Prepare and examine financial records, ensure accuracy, and handle taxes and reporting for people and organizations.
You may also see this posted as: Auditor, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Financial Auditor, Accounting Officer, Audit Partner, Cost Accountant.
Offices or remote; at a desk, busier during tax and closing periods.
Full-time; long hours during tax season and year-end.
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
O*NET job zone 4 of 5
High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 4.6% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Accounting degree; the CPA multiplies pay.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
No license to start; the CPA credential opens higher-level roles.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
The steadiest white-collar career there is — every organization needs one.
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Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
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Standard Occupational Classification 13-2011. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.