Accounting has developed a reputation as being mundane and boring. Everyone tends to think that accountants are duds that make a lot of money for being good at math. But, being an accountant doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll strictly be computing figures from 8 to 5 day in and day out.
Let’s take a deeper look at career paths in accounts that are not boring, discovering which one might be your next exciting position in the finance industry. So, read on to learn more about the lucrative and fulfilling professionals in finance and accounting.
Not All Accounting Jobs Are Boring
Any job could be qualified as “boring.” Especially if your role requires lots of sitting at a desk in an office with a lot of routines. In reality, every job has at least some elements of repetitiveness which leads to some form of boredom. However, accounting tends to be more tedious than other professions.
Here is the good news: some accounting professions can make people feel like they’ve genuinely achieved something challenging. A sense of accomplishment comes with the role because you’re doing tasks that require a high level of quality.
Beyond spreadsheets and calculators, accounting professionals have to be expert communicators, both orally and in writing. While more and more tedious accounting tasks get automated, accountants need to focus on collaborating and working with many different people, from executive leaders and marketing professionals to other business team members.
So, you don’t have to sit alone in a cubicle to be in accounting. There are tons of careers in accounting out there that could spice up your life and add more fulfillment to your day job.
1. Chief Financial Officer
- Average Salary: ranges from $200,000 to $550,000 per year.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 92 chief financial officer jobs are available on
Do you have aspirations for executive leadership? Do you enjoy collaboration and direction? Then a chief financial officer position may be a good fit for you. Chief financial officers, and CFOs, direct and oversee the financial activities of organizations. CFOs play a critical role in preparing financial reports, summaries, and forecasts for future economic growth from large corporations to small nonprofits.
CFOs supervise a team of accounting professionals or an accounting department and ensure that budget preparations are done well, and that audit functions are correct. Usually, a CFO also has to be a great communicator to work well with other departments and executive leaders to ensure that large projects are completed in a cost-efficient manner.
Requirements
To be a CFO, you’ll need to consider what skills and abilities you have that would benefit the company and the role. As I said earlier, CFOs will likely need to manage a team which means that you will need to have top-notch leadership, organization, and communication skills.
In addition to those basic requirements, you’ll need at least a master’s degree, likely in business administration, accounting, or a finance-related industry. Most of the time, a certified public accountant designation is also required for a CFO position and at least five years of experience in a finance field or job position.
To see more about the potential requirements of the CFO position, check out this article from SHRM.
2. Financial Controller
- Average Salary: an average of $129,890 annually.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 22 financial controller jobs are available on
If you’re not quite ready for an executive role but still see yourself as an emerging leader, you might be interested in a controller position. This role is essential for overseeing accounting operations for various companies and nonprofit organizations.
Controllers are considered senior positions, and most positions require several years of accounting experience, at a minimum. However, with a wide range of job duties, you’re not likely to find yourself caught up in too much monotony and may even find yourself busier than you’d thought you’d be.
In small organizations that may not necessarily require a CFO, a controller would likely have the final say over budgetary decisions and reporting requirements. In addition, controllers oversee risk management decisions and assessments.
Requirements
Controllers are senior financial officers at most organizations and, in some, represent the economic leadership of an organization. Because they’re higher ranking roles, you need to have adequate skills and meet specific requirements.
According to information pulled from LinkedIn, controllers need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or a financially related field. In addition to the right educational background, controllers should’ve over five years of experience in accounting or a related financial field.
It’s also often preferred that controllers have an accounting certification, like a certified public accountant designation. Familiarity with financial regulatory laws and standards is also a plus in snagging the best controller positions.
It’s also a good idea to go into the controller or financial manager profession with a robust understanding of economics and banking processes.
3. Finance Manager
- Salary: $55 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 482 finance manager jobs are available on
Finance managers aren’t relatively entry-level accountant positions, but they don’t have as many responsibilities as CFOs or controllers. Typically, finance managers create financial reports that the CFO later approves, direct investment activities, and contribute to developing their organization’s long- and short-term financial goals.
Finance managers are needed in various accounting industries, including banking, investment firms, and insurance companies. With a wide array of potential organizations, finance managers don’t have to worry about being super bored at work.
Requirements
To be a finance manager, you’ll need to meet specific education and experience requirements to be considered for the position by most employers.
To land a job as a finance manager, it’s essential to have a bachelor’s degree in a business or accounting background or something transferable to the role. In addition to the right amount of education, finance managers also need several years of experience in an accounting or similar industry role.
4. Certified Public Accountant
- Salary: $33 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 15 certified public accountant jobs are available on
A certified public accountant, known commonly by its abbreviation CPA, is designated professional licensure that helps enforce professional standards in various positions within the accounting industry.
CPAs have a wide array of career pathways to choose from. To begin, CPAs can be public accountants that usually work in an accounting firm, corporate office or government entity. However, CPAs also have several executive positions that they can move into, like CFO roles.
CPAs are traditionally known for their role in tax season and often work as professionals preparing income taxes. CPAs also have opportunities for other positions in auditing, managerial accounting, forensic accounting, bookkeeping, and informational technology.
If you’re looking for something versatile with many promising career opportunities, you may want to consider becoming a CPA.
Requirements
The requirements for becoming a CPA tend to vary slightly by state. Generally, though, you’ll have to achieve at least a bachelor’s degree and 30 semester hours of accounting after you pass the CPA exam. So, you’re looking at about 150 semester hours of education to become a designated CPA.
There are also several specific coursework requirements for becoming a CPA. From ethics in accounting to accounting theories, you’ll have to master several courses in your business or accounting department at your school to meet the basic education requirements.
The CPA exam is a standardized test administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is composed of four different sections:
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Auditing and Attestation
- Regulation
- Business Environment and Concepts
To learn more about the specific exam requirements and education needed for a CPA licensure, check out this article from Accounting Education.
