How top companies hire accountants

With the advent of technology, many students worry that their dream careers will be obsolete once they graduate. While do-it-yourself accounting software is easy to use, it’s not the sole answer for business owners. A good accountant has the potential to be a company’s financial partner for life

In their book, Start Your Own Business, the staff of Entrepreneur Media Inc. not only provide critical steps to starting a business but also what companies should look for when hiring accountants. Although academic results are also very important, we hope our readers are able to take this opportunity and ensure you have the qualities crucial to becoming an integral part of a company which include these four basic areas of expertise:

1. Business advisory services.

Accountants should be knowledgeable about the business environment, tax situation and financial statements of the company the work in. With this knowledge, you should be able to come up with a business or personal financial plan when asked and offer advice on everything from insurance to expansion.

2. Accounting and record-keeping.

Accounting and record-keeping are perhaps the most basic accounting discipline. Accountants will be responsible in the initial setup for bookkeeping and accounting systems and showing employers how to use them.

3. Tax advice.

Tax help from accountants comes in two forms: tax compliance and tax planning. Planning refers to reducing the overall tax burden; compliance refers to obeying the tax laws.

4. Auditing.

Auditing services are required for many different purposes, most commonly by banks as a condition of a loan. There are many levels of auditing, ranging from simply preparing financial statements from figures that the entrepreneur supplies all the way up to an actual audit, where the accountant or other third party gives assurance that a company’s financial information is accurate.

Get professionally certified as an accountant with professional bodies such as the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). Find out more about Job Opportunities and Salary Range related to Accounting HERE.