Nature of work
An ccountant analyzes financial information and prepares financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.He/she do the following tasks :
Preparing, examining, or analyzing accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Developing, implementing, modifying, document recordkeeping and accounting systems by making use of current computer technology.
Reporting to management regarding the finances of establishment.
Establishing tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
Analyzing business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
Surveying operations to ascertain accounting needs and recommend, develop, or maintain solutions to business and financial problems.
Developing, maintaining, analyzing budgets, and preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
Preparing forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel, and directing their work activities.
Computing taxes owed, preparing tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, and reporting other tax requirements.
Advising management about issues such as resource utilization, tax strategies, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
Appraising, evaluating, inventorying real property and equipment, and recording information such as the description, value and location of property.
Providing with internal and external auditing services for businesses or individuals.
Advising clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.
Representing clients before taxing authorities and providing support during litigation involving financial issues.
Maintaining or examining the records of government agencies.Serving as bankruptcy trustees or business valuators.
Environment of work
•An ccountant usually works standard office hours although weekend work or overtime may be required at certain times of the year. Busy periods may occur when processing end-of-month accounts and at the beginning and end of the financial year..• Work environment and conditions vary according to the employer.
•Self-employment is an increasingly popular option within this profession. It should be noted that self-employment brings its own pressures, including a lack of job security and no holiday pay or company pension scheme, which may prove to be deterrents.
•Part-time work and career breaks are usually possible.
•Temporary and short-term contract work are possibilities.
•Travel within a working day is more common for self-employed making visits to clients. Absence from home overnight is not usually a feature of the work.
Professional life
An accountant may progress to positions such as finance controller, audit senior, tax analyst, internal auditor or payroll manager. He/she works in a variety of organisations throughout all sectors of business, industry and commerce. Many begin their training in firms of chartered or certified accountants. It may be possible to change employers during training. Employers often ask for either part or fully qualified accounting technicians. Typical employers include: banks and building societies;
Private universities
accounting firms;
charities;
educational institutions;
local government;
health authorities;
insurance companies;
manufacturers;
the media;
public utilities;
retail companies;
service industries;
small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where you may be the only qualified member of accounting staff
•Starting salaries for trainee accounting are in the range of 25000 – 30000 SYP•
-Once qualified and having experience, an accounting may earn up to 40000 SYP
Getting the job
If a candidate likes to apply for this position, he/she should have a certificate in one of the following :•Accounting and Business/Management
•Accounting and Computer Science
•Accounting and Finance
•Accounting
•Auditing
Accountants and auditors seek certifications from a variety of professional societies. The Certifications are :
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Certified Financial Manager (CFM)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Enrolled Agent (EA)
Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
Certified Financial Consultant (CFC)
Skills
Mathematics : Using mathematics to solve problems. Effective communication skills.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking : Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making : Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management : Managing one's own time and the time of others.
* Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
* Monitoring : Monitoring/assessing performance of him/herself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
* Coordination : Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Negotiation skills.
Management of personnel resources : Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Persuasion and instructing : Persuading others to change their minds or behavior in addition to teaching them how to do something.
Sources and references
wwww.accountingmajors.com ww.acc4arab.com/
www.businessgrowthaccountants.co.uk
www.alolabor.org
http://www.ascasociety.org
http://www.prospects.ac.uk
http://www.mymajors.com
Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization
Summary
An accountant works in all areas of finance and business. He/she usually starts working in a support role within a firm of accountants or in the accounts or finance departments of organisations. Those with more experience may become self-employed providing a variety of accountancy and taxation services to a range of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).In many larger organisations, accounting work is done alongside members of chartered accountancy bodies. In smaller organisations, he/she may be the only financially trained member of staff.