Careers in Accounting

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in accounting? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

One of my family’s favorite pastimes is playing the board game Monopoly. Each summer at the beach we all gather round a huge table and devote an afternoon to real estate and competition. I try to get Boardwalk but almost always end up bankrupt. Having an accountant on staff during our games would prevent that. An accountant would better help me assess and handle my financial situation, whether I’m playing Monopoly or running a big business.

Accounting Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user image_of_money

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Accounting Career Guide Overview

  1. What an Accountant Does
  2. A Typical Day for an Accountant
  3. Salary and Career Ladder for an Accountant
  4. Best Locations for Accounting
  5. Pros and Cons of Being an Accountant
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Accounting
  7. Accounting Resources
  8. Careers Related to Accounting
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Accounting

What an Accountant Does

Accountants are responsible for preparing and communicating financial information accurately for their clients or company. Sometimes they share the information within a business, and other times with other companies, government agencies, or individuals. Their primary duty is to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities.

There are a couple different types of accountants:
A CPA is licensed by the state of their residence to provide auditing services to the public, although most CPA firms also offer accounting, tax, litigation support, and other financial advisory services.
A CIA mostly provides their services directly to their employer rather than the public.
A CMA mostly provides their services directly to their employers rather than the public.
An ABA specializes in the needs of small-to-mid-size businesses and in financial services to individuals and families.

A Typical Day for an Accountant

The typical day for an accountant is pretty long. Most offices require 50+ hour weeks year round and even longer days during busy seasons. Many accounting majors go into public accounting, specifically doing either audits or taxes. An auditor’s day generally starts early at the client’s office. Overall you’ll spend a lot of your time interacting with the client: asking for the papers you need, details and clarification on certain items. The rest of your time will be spent going through their accounting records, confirming balances and filling your audit papers.

Salary and Career Progression in Accounting

On average a new accountant makes between $29,000-$62,000 per year. From there you can go on to become a Senior Accountant ($42,000-$76,000), a Staff Accountant ($31,000-$56,000) or an Accounting Manager ($36,000-$92,000).

Best Locations for Accounting

Here are some hot spots for accountants:

  • Washington, DC
  • San Francisco, California
  • Santa Clara, California
  • New York, New York
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Houston, Texas
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Fairfax, Virginia

Pros and Cons of Being an Accountant

Pros
  • You get paid well
  • There’s a clear career path
  • You have opportunities across industries
Cons
  • You work long hours
  • You interact with clients a lot
  • There’s lots of math and attention to detail involved

What You Need to Know for a Career in Accounting

A bachelor’s degree is generally required for accounting positions. Further education may be needed depending on the specific accounting job description. You’ll also need to have strong math skills and the ability to be personable with clients.

To become a Certified Public Accountant, accountants must obtain a CPA certification.
A CIA will receive a certificate from the Institute of Internal Auditor, after passing a 4 part exam.
A CMA is granted a certificate from the Institute of Management Accountants, after a 2 part exam, and meeting the practical experience requirement.
An ABA receives accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation, once they have passed the 8 hour Comprehensive Examination for Accreditation.

Accounting Resources

If accounting still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Accounting

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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Accounting

The Business Backer Logo

The Business Backer - The Business Backer is based in Cincinnati based and “is helping small business owners flourish and grow by re-inventing relationship-based lending for the 21st century.”

See the complete The Business Backer profile


Kiwi Partners Logo

Kiwi Partners - Kiwi Partners is a New York, NY based accounting firm that “gives the nonprofit leader the ability to focus on their mission."

See the complete Kiwi Partners profile


BioLite Logo

BioLite - BioLite is a Brooklyn based company that develops "products that make cooking with wood as clean safe and easy as modern fuels while also providing electricity.”

See the complete BioLite profile


The Mountaineers Logo

The Mountaineers - The Mountaineers is a Seattle based non-profit that has “been teaching skills, sharing adventures, creating volunteers, and conserving land” for more than a century.

