BOOKKEEPING CLERK

Most big organizations will have a bookkeeping department, where Bookkeeping Clerks work
under a bookkeeping manager to keep track of transactions. In a very large corporation, a
Bookkeeping Clerk may only be responsible for a few accounts, or even just be assigned to one
major account (for instance, one bookkeeper alone may handle transactions with a firm’s
biggest client). In smaller companies, on the other hand, the bookkeeping department may
handle everything associated with billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Verify and enter company transactions into ledger

 Prepare tax reports and monthly statements.
 Track debits and credits to balance books

A Bookkeeping Clerk should definitely have an associate’s degree in accounting, or a certificate

in bookkeeping to make any sort of headway in the job market; certification as a bookkeeper
may be helpful for career advancement.

Median Salary: $35,120

Education Level: Associate’s

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
A CPA has a lot of paperwork to keep up with – a lot of paperwork. There are clients’
documents and receipts, IRS forms to fill out, meetings to schedule, and all of the other tasks
involved in bookkeeping and tax preparation. An Accounting Assistant is the key to making sure
all that happens in an orderly, efficient fashion, and no accountant’s business is going to run
smoothly without a good assistant.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Sorting, verifying, and filing documents

 Check forms for accuracy and make necessary corrections
 Data entry
 Basic clerical duties
Accounting Assistant is a common job for students in accounting programs, or for
working accountants with an associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate. It’s a good way to get
your foot in the door and set yourself up for a higher-level job when you complete your degree.

Median Salary: $38,950

Education: High School Diploma/Associate’s

BUDGET ANALYST
It’s a funny thing that happens in most organizations; budgets are set, money is spent, and if
nobody’s paying close attention, the spending will look nothing like the budget. Budget
Analysts are responsible for efficiently distributing funds and making sure that each department
(and irresponsible executive) is spending no more than their budget. Budget analysts also help
plan for future budgets, making sure each department gets what they need.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Provide guidelines for annual budget

 Meet with managers of each department to determine needs
 Approve new expenditures and plans
 Monitor spending throughout organization

To become a budget analyst, earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting; specializations in areas

like forensic accounting oractuarial science could be particularly helpful, since so much of
budgeting involves examining previous budgets for flaws and areas of improvement.

Median Salary: $54,520

Education Level: Bachelor’s

COST ACCOUNTANT
The professionals who are being managed by the Cost Accounting Manager (#6 above) are the
Cost Accountants, who do the analytical and research work of figuring out the costs of
production. Cost accountants measure the cost of producing products or providing services by
determining the fixed and variable expenses necessary for production. These costs include
research and development, equipment, marketing and human resources. The information
gathered by a cost accountant is beneficial for budgeting and product pricing, which both affect
the future profits of the business. Cost accountants often collaborate with an executive team to
create a financial plan for the company.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Researching and analyzing costs of production

 Reporting on findings to managers and executives
 Developing plans for lowering costs

To get a job as a Cost Accountant, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting,
forensic accounting, accounting information technology, or a related field. The job requires a lot
of information and data processing, so advanced computer skills will be essential.

ACCOUNTING MANAGER
institution, or government agency that requires a whole accounting department, someone has to
lead. That’s the Accounting Manager. Most often, the manager of an accounting department has
been an accountant themselves, so an effective manager will know and understand everything
the accountants are doing, from bookkeeping to audits to quarterly and annual reports. Ideally,
the manager will also have a knack for leadership and teamwork, because accounting is a team
sport these days.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Prepare financial information for management or executives

 Submit reports on a weekly, quarterly or yearly basis
 Examine financial data for forecasting purposes.
 Lead accounting teams and department

It’s entirely possible for accountants working for an organization to work their way into a
managerial position, but for the most part, today most corporations will expect a master’s
degree for new hires. An accelerated program may help working accountants get there faster.

Median Salary: $68,000

Education Level: Bachelor’s/Master’s

SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST

Senior financial analysts can be found in just about every industry there is. As long as a
company is large enough to need a financial team, a senior financial analyst can usually be
found there. Their primary duties are to review the finances of a company and make
recommendations for how a company can lower costs and improve its financial situation. A
senior financial analyst is the leader of a group of financial analysts who work with the money
the company they work for is spending and making in all areas of the business. They must be
very diligent, detail-oriented, and accurate.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Presides over a team of lower-level financial analysts

 Prepares reports for director of finance, VP of Finance, and/or CFO
 Prepare financial forecasts and make recommendation for future plans
 Prepare and review financial reports for white papers or publication

The leadership skills that a Senior Financial Analyst needs will be earned over years of
experience as a financial advisor or manager, but a master’s degree in management,
accounting, or business administration will make a big impact – on skills, and job market
success.

Median Salary: $77,720

Education Level: Bachelor’s/Master’s

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)

Chief Financial Officer – the CFO – is one of the highest levels of authority and responsibility an
accountant can aspire to. To become a CFO, an accountant must have the highest level of
expertise, experience, and excellence – a long-standing track record of leadership and results.
The larger and more complex an organization, the more crucial the role of a CFO becomes, as
a centralized source of authority around all things money in the company. In other words, the
buck stops with the CFO.

Primary Responsibilities:

 Direct annual and long-term financial goals and budgets

 Ensure accuracy, timeliness, compliance of financial reporting
 Develop and implement systems to maintain the corporation’s long-term financial well-
being
  Oversee managers of financial departments (such as accounting, accounts payable and
receivable, etc)
 Report to executives and board of directors on the financial status of the corporation

To get to the executive level in an established corporation or company, you’re going to need at
least a master’s degree (that’s assuming you didn’t start your own company and name yourself
CFO – in which case, you need nothing!). However, with growing competition, more
professionals with their eyes on the C Suite are earning doctorates, often in an accelerate
executive or online format.

Median Salary: $127,780

Education Level: Master’s