Financial Specialists

How to become an Accountant or Auditor

Official title: Accountants and Auditors

Also called: Accountant, Accounting Officer, Audit Partner, Auditor, Cost Accountant, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Financial Auditor, Financial Reporting Accountant, General Accountant, Internal Auditor

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.

Main tasks

Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Process invoices for payment.
Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
Prepare adjusting journal entries.
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
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.

How to become one

A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is typically required to become an accountant or auditor. Completing certification in a specific field of accounting, such as becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), may improve job prospects.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Finance Business Partner.
College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 49 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $83,680 a year The middle half earn $67,020 to $109,810.
About 1,595,200 people work in this job now, and about 1,674,600 are projected by 2035. (+5%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Accountant or Auditor?

How much does an Accountant or Auditor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $83,680 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $67,020 to $109,810.

Is an Accountant or Auditor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 1,595,200 to about 1,674,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Accountant or Auditor?

Usually. 89% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Accountant or Auditor?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.