An Exciting Career in Accounting

Forensic accountants have made headlines recently, exposing a series of company misdeeds. Examples of fraud, malevolence, and deceit abound. NBC Universal's executive treasurer was recently arrested for stealing $800,000. And Siemensï¿½ chief executive is currently on the hot seat for a recent bribery scandal. Wal-Mart is expected to pay a $33 million settlement for workers who were shortchanged for overtime.

These misdeeds would not have come to light without the help of those with accounting training. In many ways, accountants have become the watchdogs of the business world. As such, many careers in accounting have become as exciting as a spot in a daily soap opera.

What Accounting Training Can Teach You

For a career in accounting, it is recommended that you complete a four year bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or business management. Your training will not only teach you to process tax paperwork (arguably the most tedious aspect of the job), but also how to check for inconsistencies, manage budgets, monitor oversights, project for the future, invest, plan for retirement, and allocate resources effectively.

What a Career in Accounting Can Provide You

Career prospects look bright for those with accounting training. For starters, job growth is expected to be quite favorable as retirement planning, corporate scandals, and increased government oversight place greater demand on the industry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, positions for those with accounting training could grow as much is 26% through 2014.

Another major perk is the salary. In 2004, the median income for accountants was just over $50,000 a year. Not bad for a bachelor's degree.

If your training includes international corporate law, you might be qualified to pursue a career in accounting in markets like China or India, where booming economies provide ample room for those with extensive training in bookkeeping and accounting.

These are just a few of the directions your career in accounting could take you. Complete your accounting training, and start exploring the possibilities in this new accounting world.

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