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Have you ever considered becoming a government
accountant or auditor? They maintain financial records
for government agencies, and audit businesses in the
private sector that are subject to government taxation
or regulation suites. They are the ones that make sure
revenues due to any Federal, State, and local
governments are received in a timely manner and that the
amount due is accurate. They also ensure expenditures
are made in accordance to state and federal laws.
The great thing about working for the government is the
security that comes along with the job. A good
percentage of the auditors are hired by the federal
government and work for the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS). You can also work as: financial management,
financial institutions examination, or budget analysis
and administrations.
Working for the federal government is very rewarding but
due to the importance of their work they want to make
sure they have the best auditors. You will need to have
a high degree of personal integrity. You must also be
good with written and verbal communicators as you will
need to answer to many levels within the government as
well as explain and interpret your findings to clients.
You will also need the ability to work with computer
systems, including specialized accounting software
packages. The ability to work with people is also a
social skill that you need to have including the ability
to be strong in mathematics.
In 2002, government accountants and auditors earned a
median annual salary of $47,000 much more as of 2008.
Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less
than $30,320, and the highest 10%, who earned more than
$82,730. The median annual salary for federal government
is $51070, for local government is $44690 and for state
government is $42000. The benefits that come with state
jobs are a big reason most people look to the government
as apposed to the private sector. Healthcare coverage is
among the best in the country and you can always count
on your check clearing the bank.
To be considered for a government auditing or accounting
position you really must possess at least a bachelor's
degree to quality for a good position. Some employers at
the federal level may require a master's degree in
business administration with an emphasis or minor in
accounting. Experience in the accounting field and years
of experience is always a plus but not necessary
(depending on the job).
Like most jobs computer knowledge can be very helpful as
almost all of the government projects are computer
based. Most States require CPA candidates to have at
least 150 college semester hours of accounting. The best
way to get training is to take an accounting course from
an accredited school that is listed. This will provide
you with the best possible education so you can stand
out from all of the applicants for these government
accounting job. Candidates should carefully research the
licensing requirements of the State in which they wish
to be certified. However, all States use the same
Uniform CPA Examination.
This is not an easy exam so one shouldn’t be expected to
pass it the first time around. The exam is rigorous,
consisting of four parts. We recommend going to an
outside prep agency prior to taking the CPA and get
specialized training just for the CPA. This will save
you time and money so you don’t have to retake the exam
time and time again.
The job outlook for auditors from 2002 and 2012 is as
fast as the average as the number of government
accountants and auditors is expected to increase. The
main growth will be due to factors such as an overall
increase in the number of businesses in the US as well
as the growing international businesses.
In the wake of recent accounting scandals and an
increased awareness of financial crimes, the demand for
forensic accountants is expected to rise. Job openings
will also result from the need to replace workers who
retire, transfer occupations, or leave the labor force
for some other reason. The best job prospects will go to
those who pursue and obtain CPA status. Many schools
offer program that will give you the proper auditing
training and also help you work towards receiving your
CPA. The feedback we have received from prospects is
that this is a very good field with lots of opportunity
for growth.
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