Jobs in the accounting industry

Jobs in the accounting industry by Michael Cheary Considering a career in accounting, but not sure where to start? If you’ve got a head for numbers, working in the accountancy and finance sector could be a great way to turn your passion into a lucrative profession. And it isn’t just the standard roles and accountancy stereotypes you might expect that are available.Not sure what your options are? Weve already covered how to start a career in accountancy, but here are some roles you could consider and some of our top tips to help you get to there:AccountantWhat they do: Prepare a company’s accounts, which are then used to give an overview of the organisation’s overall financial status. Typical duties for an Accountant include tracking income and expenditure, conducting audits, mitigating financial risks and advising on budgets.What you need: Aside from a natural aptitude for mathematics and problem solving, other key skills for an Accountant include excellent analytical skills and the ability to work well under pressure. A degree may be preferable for some employers, but is not essential.  What you can earn: Salaries for Accountants start at around £22,000, but can rise to over £30,000 once you’ve built up a good level of experience.Perfect for: People who want their careers to add-up.Our advice: It’s possible to find an entry-level position in accountancy without prior experience. Many Accounts Assistant or Trainee Accountant roles will provide on-the-job training to help get you started. It’s all about selling the right roles on your CV, such as attention to detail and a passion for mathematics, to get your foot in the door.How to become an AccountantView all Accountant jobsAccounting TechnicianWhat they do: Assist Accountants by providing all the financial information they need to prepare the company’s accounts. Accounting Technicians may also perform some basic bookkeeping duties, as well as process payments and invoices, and completing tax returns.What you need: Positivity, as well as a good work ethic, and a methodical approach to your work. You will also need to become a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, otherwise known as AAT. However, a degree will not be necessary.What you can earn: Around £16,000 for those just starting out, with the potential to earn somewhere closer to the £30,000 mark, once fully AAT qualified.Perfect for: People who want to break into the finance sector.Our advice: If you’re finding it difficult to find a position which enables you to earn while you learn, start studying. There are no requirements to get started with an AAT qualification, and after brushing up on the basics, you’ll be able to apply for Accounting Technician positions with confidence.View all Accounting Technician jobsActuaryWhat they do: Analyse a range of data, in order to evaluate and mitigate financial risk. Traditionally they worked primarily within insurance and pensions; however, a growing number of businesses now r ely on actuaries to help prepare for every eventuality.What you need: Although they do not technically work with accounts, excellent accounting skills are often considered a necessary requirement for actuaries. You will also need a passion and penchant for analysis, as well as the ability to convey complex information concisely, in the simplest way possible.What you can earn: Starting salaries for graduates will generally fall between £25,000 and £35,000, although senior level Actuaries often earn closer to the £60,000 mark.Perfect for: People who like to take (well-informed) risks.Our advice: Most employers will expect you to have a degree in a mathematical discipline to become an Actuary. However, any graduates who possess a passion for maths and statistics can apply. Just make sure you major on these in your application, and include any extra work or independent study you’ve done on the subject to help set you apart.How to become an ActuaryView all Actuary jobs  BookkeeperWh at they do: Record all of a business’ financial transactions, also known as ‘keeping the books’. These transactions will include all purchases, sales and any other expenditures. They can then be used to calculate profit and loss and manage ledgers, to make sure the books ‘balance’.What you need: Excellent organisation skills, and an almost obsessive attention-to-detail. There are no formal prerequisites when it comes to qualifications, however, some knowledge of bookkeeping software will be helpful to get started.What you can earn: £20,000 as an entry-level salary, and around £25,000 once fully-qualified.Perfect for: People who are looking for a ‘balanced’ career.Our advice: Getting up-to-speed with a bookkeeping-specific course is the easiest way to break into the industry. The world’s most popular bookkeeping software, Sage, has over six million customers, and gaining a Sage certification will help show potential employers that you’re ready to hit the ground ru nning.How to become a BookkeeperView all Bookkeeper jobs  Chartered AccountantWhat they do: Provide financial advice and audit accounts for their clients, or employer. Day-to-day activities for a Chartered Accountant include managing budgets, tax planning and preparing annual accounts.What you need: As with a regular accountancy position, financial acumen and numerical ability is absolutely vital in this role. However, unlike becoming an Accountant, being a Chartered Accountant will require a professional qualification, generally provided in the UK by the main four Accountancy bodies. You will also need extensive accounting experience.  What you can earn: Fully qualified Chartered Accountants can earn up to £50,000, depending on experience and location.Perfect for: People who want letters after their names.Our advice: If you’re already working within the accountancy industry, ask your employer if they can help you reach chartered status. Many companies provide sponsorship or sub sidised costs for anyone looking to become certified, and having their official backing could help you kick-on and take the next step in your career.How to become a Chartered AccountantView all Chartered Accountant jobs  Management AccountantWhat they do: Take overall responsibility for a company’s finances, including managing their accounts and looking for ways to improve profitability. They differ from standard accountants in that they work for one company, rather than managing multiple clients, and will also generally head up the entire accountancy team as a whole.What you need: The ability to identify patterns and spot trends in data, are both absolutely essential, as is a good level of global business awareness. You will not necessarily need a degree to become a Management accountant, however, you will need a good level of experience in accounting. Some positions may also ask for a CIMA certification as standard.What you can earn: Newly appointed Management Accountants will e arn somewhere in the region of £24,000. However, with the right amount of experience, this can will easily reach £40,000+.Perfect for: People who want to move into management.Our advice: To become a Management Accountant, you really need your finger on the pulse when it comes to finance. Keeping up-to-date with the latest industry news will not only help your knowledge stay relevant, it also has the potential to impress when it comes to the interview â€" especially if you can relate it back to the company you’re interviewing for.How to become a Management AccountantView all Management Accountant jobsOther accountancy jobs to consider: Environmental Accountant, Forensic Accountant, Tax Accountant, Payroll Administrator.Want to work in Accounting? View all available accountancy jobs now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and condit ions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. What job suits me?

