Accounting and Finance
There are different levels in finance and accounting. Some accounting jobs are nothing more than basic book keeping and perhaps dealing with wages. Companies differ in their approach to accounting and finance skills at this level and many small businesses prefer to take on somebody with experience in the area as opposed to someone newly graduated. These opportunities are aimed at the lower end of the market where wages are not high and the chance for promotion is very limited and in most cases non-existent without further training.
For those people looking of a career in accounting with a view to searching for insurance account manager jobs, then you have a long learning curve ahead of you. Some companies require only an Associate Science or Bachelors’ degree but if you want to make the big time in accounting then what you really need is an MBA or Masters in business administration, which includes accounting. If you are serious about your career then once you have your qualifications you should also apply to join one of the publicly recognized bodies for accountants. Membership of such bodies can serve as a guarantee of your honesty and commitment to best practice in accounting.
When you undertake an accounting degree then you can expect to learn how to prepare a balance sheet and statement of accounts. You will also learn basic book and journal keeping and ledgers, in addition to this you will be taught how to use accounting software and what is needed for the verification of a company’s accounts. You may also be given some understanding of the accountant’s role in a number of different business areas.
Once you have graduated then you need to start searching for accounting jobs. It could save a lot of time if you use a website that brings together all the available accounting jobs. If you live in New York and want to work near your home then just search for accountant jobs New York to find all of the accounting vacancies in that area. If you have already worked as an accountant for a number of years and are looking for jobs at a higher level then it is a simple matter to search for account supervisor jobs and see what comes up. Bear in mind that some jobs will require specialized industry knowledge and this could involve you in further training.
Insurance Accounting Jobs
For those people who want to be able to earn a good deal of money as an accountant then you will need a further degree. If you study for an MBA then you can expect, in addition to the above accounting principles, to learn the requirements for accounting in different business areas, which might include, banking, business and personal tax preparation, estate planning, investments or insurance. If you are looking for insurance account manager jobs then you will need specialist knowledge of the insurance industry. On the plus side, you are never likely to be without a job for long because everyone needs insurance.
You will need to have at least some knowledge of how the insurance industry settles any insurance claims. Insurance companies settle claims on the current value of an asset, which may not necessarily reflect the cost of replacing that asset. Companies that don’t keep proper records about their assets may find themselves at the mercy of the insurer’s estimate if they have to make a claim. It is the duty of an insurance accountant to advise the client as to the keeping of proper records, while at the same time putting in place procedures that ensure the company does not have to pay out an excessive amount of money in claims.
Government Accounting
If you plan a career as a tax accountant then you may find a job working with the federal government. Should this type of accounting job appeal to you then you will need to have at least a Bachelors’ qualification in accounting and two years work experience in the area of tax and auditing to be considered for such a position. In addition to the above you may also be required to have professional certification. A good knowledge of the insurance industry is also a requirement for this work this is because you would need to advise them of any errors on their tax returns, which requires knowledge of how the tax works in each of the different states. This is clearly a very specialized area and accountants who have an MBA would be preferred over those with a Bachelor’s degree.
Accountancy is a very wide field and offers many opportunities to those who take the time to study the area in which they want to specialize. Insurance and Government accounting jobs in particular require an in-depth expertise in insurance and auditing, but for those who qualify, the remuneration is a whole lot better than average.
