners
• Tablet computers
• Accounting software
  • ATX Total Accounting Office
  • ATX Total Engagement Office
  • Accounting software
  • Accounts payable software
  • Accounts receivable software
  • Accurate NXG
  • AcorynSystems Activity Based Costing/Management ABC/M
  • AdaptaSoft CyberPay
  • Automation Counselors municiPAL
  • Best MIP Fund Accounting
  • Billing software
  • CCIS AccountAbility
  • CYMA IV Accounting for Windows
  • Client billing software
  • Cost accounting software
  • Evron Computer Systems SAGE PFW (Platinum For Windows)
  • FRx Software Microsoft FRx
  • Financial reporting software
  • Financial statement software
  • Fund accounting software
  • General ledger software
  • Heron CrossTie General Ledger
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Invoice software
  • Lead Activity Analyzer
  • Lead Business Analyzer
  • Micronetics Xpert Write-up
  • Multiview Accounts Receivable
  • New Millennium Communications Genesis Accounting
  • PROPHIX Enterprise
  • Pro Systems Client Write-Up System for Windows
  • Profit Developers Electronic File Interchange
  • Roundtable Software Advantage Accounting System
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • Sage BusinessWorks
  • Sage CPAAccounts Payable
  • Sage CPAAccounts Receivable
  • Sage CPAClient Checkbook
  • Sageworks ProfitCents
  • Softrax Revenue Management
  • Summit Software Summit Biofuels Accounting
  • Tax software
  • UA Business Software Professional Edition
• Analytical or scientific software
  • ACL Audit Exchange
  • Arbutus Analyzer
  • Guidance Software EnCase Enterprise
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • SAS
  • WizSoft WizRule
• Business intelligence and data analysis software
  • Alteryx software
  • IBM Cognos Impromptu
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
  • Qlik Tech QlikView
  • Tableau
• Cloud-based data access and sharing software
  • Microsoft SharePoint
• Compliance software
  • ACCUCert
  • Accounting compliance software
  • Bi3 Audit Intelligence
  • Corporate Responsibility System Technologies Limited Compliance Positioning System
  • Intrax ProcedureNet
  • Lumigent Entegra
  • Paisley Cardmap
  • Paisley Focus Control Assurance
  • Paisley RiskNavigator
  • Sage EDP Payroll Tax
  • Sage HandiSoft HandiLedger
  • Tax compliance property tax management software
  • TrendTracker Compliance Solution
• Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Salesforce software
• Data base management system software
  • Apache Solr
  • Teradata Database
• Data base reporting software
  • ADP Super Report Writer
  • SAP Crystal Reports
• Data base user interface and query software
  • Best Software CPAPayroll
  • Data entry software
  • Database software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle Database
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Yardi Systems Yardi Enterprise
  • Yardi software
• Data mining software
  • Data extraction software
  • WizSoft WizWhy
• Desktop communications software
  • Eko
• Desktop publishing software
  • Microsoft Publisher
• Development environment software
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
  • eXtensible Business Reporting Language XBRL
• Document management software
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Document management system software
  • Iron Mountain Accutrac records management software
  • OmniRIM Records Management Suite
  • Sage CPADocument Manager
• Electronic mail software
  • IBM Notes
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Enterprise application integration software
  • SAP BusinessObjects Data Integrator
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Accountants Templates JAZZ-It!
