Types of Accountants

Accounting is goes much deeper than just doing taxes and financial statements. The role of managerial accounting is to provide strategic planning, operations, performance evaluations and management decision making. (Atkinson, Kaplan, and Young, 2004, pg 3). The main difference between Management accounting and financial accounting is that financial accounting is historical data, where are management accounting plans for the future.

I have searched the internet to give you a few examples of types of accounting jobs you can expect to find. As you can see cost accountants collect data, then analysis the financial information so that mangers can make good decisions. Insurance companies use accountants to process insurance claims and to improve their internal systems. Even the government uses accountants to oversee projects to ensure they do not go over budget.

Types of Accountants:
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Cost accountant
"It is one of the most essential management services. It is a fairly new branch, a profession ushered in during the last century. With increase in competition and consequent economic pressures, cost and management accountancy has been finely interwoven into the main fabric of management. Collection, assimilation, collation and analysis of financial information from all areas of an organization are the functions of a cost accountant." (UnixXL, 2005)
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Forensic Accountant - (Monster.com, 2005)
"Major Responsibilities:
- Performs the functions of a forensic accountant for Property Major Case Unit claim handlers (Directors, Executive General Adjusters, and General Adjusters) on large property insurance claims involving time element losses ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000.

- Identifies skill development needs of field-based property insurance claim professionals to assist in the development of instructional tools to increase skill levels in the handling of time element insurance claims.

- Counsels field-based property insurance claim professionals on unique issues involved in particular time element insurance claims and use of outside accountants.

- Assists Director in the management and evaluation of the Outside Accountant Resources used on time element insurance claims

- Assisting Catastrophe team efforts to settle time elements losses " (St. Paul Travelers, 2005)
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Financial Management, Fiscal Management, Accountants (Monster.com, 2005)

"Developing annual program operating plans within allotted project funds, you will ensure that approved spending plans are executed in accordance with laws, regulations and Congressional intent. Your responsibilities will involve preparing budget, accounting and financial reports for management, and analyzing and evaluating the effects of related issues. You will also:

· Monitor control point expenditures in relation to planned levels.

· Prepare analysis reports, making recommendations for remedial action.

· Maintain an integrated financial system that furnishes timely data used in the direction, evaluation and control of various operations.

· Provide accountability for assigned project/program funds with complete and timely disclosure of financial transactions, resulting in reliable data to manage the execution of short- and long-term plans. "

I hope this has given you some insight as to what I do and why accounting has such a broad range of positions within an organization.

References
Atkinson AA, Kaplan RS and Young SM. Pearson. Management Accounting. 2005. Prentice Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Monster.com, 2005, http://www.monster.com retrieved on October 13, 2005, Key word search Managerial Accountants

St. Paul Travelers, retrieved on October 13, 2005, from http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=30245634&AVSDM=2005%2D09%2D21+15%3A46%3A29&Logo=1&q=Managerial+Accountants&cy=us on the monster.com website.

U.S. Defense Agency, retrieved on October 13, 2005 from http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=35096598&AVSDM=2005%2D10%2D11+13%3A12%3A19&Logo=1&pg=6&cy=us&q=Accountants&refine=1 on the monster.com website.

UnixXL, 2005 retrieved on October 13, 2005 from http://www.unixl.com/dir/business_and_economy/accounting/accounting_jobs/