Accountant and auditor: find out what the numbers are telling you.

Accounting becomes more interesting when you look past the totals. Where did the numbers come from? Do they agree with the records? What would someone need to understand before relying on them? Those questions sit close to the work of accountants and auditors.

Professional Development Path · Updated November 3, 2026 · 4 min read

A professional working with a laptop and notebook

$83,680Median annual pay · May 2025

+5%Projected employment change · 2025–2035

Bachelor’s degree typicalExplore education and entry requirements below

Tax season is only one part of the field

Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records, assess accuracy and compliance, and help organizations understand financial information. A role may focus on reporting, tax, internal controls, auditing, or analysis.

Look at a few settings before choosing a direction. Public accounting, a business finance department, government, and internal audit can offer different routines. Ask what information people receive, what they produce, and who relies on the result. That makes the differences easier to picture.

Plan the education around the work you want

A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is typically needed. Professional credentials can support particular paths. CPA licensure has state-specific education, examination, and experience requirements, so verify the relevant board’s current rules before planning coursework.

Credentials are not interchangeable. Payroll, public accounting, and management accounting serve different purposes. Choose preparation for the work you intend to pursue and the requirements you actually meet. A study guide or course can help with exam preparation, but it does not establish eligibility.

Practice the explanation as well as the calculation

Use a small set of invented transactions in a spreadsheet. Label the entries clearly, preserve the original information, and check whether the totals reconcile. If something does not match, record the investigation instead of silently changing a number.

Next, explain the result in ordinary language. A colleague may need to understand a cost change or missing record without knowing accounting terminology. That exercise combines accuracy with a useful professional habit: making your reasoning understandable to someone else.

Find out when the busy periods happen

BLS reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $83,680 and projects employment growth of 5% from 2025 to 2035. Longer hours can occur during busy periods, including tax season or audit deadlines.

Ask an employer about the busiest parts of its year, review procedures, and training on its systems. Consider whether recurring reporting cycles, project work, or helping different clients appeals to you most. The working rhythm can matter as much as the specialty’s name.

Read a report with curiosity

Choose a public annual report from an organization you know. Find the financial statements and write three questions that would help you understand the business. The aim is to practice investigation, not to make an investment recommendation.

Sources & photo credits

BLS: Accountant and Auditor Career

U.S. national wage data: May 2025. Employment projections, where shown: 2025–2035. Median pay is not a starting salary. Sources checked November 3, 2026.

Photos: opening photograph and article photograph, StockSnap, CC0.

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Useful Resources

Payroll and CMA resources support different accounting paths; they are not CPA exam preparation.