Public accountants are not employed by any single client, which means they are not part of the client's internal corporate structure. Public accountants are hired as outside experts who can provide a range of accounting services—from advisory and taxes to attestation and audit services.

People often choose the public accounting path because they enjoy the fast paced and dynamic environments that come with it. They thrive working with a wide variety of different client's and welcome the opportunity to learn about new industries and solve a myriad of challenges. Public accountants will also need to earn their CPA license in order to advance past entry-level positions. One of the perks of a public auditor is that you can become eligible to be hired by a client after gaining experience in their field by overseeing them.

A standard career path includes beginning as an entry level Accountant, then being promoted to Junior Accountant, followed by Senior Accountant, Manager, and finally Partner.

√ Do you enjoy a fast-paced, rigorous, and dynamic work environment?

√ Is client-facing social interaction something you're comfortable with?

√ Does working with a number of different diverse client types appeal to you?

√ During busy seasons for both Tax and Audit, overtime is something that is expected of you. Is mandatory overtime something you're ok with?

Bank Accountants classify and record financial information. In this way, they perform the same type of duties as other accountants. The difference is that they do not handle multiple clients like public accountants - just the bank that employs them. The job is generally a full-time one spent in an office environment. They are busiest during period end reporting, and overtime may be required for this. However, overall less overtime is typically required than with public accounting.

Bank accountants typically start with the title of Accountant I, then are promoted to Accountant II, Staff Accountant, then Senior accountant.

√ Do you enjoy working with spreadsheets, large-scale analytics, and running Reports?

√ Does working with large amounts of data appeal to you?

√ There are many positions and departments available within a bank's organizational structure for possible transfer. Do you find yourself looking for change after a few years in a position?

√ Are asset management and investing things that you’d like to get into?

Most businesses have a Corporate Accountant on staff, whether the company is large or small, so you will be in very high demand. These companies usually have an entire department devoted to the accounting team. Corporations can be privately owned or publicly held, but in both scenarios the Corporate Accountants are responsible for evaluating their company’s financial performance and reporting it to the shareholders.

A standard career path includes starting as a Staff Accountant, then a promotion to Senior Accountant, then a Manager, then a Controller, and finally a CFO.

√ Are structure and predictability something you value?

√ Do you find yourself seeking a secure and stable career path?

√ Do you enjoy running reports and engaging in transactional accounting with various clients?

√ Is tracking your company's financial performances month-over-month something you’d enjoy?

These individuals work in the public sector – specifically federal, state and local governments. They examine all financial records of government agencies, including the auditing of private businesses and individuals who are affected by taxation or government regulations. They also ensure that revenues and expenditures are within the law and that they comply with all federal, state and local regulations.

Every non-profit needs an accountant. These organizations have a number of rules and tax implications that affect the way they do business. Additionally, non-profit organizations may receive governmental grants. These grants require specialized treatment for accounting.

A standard career path includes beginning as an entry-level Accountant, moving up to a Junior Accountant, promotion to Senior Accountant, Manager, and finally, a Director of Finance. However, there are other roles available to transition into such as Grant Manager or Director of Fundraising.

√ One of the biggest draws to the NonProfit industry is the ability to contribute to a cause that's important to you. Are there any social or environmental movements you feel strongly about?

√ Many NonProfits have unique mission statements and focus - you could say the positions are 'off the beaten path'. Does this appeal to you?

√ Governmental accounting positions tend to be accompanied by great benefits, such as holidays off, lengthy PTO, and predictable raises each year. Are these benefits something you require in a job?

√ Do you prefer smaller-sized businesses as opposed to large corporate environments?

√ Would you like the opportunity to become proficient in government grants? These are often received by Nonprofits.