Racism at work, and why it doesnt work to just say no

Racism at work, and why it doesnt work to just say no Last week I was on a radio show that Ive been on a bunch of times. It is a major radio station in a major city. The host likes me because I say inflammatory things like, If your boss is terrible, stop complaining and start looking for another job. Then listeners call in and tell me Im an idiot, and in general, they sound like the audio version of Yahoo comments (scroll down). So we were going through that routine. The topic was presidential candidates and I said I love Michelle Obama because she is not constrained by societal expectations. Then I talked about how she dated Barack when she was supervising him. I also talked about how she recently quit her huge job as an attorney in order to take care of her family during the campaign, even when the baby boomer media is still complaining about women who do this; Michelle didnt care. The host of the show said she thought you should not date people you supervise: Its not fair, they dont have the ability to say no, etc. By then, the phone lines were lighting up. Lighting up is radio lingo for the process whereby the producer of the show answers the phones, finds out what the person wants to say on air, and then cues up three or four interesting callers. This way, when the host gets a call, she knows its going to be decent because the producer has already screened it. The producers job is to get a wide range of callers, talking about a range of topics in a way that will engage other listeners. The first call was from a guy who said, (I am summarizing) I agree that you shouldnt date someone you supervise, but I think its a different circumstance with Michelle Obama because there are so few good black men to date. Silence. Not for long, but any silence on the radio seems long. What went through my mind was that I am not black and cannot comment on what its like to be black and dating and I should keep quiet. The host said, Well, Barack is a very good catch. Good for her! But I am always on the alert for bad talk for women masquerading as feminism, so I said, Well, Michelle is a great catch, too. In hindsight, I should have said something like, That comment is racist. There are men of every race who are good catches and men of every race who are not good dating material. When Don Imus was fired, I remember a flurry of past guests on his show who admitted to saying nothing on-air when he said something racist. I remember telling myself that I would never do that. But I have to tell you that its hard to believe its happening when its happening. On a national radio show, there are a lot of checks in place to make sure racism doesnt happen on air: The producer screens calls, and the host can say something if its bad (I said clitoridecdtomy on-air one week and she immediately apologized to listeners and told everyone Id never say that word again.) And, if all that fails, presumably advertisers will ditch the show, and it will fail, because no one wants to be associated with racism. So what happened is that in the split second that racism was happening on the radio, I didnt trust myself that it was happening, and I didnt say anything. And I see now that the way racist ideas go main stream is that the producer gives them air time, and the outspoken host and guest talk about womens issues instead of the real issue that is race. This will not happen again with me. I will speak up when something is racist. Being ready for racism reminds me of teaching kids to say no to drugs. If you tell kids Just say no, it doesnt work, because they dont trust their own decision- making skills. What the drug educators have found is that if you talk about trusting your instinct about what is a positive decision and what isnt, then in a bad situation, youll trust yourself to say the right thing. Carmen Van Kerckhove conducts diversity training for businesses, and she wrote a great post about the best response to a racist joke. Youll be surprised by the advice. I was. Its a great post because it teaches us how to understand, at a core, why the joke is wrong. Instead of just saying no to a racist joke Van Kerckhove deconstructs the situation to give us our best response. I have a solid understanding of womens issues, so I was ready with a response for the idea that Michelle Obama was lucky to find a date. I was not ready with a response to there are no good black men, because I didnt trust my knowledge of racism. But this is what I know: The core to stopping racism is to understand it, and then trust the understanding. Thats how we can be ready to call out racism as something wrong when we need to.

