There are three major areas of accounting for students interested in a career in the accounting field. Those areas include: Public Accounting, Management Accounting, and finally Government Accounting. Public accounting positions consist of "a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, which may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals." A public accountant has an extremely wide range of possible duties, along with an infinite list of possible clients. As for management accounting, the job requires the ability to "record and analyze the financial information of the companies for which they work." The management accountant is specific to analyzing the company in which they work, and all other competing businesses. Government accountants are the enforcers for all accounting. Their main duty is to "work in the public sector, maintaining and examining the records of government agencies and auditing private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation." The government accountants are the individuals who insure that all other accountants are effectively and efficiently working.

Required Education

In order to achieve a professional position as an accountant, there are educational requirements that must be met. The minimum education level that an accountant must achieve is "a bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or a related field." Other accounting careers have a preference of a Master's degree, along with other certifications that might be required. The educational level that is necessary is wholly dependent on the accounting position desired, along with the accountant's desire to advance in the accounting world. The minimum remains consistent throughout all fields, which is a Bachelor's degree, but if advancement in the accounting world is preferred, further education will be necessary.