New Career Skills You Never Thought You'd Need | Mercer Bradley

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Earning an accounting degree opens up a variety of career paths. Accounting professionals can work in all industries and choose any field that interests them. Although specific duties vary, here are some ideas of what to expect in a few paths for an accounting career.     

5 Jobs In the Accounting Career Lattice (Not Ladder)

1. Payroll Administrator

A payroll administrator ensures that paychecks and bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly employee commission pays are processed on time. They investigate and resolve payroll issues and prepare T4s, records of employment (ROEs) and other reports as requested. A payroll administrator includes deduction information in employee files and calculates employee attendance before processing payroll.

2. Bookkeeper/Intermediate Accountant

A bookkeeper provides administrative support to the accounting department and management. They maintain an organized accounting filing system for financial historical records. A bookkeeper tracks and maintains records of debts, purchases and other financial transactions. They issue customer invoices, pay supplier invoices and maintain the petty cash fund. A bookkeeper records cash receipts, makes bank deposits and orders office supplies.

3. Senior Accountant/Financial Analyst

An accounting analyst may help with creating departmental or company budgets. They search a company’s financial history for data to create reports monthly, quarterly or as needed. An accounting assistant tracks and maintains records of account balances and keeps accounts payable and receivable records current. They submit tax documents to government offices and financial institutions.

4. Environmental Auditor

An environmental auditor creates a detailed analysis of a company’s products and processes to evaluate its performance from an environmental perspective. The auditor may conduct a compliance audit to measure if a business meets internal and external environmental guidelines and legislation. Or, they may conduct a management performance audit to measure whether a company meets criteria for management systems. An environmental auditor plans projects and audits methodology and procedures. They conduct interviews, meetings and site visits to assess facilities and operational procedure. The auditor analyzes audit documentation and data, prepares a report of findings and presents them to clients. They provide recommendations to correct non-conformance or improve environmental performance.

5. Chartered Professional Accountant Roles

A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) serves in key roles within industry, public accounting, government, education and not-for-profit. For instance, a CPA in industry ensures corporate accountability, manages risk and helps the company remain competitive. Examples of roles include chief financial officer, director of finance, controller, or accounting manager. A CPA in public practice provides services such as, audits, review engagements, tax preparation,  start-up counselling, purchases and sales of businesses and business valuations. They assist with business planning and financial projections.  A CPA in government provides accounting expertise to guide financial planning and maintain fiscal control. Roles include tax auditor, policy planner and financial analyst. CPAs in education may teach about business, values and ethics. Those in not-for-profit oversee receiving donor dollars, tax benefits or government grants. They assist with strategy development, accounting stewardship and delivering transparent annual reports.

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Find accounting jobs in Western Canada with Mercer Bradley. We get to know your experience, goals and interests, then match you with employers and accounting jobs where you’ll thrive. Reach out to us today!


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