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Public & tax
Accountant
Numbers that have to be right, on a deadline.
Typical pay
$55k-$120k
How you get in
Accounting degree; CPA for advancement
Outlook
Stable
Accountants prepare and audit financial records. Busy season is brutal; the rest of the year is calmer than the reputation suggests.
A day in the life
- 8:30aReview client bookkeeping
- 10:00aReconcile accounts, chase missing receipts
- 12:00pLunch at the desk in busy season
- 1:00pPrepare a return, check depreciation
- 3:00pClient call about a tax notice
- 6:00pWrap up, or keep going until nine in April
How to get in
Accounting degree to staff accountant
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$150,000
Credential
BS in accounting
- Complete an accounting degree
- Land a summer internship — public firms hire heavily from their interns
- Start as a staff accountant in public or industry
- Decide within a few years whether to pursue the CPA
CPA track
Duration
5 years of school plus 1-2 years to pass
Cost
$50,000-$180,000 plus $3,000-$5,000 in exam costs
Credential
Certified Public Accountant
- Complete 150 credit hours — usually a bachelor's plus a master's or extra year
- Pass all four sections of the CPA exam within the rolling window
- Complete the supervised experience your state requires
- Get licensed — this is the credential that changes your ceiling
Bookkeeping upward
Duration
2-5 years
Cost
$0-$3,000 for QuickBooks certification
Credential
None required, which caps how far it goes
- Start as a bookkeeper or AP/AR clerk
- Learn the full close cycle at a small company where you touch everything
- Take accounting coursework part-time if you want past the ceiling
- Move into a staff accountant role at a small business
What people love
- · Stable and portable
- · Clear license ladder
- · Every business needs one
What wears people down
- · Busy season overtime
- · Detail fatigue
- · Reputation for being dull