Accounting Job Interview Guide

What You Can Count On: Job Security

For the 2007 fiscal year, Microsoft reported an annual revenue of $51.2 billion. Behind any company’s revenue numbers–big or small–are accountants and financial managers who balance the books. In 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act added further scrutiny to corporate procedures. Between government regulations and the thousands of companies that need to manage finances, the immediate benefit of a career in accounting is a reasonable amount of job security. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts strong growth for accountants and auditors through 2016.

What You Can Take to the Bank: Strong Earnings

Another benefit for an accountant is that the median annual salary for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services is $57,020. Going further into the financial services industry, you could become a financial manager for a major corporation and earn in the neighborhood of $105,410 a year according to the BLS. You can also work your way up the corporate ladder to financial director, corporate controller, or even chief financial officer (CFO).

What Education You Need: Accounting Degree and Certification

A college degree and certification are almost essential for advancement and a long term career in accounting. A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a finance related topic is a solid start, and earning a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential furthers your employability prospects. You can even take it a step-further by earning a specialized certification such as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), or other credential. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants reports on a survey finding that candidates with a professional certification can earn 10% more than other accountants. A graduate degree can also help you stand out from the crowd.

If keeping track of the nickels and dimes is your passion, then accounting may be what you can count on for a career.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, also known as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 and commonly called SOX or Sarbox, is a United States federal law signed into law on July 30, 2002 in response to a number of major corporate and accounting scandals including those affecting Enron, Tyco International, Peregrine Systems and WorldCom. These scandals resulted in a decline of public trust in accounting and reporting practices. Since the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, an entirely new field of accounting jobs has been developed.

SOX is currently known as the “hot skill” of the accounting profession. Jobs involving this “hot skill” run the entire gamut from SOX testers to SOX Senior Manager positions. Jobs involving Sarbanes-Oxley are known as Sarbanes-Oxley Jobs. Learn about Sarbanes-Oxley and you can easily find an accounting job.

With Sarbanes-Oxley compliance so important nowadays, there are a multitude of online sites offering training and certification.

Here’s a list of some training sites:

http://grc.soxinstitute.org/

http://thecaq.aicpa.org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley

http://www.cfainstitute.org/centre/sarbanesoxley.html

http://www.soxinstitute.org/certification.htm