  • AcornSystems Corporate Performance Management
  • Cartesis ES Magnitude
  • Exact Software Macola ES
  • Lawson ERP
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Microsoft Dynamics NAV
  • Microsoft Dynamics SL
  • NetSuite ERP
  • Oracle Fusion Applications
  • Oracle Hyperion
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
  • SAP Business Objects
  • SAP software
  • Sage ERP Accpac
  • Sage MAS 200 ERP
  • Sage Platinum for Windows PFW
  • Workday software
• Enterprise system management software
  • IBM Power Systems software
• Financial analysis software
  • ACL Business Assurance Analytics
  • Accounting fraud detection software
  • Audit management software
  • Audit planning and control environment software
  • AuditWare CaseWare Examiner
  • AuditWare financial reporting and auditing software
  • Automated auditors fraud detector software
  • BNA Corporate Tax Audit Analyzer
  • Bi3 Financial Statement Fraud Analysis
  • BizBench
  • Brentmark Estate Planning Quickview
  • Cammack Computations Inter-Est
  • Cartesis Magnitude iAnalysis
  • CaseWare International IDEA
  • CaseWare International IDEA SmartAnalyzer
  • CaseWare Working Papers
  • CashFlow Guardian
  • Cebos MQ1 Audit System
  • Choice Technologies PowerBill +
  • D'Arcangelo Galileo
  • Datavantage
  • Delphi Technology
  • Digital analysis tests and statistics DATAS for Excel
  • Digital analysis tests and statistics DATAS for SAS
  • Estate planning software
  • Financial Competence
  • Fixed-assets depreciation software
  • IAD Audit Leverage
  • InformationActive ActiveData for Excel
  • Internal audit software
  • Kirix ProffiPoint
  • MRO Audit Tracker
  • MethodWare ProAudit Advisor
  • Microsoft FRx
  • OSI TrustWise
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Paisley AutoAudit
  • Paisley IssueTrack
  • Palisade @Risk
  • Pentana audit work system PAWS
  • Pleier Audit Management System
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers TeamMate
  • RSM McGladrey Advanced Practice Solutions Paperless Audit
  • RSM McGladrey Auditor Assistant
  • Recovery audit software
  • Sage MAS 500
  • Sampson Data Pattern Index software
  • Solutions Technology & Software HR Premier
  • Star Software Fixed Asset Depreciation
  • Star Software Materiality Calculator
  • Sync Essentials Trade Accountant
  • Thomson Creative Solutions Engagement CS
  • Thomson Creative Solutions Financial Analysis CS
  • Thomson PPC e-Tools Suite
  • TimeValue software
  • TopCAATs
  • Tropics workers' compensation software
• Human resources software
  • ADP Workforce Now
  • CPSI EHR System
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Sage HRMS
• Information retrieval or search software
  • LexisNexis
• Inventory management software
  • Asset management software
• Medical software
  • Epic Systems
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • MEDITECH software
  • Medical condition coding software
  • Medical procedure coding software
• Object or component oriented development software
  • R
  • Swift
• Office suite software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Works
• Operating system software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • UNIX
• Presentation software
  • Google Slides
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Process mapping and design software
  • Microsoft Visio
• Project management software
  • Microsoft Project
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
• Risk management data and analysis software
  • Thomson Reuters Risk Management
• Spreadsheet software
  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Spreadsheet software
• Tax preparation software
  • 1099 ProsSoftware
  • ATX Total Tax Office
  • Abacus Tax
  • Advanced Micro Systems 1099-Etc
  • American Riviera Magtax
  • Avalara AvaTax ST
  • BNA Estate and Gift Tax Suite
  • BNA Income Tax Planning Solutions
  • BNA Sales and Use Tax Rates and Forms
  • CCH ProSystem fx TAX
  • Creative Solutions UltraTax 1040
  • H&R Block Tax
  • IDMS Account Ability
  • Income tax return preparation software
  • Intellitax financial solutions software
  • Intuit Lacerte
  • Intuit ProSeries
  • Intuit TurboTax
  • KPB Associates TaxStream
  • NewPortWave Year End Solutions
  • Thomson GoSystem Tax
  • Universal Tax Systems TaxWise
• Time accounting software
  • Payroll software
  • WorkForce Software EmpCenter Time and Attendance
• Transaction security and virus protection software
  • NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
• Transaction server software
  • Tumbleweed SecureTransport
• Video creation and editing software
  • TechSmith Camtasia
• Word processing software
  • Google Docs
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft Word

Employment Industries for Accountants and Auditors

• Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services
  364,700 employed
• Management of companies and enterprises
  98,200 employed
• Local government, excluding education and hospitals
  51,000 employed
• Real estate
  46,100 employed
• State government, excluding education and hospitals
  44,800 employed
• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
  43,500 employed
• Computer systems design and related services
  32,300 employed
• Credit intermediation and related activities (5221,3)
  30,700 employed
• Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities
  31,600 employed