When you choose government accounting as the filed of the accounting industry where you want to work, there are many types of entry-level jobs available for recent graduates. You do need to have a Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited university and an introductory knowledge of accounting principles and methods as well as government procedures for accounting. Knowledge of the tax laws and structures at the state and federal level is also essential. You can start off as an accountant or as an accounting specialist performing duties that will well-equip you with the skills you need for the rigid CPA exam. As a certified public accountant, you then have the qualifications you need to advance in your career.
Auditing work is a division of government accounting in which there are substantial opportunities for employment and advancement. You can become a compliance auditor ensuring that all governmental departments and outside agencies comply with the taxation laws. You can also be an internal auditor working at auditing government financial records or as an IRS agent in which you review and reassess the taxes on income tax returns. In order to become a government auditor you do need to have CPA certification as well as certification as an auditor.
Another position that exists in the field of government accounting is that of forensic accounting or fraud examiner. You do need to have the proper certification to obtain this position as well. In this job, you will travel to various locations to audit the books of company’s where there is a suspicion of fraud or criminal activity. It would be beneficial for you to have certification in auditing information systems so that you can review the financial information stored on the computer systems and discover any hidden information that would otherwise not be detected.
You can also work in the area of economic incentives in government accounting. For this type of job, you need to have courses in accounting as part of your degree program. In this position, you will assist new businesses in starting up by providing assistance in the areas of tax credits, and how to obtain government grants and loans. Insurance analysis is another area of accounting that governments deal with. With three years of experience working in the accounting industry, you would have the qualifications necessary for the position of Insurance Financial Analysis Specialist in which you would review and evaluate the transactions of insurance companies, self-employed taxpayers and trust companies. You can also work at auditing insurance companies to ensure that they have paid the correct amount of taxes as an insurance tax auditor. This work is similar to that of an accountant with the IRS, but you will focus only on the income tax returns of insurance companies.
When working in government accounting, there is plenty of room for advancing as there are usually different levels attached to each job title. In most you start off in the entry-level of 1 and work your way up to Level 3 depending on your qualifications, experience and job performance.