Why K.I.S.S Doesnt Always Work Marla Gottschalk

Why K.I.S.S Doesnt Always Work Marla Gottschalk Photo by André Robillard on Unsplash There is an iconic urban myth about interviewing for a role at IBM. The story goes something like this: You are taken to lunch. Present at this lunch are you â€" and of course a couple of powerful hiring managers. You all chat, you order lunch, it arrives. What are the managers attending to during this interview? Your skill set? Your previous experience? No. They are observing whether or not you salt your food before you take the first bite. What might this tell them about you and your future at their venerable organization? That you are open to experience? That you possess an open-mind? That you are a perfect fit for their team? Uh â€" not so fast. Im all in for an easily grasped explanation, but sometimes we go a bit too far. As a psychologist, my work focuses upon understanding workplace experiences â€" and Im certain that the K.I.S.S. was originally coined to describe systems, not human behavior. However, there has always been a powerful push-pull operating. Human behavior is stubbornly complicated â€" but, we would like to make it appear simple. (As the legendary job interview illustrates.) Instead we might consider erring on the side of complexity, but concentrate on communicating the expanded theory effectively. We shouldnt fear complexity. It doesnt have to be viewed as the threshold of our undoing. It is, in fact, the secret sauce. There is no single behavior or question to accurately predict future workplace performance during an employment interview. (An elevator pitch, is a fantastic staple â€" yet its brevity does not always suffice.) As such, a reasonable balance of structured exploration is likely more preferable. Ultimately, we have to be willing to take that deeper dive into certain challenges â€" and look beyond the hype and buzz words. Where human behavior is concerned â€" oversimplification can be dangerous. If you are solving a challenge (for example, high turnover in one job category, difficulty recruiting), be sure to embrace a broad perspective of the issue. Take the extra time to look beyond the obvious. Include those nuances, even if they slow you down temporarily. However, here is the start of a brief guide. (Please share your thoughts, as well.): Capture the relevant variables. When all is said and done, be sure that all of the important elements are at least considered. Workplace issues are often multifaceted. Thats OK. Treat them as such. Consider what (and when) to share. Communicating a concept is critical step â€" and what you share can make or break its power to change opinion. Take note of what an audience is likely to absorb at one sitting, but push the envelope and keep the essence of the concept intact. Focus on inspiring both thought and action. Indulge your curiosity. Taking a deeper look at an issue, is often worth the investment. If you have an indication that something is off or appears unexplained, take that side path to fully explore it. There is likely more under the surface. Limit assumptions. We often view workplace behaviors with previous biases intact. Ive made the mistake of jumping to a conclusion much too quickly. Try to avoid that scenario. Biases can mask complexity. Do we over-simplify the workplace challenges we face? How does that affect our proposed solutions? Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, consultant and speaker.

