What Do Accountants/Bookkeepers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for accountants/bookkeepers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what accountants/bookkeepers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Accountants/Bookkeepers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about accountants/bookkeepers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Accountants/Bookkeepers examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
Popular Job Titles For Accountants/Bookkeepers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Accountants
- Staff Accountants
- Tax Accountants
- Internal Auditors
- Audit Managers
- Cost Accountants
- Project Accountants
- Auditors
- Accounting Associates
- Property Accountants
- Audit Associates
- Certified Public Accountants
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for accountants/bookkeepers can be found.
Best Industries for Accountants/Bookkeepers
Accountants/Bookkeepers Jobs By Industry
- Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services: 24.5%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 6.5%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.3%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 2.9%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.9%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 2.1%
- Other: 57.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of accountants/bookkeepers can be found working in the Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services sector. In 2023, about 24.5% of all jobs for accountants/bookkeepers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.5%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.3%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (2.9%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.9%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (2.1%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
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Degree Options for Accountants/Bookkeepers
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Learn to identify, resolve, and prevent white-collar crime in a variety of business settings while preparing for the CFE exam.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Stay Sarbanes-Oxley compliant and promote a fraud-prevention culture while preparing for professional certifications like the CFE.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Learn to decipher the numbers and communicate your findings with confidence and clarity in Franklin’s M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Taxation. The 17-month, online program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and features interactive courses led by in-field practitioners.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for Accountants/Bookkeepers
Boost your career prospects and productivity with MS Excel certificate courses that show you how to maximize the power of Microsoft's popular data analysis tool.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Take control of your professional life with Intuit bookkeeping certificate courses that train you help businesses record, track and analyze essential financial records.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $35/month
What Do Accountants/Bookkeepers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what accountants/bookkeepers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work accountants/bookkeepers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that accountants/bookkeepers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for accountants/bookkeepers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Accountants/Bookkeepers
Based on 316,270 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Accountants/Bookkeepers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 278,555 | 88% |
| Auditing | 184,698 | 58% |
| Financial Statements | 142,676 | 45% |
| Finance | 137,280 | 43% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 102,194 | 32% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Accountants/Bookkeepers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 118,200 | 37% |
| Communication | 116,143 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 92,922 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 89,293 | 28% |
| Operations | 66,721 | 21% |
Based on 316,270 job postings related to accountants/bookkeepers, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 88% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, financial statements, finance, generally accepted accounting principles and general ledger were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for accountants/bookkeepers, followed by communication, detail oriented, microsoft excel, operations and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 278,555 | 88% |
| Auditing | 184,698 | 58% |
| Financial Statements | 142,676 | 45% |
| Finance | 137,280 | 43% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 102,194 | 32% |
| General Ledger | 74,405 | 24% |
| Accounts Payable | 63,078 | 20% |
| Internal Controls | 61,078 | 19% |
| Month-End Closing | 60,341 | 19% |
| Accounts Receivable | 55,554 | 18% |
| External Auditing | 52,746 | 17% |
| Account Reconciliation | 51,895 | 16% |
| Balance Sheet | 50,970 | 16% |
| Invoicing | 50,810 | 16% |
| Reconciliation | 49,714 | 16% |
| Public Accounting | 45,794 | 14% |
| Financial Analysis | 40,133 | 13% |
| Internal Auditing | 39,224 | 12% |
| Accounting Software | 34,552 | 11% |
| Fixed Asset | 31,804 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 118,200 | 37% |
| Communication | 116,143 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 92,922 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 89,293 | 28% |
| Operations | 66,721 | 21% |
| Microsoft Office | 59,673 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 58,172 | 18% |
| Research | 55,970 | 18% |
| Writing | 55,034 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 52,993 | 17% |
| Leadership | 42,920 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 38,866 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 38,674 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 37,536 | 12% |
| Analytical Skills | 36,964 | 12% |
| Planning | 36,471 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 34,408 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 34,353 | 11% |
| Time Management | 34,239 | 11% |
| Forecasting | 32,405 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Accountants/Bookkeepers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants | 170,308 | 35.4% |
| Staff Accountants | 93,806 | 19.5% |
| Tax Accountants | 31,403 | 6.5% |
| Internal Auditors | 16,822 | 3.5% |
| Audit Managers | 22,298 | 4.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was accountants, with 66,180 unique job postings. Staff accountants were second, with 8,386 postings, followed by tax accountants, internal auditors and audit managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to accountants/bookkeepers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants | 170,308 | 35.4% |
| Staff Accountants | 93,806 | 19.5% |
| Tax Accountants | 31,403 | 6.5% |
| Internal Auditors | 16,822 | 3.5% |
| Audit Managers | 22,298 | 4.6% |
| Cost Accountants | 16,228 | 3.4% |
| Project Accountants | 12,490 | 2.6% |
| Auditors | 15,346 | 3.2% |
| Accounting Associates | 13,276 | 2.8% |
| Property Accountants | 11,331 | 2.4% |
| Audit Associates | 14,724 | 3.1% |
| Certified Public Accountants | 17,620 | 3.7% |
| Corporate Accountants | 5,920 | 1.2% |
| Accountants/Bookkeepers | 8,395 | 1.7% |
| Financial Accountants | 5,603 | 1.2% |
| Revenue Accountants | 3,852 | 0.8% |
| Internal Audit Managers | 6,158 | 1.3% |
| General Ledger Accountants | 5,548 | 1.2% |
| Payroll Accountants | 5,441 | 1.1% |
| Staff Auditors | 4,484 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for accountants/bookkeepers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for accountants/bookkeepers.
How much do accountants/bookkeepers make?
Accountants/Bookkeepers: How do you become one?
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