EMERGING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN ACCOUNTING/ ACCOUNTANCY

Career opportunities in accounting or accountancy continues to expand and gain more grounds in the job markets as the effects of increasing fraud and financial systems meltdown continues to bite hard on both individuals and corporate bodies. Cases of bankruptcy and business failures continually make the head line these days.

Business community and industry leaders at large are panicking due to the rate of fraud caused by threats posed by disgruntled  employees. Employees out of fear of losing their jobs and fear of not being able to provide for their families resort to committing occupational frauds. Occupational frauds are frauds committed by a trusted and responsible employee of a business (insiders’ fraud). All these and many more are opening up career opportunities for accountants and further demonstrates the importance of accounting.

EMERGING ACCOUNTING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

• Fraud fighting and forensic services

Fraud fighting is more important in the sustenance of our society today than ever as fraud metamorphoses into a borderless activity. Owing to the fact that accounting curricular incorporates some elements of law in it, accountants find it easy to grasp with the legal requirement of forensic investigation and fraud fighting. Though there is an additional designation that fraud fighters can get to better position themselves in effectively discharging their duties but, your accounting qualification and training gives you an edge. One of such fraud fighters professional bodies is ACFE you can become a member at http://www.acfe.com.

• Systems analysts

As the need for good system is gaining grounds, managers and other stake holders are doing all they can to get the best internal control in place in their various company. And one of such people that they can easily run to is the accountants. With the skills acquired in Accounting Information System, accountants are better placed to assume the position of systems analysts – this recently has included cybersecurity as an assurance services.

• Information security professionals

As accountants get more involved into information processing, they acquire more invaluable skills to be the best man for the position of information security post. Taking part in systems design, using a system and auditing a system is a unique combination of skills that managers and business executives are ready to pay any amount just to take advantage of it.

• Instructors/ Lecturers

As people on a daily basis aspire to acquire more financial intelligence, the demand for people with accounting and finance skills are in high demand. Also, department of accounting in many institutions of higher learning gets more interesting, the position of accounting lecturers continue to expand.

• IT auditors

The effects of IT on businesses have revolutionized business processes and the need to have people with the right combination of business skills and auditing is very much needed in business community.

• Financial analysts

Finance no doubt is the language of business and are always best understood by accountants. This makes managers prefer employing those with accounting background. It can be argued that a person without good knowledge of how a business is run and does not understand the language of business cannot make a better analyst. To be a good financial planner, you need to develop and nurture those intrinsic values that accounting as a discipline can give to you.

• Consultants

As consultants, accountants can work in the areas of tax, systems, human resource, marketing and management consultants. Also, as major employers further lay off their staff, people most affected get into business without knowing much about the business environment. So, they rely on consultants to lead them in the right direction.

No other information specialist is more qualified to occupy the above positions in the society today as businesses and financial systems get more complex. It is obvious that most business failures and corporate bankruptcies in the news today are caused by fraud, irregularities and gross systems failure. And this will no doubt require the right blend of; accounting, law, IT and management knowledge to tackle which, modern day CFOs and accountants are well equipped with.

All the above accounting career opportunities do not just come on a Plata of gold, efforts need to be put in through a well structured personal learning.

To your successful accounting career!