What does a career in accounting entail?

I'm thinking about pursuing an accounting major in college, but I'm not exactly sure what accountants do daily. Can someone break down the typical job duties and what skills are crucial for this field?

As an accountant, your daily tasks could vary greatly depending on the specific field of accounting you decide to go into, but there are several core duties typical across the profession. The primary role of any accountant is to prepare and examine financial records, ensuring the accuracy of these records, that bills and taxes are paid properly and on time.

Accountants often compile and analyze financial information to prepare entries to accounts, such as the general ledger accounts, documenting business transactions. They also analyze financial information detailing assets, liabilities, and capital, and prepare balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other reports to summarize and interpret the current and projected financial position of an organization.

Key skills would include problem-solving (as you’ll have to figure out where discrepancies lie in financial records), organization (you’ll be dealing with a lot of numbers and papers), and a strong ethical grounding (considering you'll be handling sensitive financial data). Moreover, strong communication skills are also important, as you need to clearly explain your findings to clients or your team.

Remember to think about your sentiments towards math and detail-oriented work, as these are crucial components of accounting. Furthermore, interpersonal skills will be essential if you're thinking about a role where you work closely with clients, like in public accounting.

I hope this clarifies your concerns a bit, good luck with your journey in the accounting field!