| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Seek new ways to improve efficiency and increase profits. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Review operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Direct the preparation of regular and special budget reports. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Summarize budgets and submit recommendations for the approval or disapproval of funds requests. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Consult with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Interpret budget directives and establish policies for carrying out directives. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Perform cost-benefit analyses to compare operating programs, review financial requests, or explore alternative financing methods. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Match appropriations for specific programs with appropriations for broader programs, including items for emergency funds. |
Accounting Careers and Jobs Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Accounting Careers and Jobs Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For people who want a numbers-driven career with a clear, exam-based path to advancement. Use the tools below to see which accounting roles fit your background and goals.
Accounting has one of the clearest credential ladders of any major: a bachelor's degree alone opens staff-level roles, but passing the CPA exam is required for the highest-paying roles. Use the tools below to explore Accounting-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Bookkeeper, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Controller or CFO. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant), that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Accounting Careers and Jobs careers/jobs, (2) Find Accounting Careers and Jobs job listings, (3) Prepare for Accounting Careers and Jobs careers, and (4) Provide Accounting Careers and Jobs career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Accounting Careers and Jobs careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Accounting Careers and Jobs Careers - 2023 to 2033 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Accounting Careers and Jobs careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Accounting Careers and Jobs, so relevant Accounting Careers and Jobs jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Accounting Careers and Jobs Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Accounting Careers and Jobs Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Accounting Careers and Jobs careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 266 Accounting Careers and Jobs Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
35 Accounting Careers and Jobs careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2023 to 2033 est.). Accounting Careers and Jobs-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2023-2033 (% change) | Accounting Careers and Jobs-Related Jobs |
49 Accounting Careers and Jobs careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Accounting Careers and Jobs-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Accounting Careers and Jobs-Related Jobs |
48 Accounting Careers and Jobs careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Accounting Careers and Jobs-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
||
| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Accounting Careers and Jobs-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 266 specific Accounting Careers and Jobs job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Budget Analysts.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Budget Analysts
Description: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Budget Analysts":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
52,500U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
55,000
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
2,500 (4.8%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
4,300
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Testify before examining and fund-granting authorities, clarifying and promoting the proposed budgets. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Advise others on financial matters. | |
| Analyze budgetary or accounting data. | |
| Analyze business or financial data. | |
| Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers. | |
| Establish organizational guidelines or policies. | |
| Gather financial records. | |
| Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency. | |
| Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets. | |
| Testify at legal or legislative proceedings. | |
| Verify accuracy of financial information. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on financial matters. |
| Activity: Analyze business or financial data. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about business strategies. |
| Activity: Develop organizational policies, systems, or processes. |
| Activity: Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data. |
| Activity: Gather information from physical or electronic sources. |
| Activity: Identify business or organizational opportunities. |
| Activity: Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets. |
| Activity: Present information in legal proceedings. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Business intelligence and data analysis software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Power BI | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Access | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SAP software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Structured query language SQL | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Development environment software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Visual Basic | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft SharePoint | |||||||||||||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Deltek Costpoint Fund accounting software Hyperion Enterprise | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistical software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Business intelligence and data analysis software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| IBM Cognos Business Intelligence | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base reporting software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Online analytical processing OLAP software Relational database software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Development environment software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Objects Data Integrator | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Email software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Financial analysis software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics software | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Human resources software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Human resources management system HRMS Ultimate Software UltiPro Workplace | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Visual Basic.NET | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SAP Crystal Xcelsius | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Time accounting software: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Payroll software Time and attendance software Valiant Vantage |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
| A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
| Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 77.5 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 12.6 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.6 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.4 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 45.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 40.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 6.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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American Association for Budget and Program Analysis (AABPA)
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National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO)
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Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Budget Analysts". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Budget Analysts
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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