Accounting is the study of how businesses track their income and assets over time. Besides financial statements and recording business transactions, accountants also compute costs, profits, communicate with shareholders, investors, participate in mergers and acquisitions and streamline processes for companies to deal with taxes, payroll, health care benefits and so forth. If you like finances, money and math and you like to analyze, this might be the right career for you.

Accountants learn how business works. They learn all about the details of the business they represent. Many Chief Financial Officers of large companies start out in accounting jobs, doing payroll and keeping the books aligned.

Accountants also get involved in tax audits and even start their own businesses because they have such a great understanding about how to make profit, where to save and where to invest. A lot of accountants work for themselves and some work for public accounting firms, managing other people’s portfolios. Actually, every year, over 20,000 people join public accounting firms in entry level job positions. Communication skills and grades are what helps get these new graduates hired.

There are many skills needed to become a good accountant including analytical skills, computer skills and the ability to work as a team. Accountants spend a lot of time in the office, billing many hours of work so it’s important that they are easy to get along with; it makes for a more productive team.

If accounting sounds like a field you’d like to get into, research information on Americolleges.com. You’ll find a great career school in your state that’s able to give you hands-on training, a flexible schedule and even financial aid. Good luck with your career!