What do accountants do?

Accounting is a pretty cool job. I like it and so do many others. It’s one of those professions that’s hard to fully explain to non-accountants (they sometimes nod off before you finish). Actually it is a VERY interesting and rewarding career. And there is a steady demand for accountants and bookkeepers. Any business of any size at all usually has at least one, and there are many medium and large businesses that employ a considerable number.

Just like the name implies, accountants keep the books. They are the “scorekeepers” of the business. They analyze and record the financial activities so see if the company is making or losing money. This is a VERY important role; most business cannot continue operations for very long unless they are making a profit. In addition to this responsibility, accountants (and bookkeepers) accomplish many other vital functions. Some accountants are general; some are very specialized, working only in specific areas. Some accomplish payroll, purchasing, inventory, and property functions. Some specialize in preparing tax returns. Some prepare reports for managers to help them make business decisions.

Almost all functions of accounting involve some degree of communicating financial or economic data to stakeholders. If you have an aptitude for numbers and details (and you can tolerate being called a bean counter, a digit head, or a number nerd) you might want to consider a career in accounting. It’s a honorable and rewarding profession.