70+ JavaScript Interview Questions To Hire Or Get Hired With - Algrim.co

70+ JavaScript Interview Questions To Hire Or Get Hired With - Algrim.co ()); /script /body /html 72. Name the distinct types of Error Name Property. Range Error: This error occurs when a number outside the range is used. Syntax Error: This error occurs when we use the incorrect syntax. Reference Error: This error occurs if used an undeclared variable Eval Error: This error arises due to the error in eval (). New JavaScript version doesn’t have this error Type Error: Occurs, when the value used, is outside the range of types used URI Error: This error arises due to the usage of illegal characters. 73. What are some of the advantages of using External JavaScript? Separation of Code is done. Code Maintainability is Easy. Performance is better. 74. What is the difference between test () and exec () methods? Both of these tests are RegExp expression methods. When you use test (), a string of a given pattern is searched and if there is a matching text present in the string, the test returns a Boolean value ‘true’ and else it returns ‘false’. In exec (), a string of a given pattern is searched and if there is a matching text found in the pattern, then the pattern itself is returned and else returns a null value.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns for Your Company

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns for Your Company Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comSummer is nearly upon us, which means that we’ll soon be in the throes of intern season. Internships are usually associated with major corporations and even federal agencies, but these days, more and more small businesses are seeing the value in hiring interns. And more and more young professionalsare seeking out internships at small businesses.?However, if you’ve never before worked with an intern, the prospect of hiring one may be a bit daunting.?Here are 5 “Don’ts” to keep in mind when you’re looking for interns. ?These common mistakes can undermine even the most well-intentioned internship programs:1. Don’t expect an unpaid intern to do a paid intern’s jobeval?A paid internship and an unpaid internship should entail a very different set of responsibilities.?For example, unpaid internships are essentially on-the-job training and education opportunities. The intern does not displace regular employees but instead works under their watchful eye so that they can receive guidance ?Internships are supposed to be learning opportunities; the experience and training that an intern receives while working with your company should prepare them for a permanent job in that industry ?Before you set out to hire interns, it’s important to have an idea of how you’ll teach them and how you’ll gauge their progress. You should also know how much feedback you’ll want to give and receive.?Proper communication is absolutely critical. If your “pitch” for an internship at your company seems disorganized or vague, then you probably won’t attract the right kind of talent, and serious, career-minded individuals may feel inclined look elsewhere.4. Don’t hold interns to a lower set of standards.?If a prospective employee showed up to an interview five minutes late and dressed too casually for the office, then chances are, you wouldn’t hire them, even if they had a great résumé. So don’t allow unprofessional behavior from you r interns, either.?While it’strue that internships are usually temporary positions and interns are often high school or college-aged, they must be informed from the get-go that they are to behave like professionals.eval? This can mean dressing appropriately, being on time, keeping themselves busy, and remaining free from distractions ?With proper organization and preparation, you won’t just have an extra set of hands helping out this summerâ€"you’ll also be molding and shaping the future of your industry!

