How to Get a Job as an Accountant | 10 Tips

Accountants are professionals who manage financial records for businesses and individuals. If you enjoy working with numbers and have an eye for detail, this may be the field for you. Explore what they do and how you can set yourself up for success in the field.

What does an accountant do?

Accountants have numerous duties and can choose many specialties, but all of them have one thing in common: money. Whether you work for private individuals, big corporations, small businesses, government agencies, or nonprofits, you’ll manage finances and offer advice on how to make the best decisions regarding money. You’ll keep records and make sure they’re accurate and up-to-date. 

Depending on your specialty or the needs of a client, your other duties may include: 

• Examining financial statements for accuracy 

• Preparing, filing, and paying taxes 

• Ensuring compliance with all financial laws   

• Analyzing trends and financial data

• Making budget recommendations 

• Advising on ways to cut costs and raise profits

• Keeping records and books organized and up-to-date 

• Providing auditing services or working together with an auditor 

• Identifying risks and recommending solutions 

10 tips for getting a job as an accountant 

If this sounds like the field for you, these steps can help you prepare to find a job and advance through your career. 

1. Make sure you enjoy working with numbers.   

You’ll spend your days analyzing, calculating, presenting, and proofreading numbers, so above everything else, you should enjoy it. You don't have to be a math expert. As long as you can do the basics—adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing—you can typically do the job. 

2. Build workplace skills. 

Along with basic number skills, applying certain workplace skills to your job can help you succeed as an accountant. You'll also need to be:

• Business savvy 

• An analytical thinker 

• Organized 

• A good verbal and written communicator 

• A problem solver 

• Literate in general computer skills and accounting software  

In addition, being detail oriented is also important, as one small mistake can have a big impact. A strong sense of ethics is key as well. When you have access to financial information, confidentiality is a must, as is your willingness to do what’s best for your client while following all laws and regulations.

3. Take math, finance, and business classes.  

If you're in high school and you already know you want to go into this field, take courses in math, computer science, economics, statistics, and business. If you're not currently in school, consider taking online courses that can help you prepare for your career and future education. Explore whether accounting is right for you with a course like Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

4. Earn your bachelor's degree.  

Many entry-level positions require a candidate to have a bachelor's degree. Aim for a degree in accounting or a related field, where you'll study topics like basic financial accounting, business law, statistics, economics, auditing, managerial accounting, accounting entities, and income tax accounting. Additionally, a degree is required to become a chartered professional accountant (CPA).

5. Gain experience through an internship or entry-level job. 

Once you graduate with your bachelor's degree—and maybe even before—it's time to gain some experience. You can do this through an internship or with an entry-level position. Not only will it look great on your resume and can help you land a better job in the future, but it will typically help you understand the field better and maybe even lead you to a specialty.

Some entry-level jobs in accounting include:

• Bookkeeper

• Accounts payable clerk

• Payroll administrator

• Accounts receivable clerk  

6. Consider what kind of career you want.   

Accountants can focus on many different areas within the field. While you're gaining experience, think about what you might want your specialty to be. You can choose from quite a few areas:

• Finance accounting

• Auditing and assurance

• Nonprofit accounting

• Forensic accounting

• International accounting

• Management accounting

• Tax accounting

Explore specializations from some of the world’s top universities through courses like Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, Auditing I: Conceptual Foundations of Auditing, Managerial Accounting Fundamentals, or Accounting Data Analytics Specialization.

7. Earn a master's degree. 

While a master's degree is not necessary, it can help you develop the skills you need for a specialty and the hours you need to become a CPA. You can also consider earning your master's degree online.  

Learn more about what it’s like to earn your Master’s of Accounting online through the University of Illinois. You can sample a course from the program (such as Financial Reporting) before you apply. 

8. Become a CPA. 

Many large businesses and organizations require a CPA to handle financial responsibilities. As a CPA, you’ll demonstrate your skills with accounting software and as a bookkeeper. You’ll typically make more money and enhance your job prospects or pool of potential clients. Requirements to become a CPA include a bachelor's degree, passing the Uniform Evaluation (UFE), and two years or 30 months of on-the-job training. 

9. Get certified.

While a CPA is a more generalized certification, you can also earn more specialized certifications so that you can work as an expert in a specific field. Some examples include:

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

• Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

• Certified Information Technology Professional (CIPS)

• Certified Health & Safety Management Systems Auditor (CHSMSA)

10. Start your career. 

When you're ready to apply for a job, you may want to start online. Job boards across the internet have thousands of openings for various types of organizations. This will help you get an idea of what's available and where you might want to work.

You can also find out if anyone within your network—former classmates, professors, coworkers, and so on—can make any recommendations. Once you have a little experience, you may even consider starting your own firm and becoming your own boss. 

Types of accountants

You can choose to be one of several types of accountants. Some of the most common are:

Next steps

Although all accountants work with money, you can choose from several different areas to focus on in your career. Start building job-ready skills for a role in accounting with the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate. Practice interpreting and analyzing financial statements as you work through the phases of the accounting cycle. Upon completion, you'll have a credential from a top industry leader for your resume.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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