5. Sports Accountant
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 8 sports accountant jobs are available on
Are you a wiz with numbers and efficient at working quickly under seasonal pressure? If so, you might have what it takes to pursue a career as a sports accountant.
Sports accountants work within their sports organizations to manage finances for their teams. They only work during specific seasons for their teams, so they have to work quickly and efficiently to meet deadlines and adequately perform their duties. To learn more, check out this article from Robert Half Talent Solutions.
Requirements
You’ll have the best chance of winning a sports accountant position by attaining a master’s degree and a CPA licensure. It also doesn’t hurt to build a network of experience in the accounting industry to position yourself in a sports-related accounting position.
Sports accountants have some of the most valuable and luxurious career paths for math-minded individuals with many multi-billion dollar contract deals, luxury box seats, stadium deals, and more.
6. Auditor
- Salary: $35 per hour.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 5,229 auditor jobs are available on
Auditors are a staple of compliance within many organizations, from healthcare companies to accounting firms. Auditors are in charge of reviewing financial data and avoid boredom by maintaining a sharp eye to detect fraud and errors in financial documents.
If you can ensure that all financial statements comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), you’d find a promising career as an auditor.
Requirements
If becoming an auditor seems like an attractive career to you, the first step is getting a bachelor’s degree, preferably in accounting or something similar. You’ll also have to learn how to use databases and spreadsheets.
If you want to make your resume more competitive with the top accountants, it would be advantageous for you to get a master’s degree in business administration or accounting or something within the finance industry. When you’re just starting as an auditor, you’ll likely have to work in several junior-level roles before advancing your skills and talent.
7. Financial Analyst
- Salary: $30 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,101 financial analyst jobs are available on
If you have an eye for detail and intelligent decision-making, you may want to explore an opportunity to become a financial analyst.
As one of the most wanted careers today, analysts are responsible for analyzing data to discover and evaluate financial data and information so that the company or organization can make the best investment or cost-saving decisions.
Analysts make recommendations based on data they pull to help executives, like CFOs, choose the best financial decisions for organizational growth, expansion, and cost-effectiveness.
Requirements
To become a financial analyst, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, statistics, economics, business administration, or another related field. However, because this field is competitive and becoming even more so in the future, it’s an advantage for you to get a master’s degree.
8. Forensic Accountant
- Salary: $37 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 7 forensic accountant jobs are available on
Have you always dreamed of a job as an investigator but feared direct danger or given up your aspirations in law enforcement because you can’t stand the sight of blood and aren’t confrontational? Well, maybe you’re the perfect fit for a career as a forensic accountant.
Forensic accountants use their investigative skills to evaluate the finances of a business, nonprofit, or individual.
Forensic accountants look beyond the numerical figures to find the reality behind a given situation. Typically used to detect fraud and embezzlement, forensic accountants are often used in the judicial system when prosecuting financial crimes.
Requirements
To become a forensic accountant, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in forensic accounting, accounting, finance, criminal justice, or another field. This position is competitive most of the time, so it’s always good to level up by getting a master’s degree or pursuing your CPA licensure.
According to this article from Criminal Justice Degrees Schools, it takes 6 to 8 years to complete the requirements necessary to become a forensic accountant.
9. Tax Consultant
- Salary: $35 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 46 tax consultant jobs are available on
If you love high stakes, efficiency, and working under pressure, you might enjoy a position as a tax consultant. Tax consultants are professionals that prepare tax returns for their individual or corporate clients.
Sometimes, tax consultants simply provide advice and counseling to people to help them prepare their tax documents or prepare for future tax situations. Tax consultants also analyze information and ensure it complies with government standards and regulations.
Often, tax consultants review their colleagues or other tax consultants’ work to help people and businesses avoid costly errors in tax preparation. Logistically, these positions are highly technical and complex.
However, you won’t be bored with so many cases to move through! Tax consultants often work with various people, from low-income individuals to wealthy entrepreneurs – they can help everyone. So, your workload will be diverse and keep you on your toes.
Requirements
Generally, tax consultants need at least a bachelor’s degree to compete for promising job opportunities. Although a bachelor’s degree isn’t always necessary for these positions, it will make you stand out in the crowd.
Most tax consultants get a bachelor’s degree in finance-related fields like accounting or finance.
10. Budget Analyst
- Salary: $30 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 61 budget analyst jobs are available on
If you’re known for your number-oriented mind and are usually the go-to person for finances, you could have what it takes to become a budget analyst. Budget analysts help large and small organizations stay financially stable and literate by maintaining a balanced budget.
Suppose you choose to pursue a profession as a budget analyst. In that case, you’ll need to run regular financial reports, collaborate with top executives in your company, and assess financial needs and budgetary decisions.
Still, don’t worry. You won’t have to continuously glue yourself to calculators and spreadsheets if you’re a budget analyst. Instead, budget analysts avoid boredom with many job duties, from monitoring spending to solution-oriented meetings with different departments and executives.
You’ll get the opportunity to collaborate regularly with a wide array of other professionals and other business department peers. This position has a lot of room to grow from as well. So, if you start as a budget analyst, you can likely move up within your organization and maybe end up in a higher ranking position.
Requirements
A successful budget analyst needs many skills to become a financial expert in their company. Most employers are looking for a budget analyst with a robust understanding of budgeting, accounting, Microsoft Excel, and forecasting.
In addition to the skills mentioned above, the budget analyst needs experience or an understanding of financial reporting and analysis and someone competent with spreadsheets, according to this article from Rasmussen University.
According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, a budget analyst will need a bachelor’s degree to consider these positions. Most budget analysts have a degree in accounting, economics, or similar fields. Courses on statistics and economics are also helpful for these professionals in the industry.