Occupation · SOC 13-2011
Accountants and Auditors
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
Median wage
$81,680
$52,780–$141,420
Projected growth
+4.6%
Average growth
Annual openings
7,280
per year
Employed (US)
1,448,290
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
828 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Economics and AccountingEnglish LanguageMathematicsAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Tax preparation softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareCompliance softwareFinancial analysis softwareAccounting software
Representative tasks
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.Prepare adjusting journal entries.Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries.Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.Evaluate taxpayer finances to determine tax liability, using knowledge of interest and discount rates, annuities, valuation of stocks and bonds, and amortization valuation of depletable assets.Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives.Audit payroll and personnel records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws.Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office.Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.Direct activities of personnel engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records.Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned.Develop, maintain, or analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate financial planning.Process invoices for payment.Review data about material assets, net worth, liabilities, capital stock, surplus, income, or expenditures.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Routine journal entries and reconciliations — prepare on assigned accounts under a senior's review.Audit walkthroughs and tie-outs — execute on standard areas with manager oversight.Working-paper standards — apply consistently in the firm's audit software.Source documents (invoices, contracts, bank statements) — request and trace to the GL.Sampling procedures — perform per the audit plan on routine populations.Variance analyses on assigned accounts — produce with a senior reviewing.Standard tax forms and schedules — prepare on simple returns under review.Client correspondence and PBC lists — maintain accurately on assigned engagements.Internal controls documentation — update for assigned cycles under supervision.Time entry and budget tracking — record accurately on assigned engagement codes.
developing
Multiple audit areas on a routine engagement — execute with reduced manager oversight.Account reconciliations across the close — own and resolve in a private-company setting.Common tax provisions and adjustments — calculate and document on standard returns.Audit findings and exceptions — identify, document, and propose adjustments.Junior staff on assigned sections — review and coach during fieldwork.Client requests and follow-ups — manage on a routine engagement with manager visibility.Internal control testing — design and execute for assigned cycles.GAAP/IFRS treatment on familiar transactions — apply correctly with manager review.Engagement budgets — track and flag overruns on assigned sections.Standard reports and management letters — draft for partner review.
proficient
Full audit engagements for mid-sized clients — manage from planning through report.Complex accounting issues (revenue, leases, impairment) — research and conclude with documentation.Audit teams of multiple staff — supervise on engagements end-to-end.Material findings and recommendations — frame and discuss with client management.Tax positions on non-routine returns — develop and defend with documentation.Client relationships at controller and CFO level — manage across a portfolio of engagements.Engagement risk and quality — apply firm methodology to non-routine areas.Engagement economics — manage to budget and recovery on owned engagements.Staff and senior development — mentor across the practice on technique and judgment.Industry-specific accounting and audit issues — apply credibly within a chosen sector.
advanced
Audit and accounting practice — lead as partner, director, or controller of significant scope.High-risk and contested accounting positions — drive to defensible conclusions with documentation.Engagement quality and risk management — own across a portfolio at firm or company level.Client relationships at C-suite and audit-committee level — steward across multi-year arcs.Practice growth and business development — lead within an industry or service line.Talent pipeline (recruiting, development, partner candidates) — shape across the practice.Regulatory inspections and peer reviews — lead the practice through with credibility.Technical standards and firm methodology — interpret and influence at the practice level.Material disputes (regulator, IRS, litigation support) — represent the practice or company through.Profession-level contributions (standard-setting, thought leadership) — make credibly over time.
Also known as
136 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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