See the complete The Mountaineers profile


SheKnows Logo

SheKnows - SheKnows is a Scottsdale, AZ based “women’s lifestyle media platform” that “allows brands to distribute authentic content and integrated advertising at scale.”

See the complete SheKnows profile


ZenPayroll Logo

ZenPayroll - ZenPayroll is a San Francisco, CA based company that has created “the easiest way to pay your employees.”

See the complete ZenPayroll profile


Balboa Capital

Balboa Capital - Balboa Capital is an Irvine, CA based company that “has been providing equipment leasing and working capital loans to US businesses for over two decades.”

See the complete Balboa Capital profile


ProQuest Logo

ProQuest - ProQuest is an Ann Arbor, MI based company that “is committed to empowering researchers and librarians around the world.”

See the complete ProQuest profile


AlphaSights Logo

AlphaSights - AlphaSights is a New York, NY based company that provides “today’s investors, deal-makers and corporate strategists with access to the knowledge they need to succeed.”

See the complete AlphaSights profile


Local Initiatives Support Corporation Logo

Local Initiatives Support Corporation - LISC is an NYC based non-profit that connects "local organizations and community leaders with resources to revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life.”

See the complete Local Initiatives Support Corporation profile


Things Remembered Logo

Things Remembered - Things Remembered, based in Highland Heights, OH, is “the nation’s largest and most prominent retailer of personalized gifts.”

See the complete Things Remembered profile


WONGDOODY Logo

WONGDOODY - WONGDOODY is based in Seattle, WA and “is the most awarded independent advertising agency on the West Coast.”

See the complete WONGDOODY profile


Centro Logo

Centro - Centro is a Chicago, IL based company that works “to improve the lives of those working in the advertising industry by building media management software."

See the complete Centro profile


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momofuku - momofuku is a New York City based restaurant group that was started by chef David Chang and has won countless awards.

See the complete momofuku profile


Hayneedle Logo

Hayneedle - Hayneedle is based in Omaha, NE and “has become one of the nation’s largest online retailers, offering more than 3,000 brands and nearly 2 million products for the home.”

See the complete Hayneedle profile


Sojern Logo

Sojern - Sojern is based in San Francisco and has developed a travel-focused “robust audience engagement platform [that] is powered by machine-learning technology."

See the complete Sojern profile


inDinero Logo

inDinero - inDinero is a San Francisco, CA based company that will "take care of your accounting, file your corporate tax returns, and manage your payroll.”

See the complete inDinero profile


RevTrax Logo

RevTrax - RevTrax is a New York, NY based company that is taking a more modern approach to using coupons to track customer behavior.

See the complete RevTrax profile


K2M Logo

K2M - K2M is based in Leesburg, VA and develops “technological innovations which enable surgeons to more effectively treat the world’s most complex spinal disorders.”

See the complete K2M profile


Groundspeak Logo

Groundspeak - Groundspeak is a Seattle, WA based company that aims “to make everyone an explorer and to put an adventure in every location.”

See the complete Groundspeak profile


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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is a Frederick, MD based non-profit that “is the largest, most influential general aviation association in the world.”

See the complete Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association profile


GoPro Logo

GoPro - GoPro is a San Mateo, CA based company that has built a huge business by offering “the world’s most versatile camera.”

See the complete GoPro profile


FranConnect Logo

FranConnect - FranConnect is a Reston, VA based company that offers Franchise Management Systems to big name clients like Dairy Queen and The UPS Store.

See the complete FranConnect profile


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Bipartisan Policy Center - The Bipartisan Policy Center is a Washington, DC based non-profit that encourages the two parties to work together on important issues.

See the complete Bipartisan Policy Center profile


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Extole - Extole is a San Francisco, CA based company that specializes in helping “brands acquire new customers at scale by rewarding existing customers.”

See the complete Extole profile


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Buffalo Wild Wings - Buffalo Wild Wings is a Minneapolis, MN based restaurant chain that has taken advantage of the amazing growth in popularity of chicken wings.

