Accounting

Career and Major Information
Earnings
Related Occupations
Related Web Sites

Career and Major Information:

Walters State's two-year concentration in Accounting is designed to prepare successful graduates for entry-level employment opportunities as paraprofessionals in accounting.   This may include bookkeeping, auditing, or accounting.  The primary responsibility of an accounting paraprofessional is the upkeep of an organization’s financial records.  More and more, they are using specialized accounting computer software to tabulate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss.  Other duties may include examining expense accounts, verifying bank records, checking inventory and stock-record sheets, preparing spreadsheets, calculating employee wages, preparing payrolls, and preparing tax reports. 

In small businesses, accounting paraprofessionals may handle all of the company’s financial transactions and record keeping.  In larger companies, they may work in more specific accounting departments and have more specialized tasks, such as accounts payable or receivable. 

Jobs may be found in all industries, at all levels of government, and within the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services industry.  In most instances, accounting paraprofessionals spend long periods of time sitting in an office doing calculations with extra attention to detail and accuracy. 

The minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma and most employers prefer additional education and training.  Slower than average growth is expected through 2012; however, the large size and versatility of this occupation ensure many yearly job openings. 

 

Earnings:

The Tennessee Career Information Delivery System website lists the salary range for a beginning-level position in this field in Tennessee as $18,900 to $20,180 annually.  With experience, the range increases to $24,855 to $36,970.  The national average is higher by about $1,000 per year.  Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Related Occupations:

A/P, A/R, P/R Manager

Full-Charge Bookkeeper

Accounting Clerk

Credit Staff

Auditing Clerk

Billing Clerk

 

Related Web Sites:

The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers

www.aipb.org

 

Much of the above information was collected from the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor.  For additional information on these and many other careers, please visit the following web sites:

 

Occupational Outlook Handbook - U.S. Department of Labor

www.bls.gov/oco/

 

Tennessee Career Information Delivery System (TCIDS)

http://tcids.tbr.edu/.

 

 

For information regarding specific degree program requirements, curriculum, or faculty, please see the department website at http://www.ws.edu/businessdiv/default.asp.