5 Tips for Having a Successful Single Parent Career - CareerAlley

5 Tips for Having a Successful Single Parent Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Having a successful career while being a single parent On average, 28% of children live with just one parent mostly their mothers. Being a single parent poses many challenges, the biggest being financial. Single parents earn less money than their married counterparts, on average, due to the fact that they are also juggling full-time parenting. According to The Atlantic, slightly more than half of single mothers work full time, whereas 80% of married mothers are in the workforce. Though its incredibly challenging to both work and parent full-time, it is possible. Tips on having a successful career for single parents Among the items to keep in mind in burning both ends of the candle: Choose a family-friendly career Family-friendly careers are ones that are flexible, allow for time off and understand that your family is your priority. Maybe you want to work the typical Monday through Friday 9 to 5, or perhaps you want to work night shifts if family is available to look after your children. Choose a career that fits into your life, versus trying to make your life fit into your career. Tip: Work from home and freelance jobs are increasing immensely. Currently, one in five Americans work from home. Make your time with family count In other words, its quality time over quantity of time. Single parents need to juggle work, paying bills, housework, cooking and running errands, plus spending time with their kids. Set aside blocks of time to really engage with your children. Theyll remember one hour of quality time much more than if you spend five hours half-focused on them and half-focused on some other task. Use your money wisely Allow yourself treats every now and then, but do your best to be frugal. Money management tips for single parents include monitoring your finances, creating and sticking to a budget, eliminating debt and saving money each month, if possible. Form habits and routines Try to structure your life as best as you can. Children (and adults) thrive off of routine. Make breakfast together each morning, go out for ice cream on Saturdays, or turn the television off when you eat dinner. Its the little things like this that children will cherish and remember. Learn to say no Its OK to say no to certain obligations. As a single working parent, you cant do it all. Your kids and your work need to be your primary focus. Its quite alright to skip lunch with friends or a PTA meeting every now and then to rest or spend time with your family. Best and worst jobs for single parents According to Forbes, the best jobs for single parents include teachers, public relations managers, real estate brokers, virtual assistants and any job in health care. Worst jobs are any jobs that may require you to work long hours and have no flexibility. Accountants, for example, typically work more during tax season. Doctors have long hours, as do some sales jobs. Keep this in mind when figuring out your career. Though being a working single parent isnt easy, its possible. Both you and your kids will adapt and it will become their new normal. Stay positive and encouraging, especially around your little ones. Find a support system and take each day one day at a time. About the Author: Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer living in Glendale, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics including small businesses, personal finance, careers and time management. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Writing an Overview For a Resume

Writing an Overview For a ResumeWriting an overview for a resume is essential if you want to showcase your skills and experience. This is a one page document which gives readers a brief overview of your professional record. You can get more information about the job through the resume itself, but with a quick overview you can let the readers know in a concise manner what you have to offer. Here are some tips to help you create an overview for a resume.* Do not include all the information in the first draft. The purpose of writing an overview for a resume is to let the reader know about your achievements so that they will remember it and want to work with you. Thus, do not include information you cannot do, and don't include details you do not know. Have you ever met a person you knew very well who would brag about his or her accomplishments in such a way that you couldn't believe it? That is just how it should be!* On the job description itself, it is recommended that you give all th e details. For example, if you are an accountant, make sure you state that you have eight years of accounting experience. If you are a stock broker, include the years you have been doing business as a stock broker.* The next step in writing an overview for a resume is to add 'technical.' Remember that your resume is a detailed description of your skills and experience and should not leave a lot of room for technical details. Give all the details so that the reader knows the details you need them to know. For example, if you have a Master's degree, mention it.* When writing an overview for a resume, remember that it is for a human resources manager and that your resume has a human being on it. When you write it, be careful to include things you know the human resources manager wants to see. Things like pay rates, benefits packages, compensation levels, and others. Be specific. Include the details.* Write your information in chronological order. The resume outline itself may contain t hings like title, date, contact information, location, job responsibilities, and so on. A chronological format helps the reader to navigate through the resume much easier. Therefore, do not list everything in chronological order. A one page summary can do much more than give you an overview of your employment history.Writing an overview for a resume allows you to list and highlight your most impressive attributes and skills. This saves time for you as you can go through the resume and evaluate the different jobs and the characteristics of each one. Using the outline format makes it easier for you to accomplish this task.