Capable accountants usually advance rapidly with work experience. Graduates of community college programs who meet the educational and experience requirements of their employers may obtain junior accounting positions and advance to more responsible positions by demonstrating their accounting skills on the job. Management accountants record and summarize the financial information of their companies. Internal auditors verify the accuracy of their organization's records and check for mismanagement, waste, and fraud. Government accountants and auditors maintain and examine the records of government agencies and audit private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation.
Most accountants concentrate in one phase of accounting.
For example, many public accountants work primarily in examining a client's financial records and reporting to investors and authorities that the records have been prepared and reported correctly. Others concentrate on tax matters, such as preparing an individual's tax returns and advising companies about business decisions. Still others concentrate on consulting and offer advice on matters such as the design of companies' accounting and data processing systems and controls to safeguard assets. Management accountants provide the financial information corporate executives need to make sound business decisions. Within accounting departments, they may work in areas such as taxation, budgeting, costs, or investments.