See the complete Buffalo Wild Wings profile


RealScout Logo

RealScout - RealScout is a Sunnyvale, CA based company that “leverages over 500 datapoints to make home search more personal for clients and more efficient for Realtors.”

See the complete RealScout profile


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National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance - National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance is an Amherst, MA based non-profit that supports “technology innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education."

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Landor Logo

Landor - Landor is a global agency that helps "the world’s best brands stand up, stand out, and stand for something.”

See the complete Landor profile


Zendesk Logo

Zendesk - Zendesk is a San Francisco, CA based company that offers “beautifully simple customer service software.”

See the complete Zendesk profile


Altitude Digital Logo

Altitude Digital - Altitude Digital is a Denver, CO based company that “empowers publishers to effectively monetize and optimize their online display, video and mobile inventory.”

See the complete Altitude Digital profile


Beyond Meat Logo

Beyond Meat - Beyond Meat is a Manhattan Beach, CA based company “focused on perfectly replacing animal protein with plant protein" to create "nutritional value at lower cost.”

See the complete Beyond Meat profile


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Volcom - Volcom is a San Clemente, CA based “designer, marketer and distributor of premium quality young men’s and young women’s clothing, accessories and related products.”

See the complete Volcom profile


Brilliant Earth Logo

Brilliant Earth - Ethically produced diamonds do exist, and Brilliant Earth is a San Francisco, CA based company that is hoping to make them the norm.

See the complete Brilliant Earth profile


Paymentwall Logo

Paymentwall - Paymentwall is a San Francisco, CA based company that offers “the leading digital payments platform for globally monetizing digital goods and services.”

See the complete Paymentwall profile


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Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America."

See the complete Defenders of Wildlife profile


FROSCH Logo

FROSCH - FROSCH is a New York, NY and Houston, TX headquartered company that provides “high-touch leisure and corporate travel to individuals and companies.”

See the complete FROSCH profile


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Zazzle - Zazzle is a Redwood City, CA based company that allows you to “create amazing custom products with artwork you choose, and prices you’ll love.”

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Entertainment Cruises - Entertainment Cruises is a company with “26 vessels serving eight cities with six unique cruise products.”

See the complete Entertainment Cruises profile


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Potbelly Sandwich Shop - Potbelly Sandwich Shop is a Chicago, IL chain of sandwich shops that is aiming to "be the best place for lunch."

See the complete Potbelly Sandwich Shop profile


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buuteeq - buuteeq is a Seattle, WA based company that offers an “easy-to-use web application that improves hotels' online marketing on the web, mobile, and Facebook."

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Liquidity Services Inc. - Liquidity Services Inc. is a Washington, DC based company that offers "the world’s leading marketplaces for surplus assets."

See the complete Liquidity Services Inc. profile


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Grey - Grey (also known as Grey Group) is a New York, NY based marketing and advertising agency has been “famously effective since 1917."

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A+E Networks - A+E Networks is a New York, NY based “global media company with joint ventures and channels all over the world.”

See the complete A+E Networks profile


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Prison Fellowship - Prison Fellowship is a Lansdowne, VA based org that helps prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families find the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

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Charity Navigator - There’s an independent third party that evaluates non-profits and holds them accountable called Charity Navigator. They’re based in Glen Rock, NJ.

See the complete Charity Navigator profile


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Emergency Essentials - Emergency Essentials is an Orem, UT based company that has been “helping people prepare for emergencies” for the last 25 years.

See the complete Emergency Essentials profile


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Tremor Video - Tremor Video is a New York, NY based company that is working hard to increase engagement with video advertising.

See the complete Tremor Video profile


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Vivid Seats - Vivid Seats is a Chicago, IL based company that aims to “to reinvent the ticket purchasing experience.”

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Pardot - Pardot is an Atlanta, GA based company that provides online marketing automation software to businesses and is seeing insane growth.

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