It is important then that you enjoy working as part of a team and that you learn to do so in your education. The field of accounting has seen constant technological and intellectual innovation in recent decades. As long as companies, whether large or small, must prepare various financial records for both internal and external use, the world will always need accountants. Public accounting firms provide a variety of services to their clients, who are usually individuals or other businesses. Most often, career paths in public accounting are either in audit or tax.
Tax accountants provide similar services, but with a more specialized focus.
The task of tax professionals is to ensure that their clients' tax records are accurately documented, and that they follow guidelines established by local and national tax agencies. Tax accountants also provide a consulting role by helping their clients minimize their tax liabilities. Public Accountants, regardless of whether they work in tax or audit, work in partnerships which provide accounting services to individuals, businesses and governments. The largest, high-profile public accounting firms are known as the Big Five and dominate the field of accounting. This field offers advancement potential to audit manager, tax manager or partner reached by only two to three percent of new hires.