Researching a career - Essay Example

September 11, Researching a Career: Accountancy The career selected to comply with the requirement of the module is accountancy or accountants. Relevant information regarding this particular profession was gathered using the Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and O*Net Online (Summary Report for Accountants).What preparation does someone need for this career? The preparation that is needed for this career includes specific educational background, as well as certifications and licenses.

The prospective candidate for positions in accounting should have genuine interest in this field to possess motivating drives to learn and to gain skills required from the position.What would a typical day on job look like? A typical job of an accountant is an 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. routine schedule, Mondays to Fridays, or a traditional 40-hour per week full time position. A typical day would involve the following activities: working in front of the computers, processing relevant accounting information, communicating with peers and superiors, preparation of financial reports (including encoding, updating, forecasting), solving problems related to accounting, and maintaining close interaction and collaboration with other stakeholders in the organization (Summary Report for Accountants).

What are the education requirements for this career? The education requirements for this career are: a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration. Passing board examinations to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); and certifications or licenses sought from various accounting organizations and agencies, such as the: Institute of Management Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors, and Information Systems Audit and Control Association, to name a few.What kinds of things should someone study for this career?

Those who are interested to pursue this career should be interested in financial records, details in the movements of funds, and should possess skills in mathematics and computations.What are the employees’ prospects for this career? Accordingly, the prospects for this career is optimistic: “employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations” (Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job Outlook par. 1). This was corroborated by information from the O*Net Online that indicated average growth prospects ranging from 8% to 14% for the years 2012 to 2022 (Summary Report for Accountants).

What will be the most challenging parts of the career? The most challenging parts of the career would be during times of audit; when the organization they serve is being monitored, evaluated, and reviewed by external auditors to verify the accuracy of the financial reports being disclosed. Likewise, it was also noted that “longer hours are typical at certain times of the year, such as at the end of the budget year or during tax season” (Bureau of Labor Statistics: Work Enviroment par. 2).What are the most rewarding things about this career?

The most rewarding things about the career include being instrumental in reporting to the stakeholders that the organization has generated exemplary profits through collaborative efforts of all personnel. Accountants would be the first to know the good news. Likewise, the reports they prepare would be sources of accurate information to enable decision makers to justify the provision of bonuses or increases in compensation, as deemed financially possible.What information was new or interesting?

The information that was interesting included the growth prospects, as well as the median pay of $63,550 per year or $30.55 per hour for accountants (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The position could therefore be deemed challenging, and at the same time rewarding, with ample prospects for professional growth.Works CitedBureau of Labor Statistics. "Accountant and Auditors." 8 January 2014. Occupational Outlook Handbook. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm. 15 April 2014.

"Summary Report for Accountants." 2011. O*Net Online. http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2011.01. 15 April 2014.