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There are thousands of accounting jobs that come available every year, and the job outlook for accountants is positive for at least a decade in the future. With the current fluctuations in the economy, businesses are seeking the help from accountants now more than ever before. If you are looking for a career that can sustain your family for years to come, accounting would certainly be a profession to pursue. The information below provides an overview of different jobs in accounting you may encounter as you work your way up in this industry.
Entry Level Accounting Jobs
Entry level accounting jobs are the lowest-paying positions in this career field. Most people in this position hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in accounting, although there are some employees who do not have full degrees when they start. Big 4 firms pay an average of $55,000 a year to their entry level staff members, but other firms may only pay $50,000 a year. Entry level employees may quickly move up the earnings ladder once they have been fully trained with the firm they work with.
Junior Staff Accounting Jobs
Junior staff accounting jobs represent the majority of working class accountants. These jobs involve a great deal of interaction between accountants and clients, so you must be able to work with people in a position like this. You may move into a junior staff position one to two years after you’ve completed your entry level duties, earning $40,000 to $80,000 a year. If you are able to work with a Big 4 firm, you will likely earn a salary on the higher end of that range.
Senior Staff Accounting Jobs
Senior staff accountants are essentially the floor supervisors in the accounting world. They delegate tasks for junior staff and entry level accountants, but they must refer to members of management for most decisions. These accounting jobs usually come along three to five years into a person’s involvement with accounting, and they usually require a bachelor’s degree. A senior staff accountant may earn $65,000 to $95,000 a year, with Big 4 firms paying roughly $70,000 a year for their employees.
Management Accounting Jobs
An accounting manager is in charge of the employees for a firm, as well as many of the low-level business decisions for the firm. Most managers hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees in accounting, with higher pay levels going toward graduate degree holders. To reach this level in the field of accounting, one must normally have at least five years of experience in an accounting position. Typical earning levels range from $65,000 to $140,000 a year, with the majority of managers earning $85,000 annual salaries.
Senior Management Accounting Jobs
Senior managers conduct most of the upper level business transactions for accounting firms, but they are not the ultimate decision-makers. These accounting jobs pay anywhere from $72,000 to $160,000 a year, depending on the firm a person works for. On average, a senior manager will make over $100,000 after he or she has devoted over seven years of service to a company. Senior managers oversee the general managers, and they relay information from the partners to other staff members. Most of them travel on a regular basis, and they typically hold a graduate degree in accounting.
Partner Accounting Jobs
Being a partner at an accounting firm is one of the highest positions you can uphold in this career field. Aside from being the sole owner of your own firm, this position will provide you with the highest earning potentials possible. Partners in Big 4 accounting firms usually run $200,000 to $3,000,000 a year, with the majority of them netting over $1 million on an annual basis. Accounting jobs outside of the Big 4 at this level usually pay $150,000 annually, but that may vary as well. Typically, an accountant must have at least 10 years of experience in the field before working as a partner of an accounting firm.
Conclusion
With the range of accountant jobs available, there is no reason for you to earn less than what you want in the future. The key to making as much money as you possibly can is to remain committed to your work and seek out a degree program that will accommodate your career goals. You can go to college online for whatever accounting degree you want to pursue, so you can earn your education and still work in an accounting firm of your choice. The options are endless, as long as you have a solid educational foundation to build on.
