This post provides detailed information on the accounting supervisor career.
It highlights the educational requirements and certifications you need to meet to become an accounting supervisor, as well as the various career opportunities you can explore to advance your career.
It also provides useful tips you can apply to be successful in your career.
Please, continue reading:
Who is an Accounting Supervisor?
The accounting supervisor is responsible for supervising the work of junior level accounting professional in an organization.
This includes overseeing the performance of subordinates, monitoring their progress, and ensuring that they are meeting deadlines.
Why Choose Accounting Supervisor Career?
The career path for accounting supervisor has been growing at a steady rate for the past few years.
Also, the demand for accountants with supervisory skills is increasing every day.
There are many reasons why you should consider becoming an accountant supervisor:
- You can earn more money than an accountant. As a supervisor, your salary will be higher than if you were just an accountant. If you have experience in supervision, then you can expect to make even more money.
2. Your job prospects are better than those of a regular accountant. Supervisors often get promoted to management positions. In addition, supervisors usually receive bonuses based on their individual performance.
3. You can apply your accounting knowledge and skills in helping others. Accounting supervisors provide support to their subordinates for them to be able to meet their goals. They also ensure that these people are doing things properly.
4. You can build a strong network of contacts. Accounting supervisors can easily connect with business owners and managers for the fact that they share similar interests. These connections can lead to opportunities for future employment for the accounting supervisor.
5. You can develop leadership qualities. However, it doesn’t happen quickly to develop into a good leader, it takes time. By developing your leadership skills, you would improve your chances of being promoted to a managerial position.
Accounting Supervisor Educational Requirements
To qualify for the accounting supervisor education and training program, you must possess certain qualifications.
To begin, you need to hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Next, you must pass the CPA exam before you start working as an accounting supervisor. Finally, you need to complete the required training courses.
Accounting Supervisor Continuing Education
In order to keep up-to-date with the latest trends in the field of accounting, you should enroll in continuing education classes.
For instance, you may want to take some courses related to human resources management. This would allow you to learn about employee benefits programs.
Accounting Supervisor Certification/License
There are several certification programs available for accounting supervisors. Some of them include:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): This is the most common certification program offered by accountancy schools. Most employers usually prefer to hire candidates who have passed the CPA exam.
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) – This certification requires students to study financial markets and investment strategies. Students who have passed the CFA exam can expect to earn a higher salary.
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) – This certification is designed specifically for supervisors. Candidates must pass a series of tests related to finance and accounting.
If you work at a public company, you may need to obtain a license. The state where you live would determine whether you need to apply for such license or not.
Licensing requirements vary depending on the type of employer. For example, if you work for a private company, you do not need to be licensed. If you work for a government agency, however, you will need to register with the appropriate licensing board.
Accounting Supervisor Career Advancement
Here are a few career opportunities that an accounting supervisor can explore in advancing their career:
- Accounting Manager
The first step to take to become an accounting manager is to complete the Accounting Supervisory Education and Training program.
After passing the CPA Exam, you can then move into the next stage of your career.
As an accounting manager, you will supervise other employees who perform various tasks within your organization.
Your job responsibilities will depend on the size of your firm. In larger firms, you might oversee accounts payable, payroll, and tax compliance.
In smaller companies, you might focus more on bookkeeping and internal controls.
2. Financial Controller
After completing the accounting supervisory education & training program, you can become a controller.
A financial controller is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a business’ finances. He or she ensures that proper records are kept and that taxes are paid on time.
Controllers also ensure that vendors pay their bills on time. They make sure that cash flow is balanced so that the business does not run out of money.
3. Tax Preparer
You can also choose to become a tax preparer after completing the accounting supervisory coursework.
You will need to pass the IRS’s Series 7 Exam before being allowed to start preparing returns.
Once you have passed this test, you can offer your services to clients as a freelance tax preparer.
4. Business Administrator
A business administrator performs many different duties, including managing office supplies, hiring staff members, and organizing meetings.
If you want to become a business administrator, you should take classes in business administration.
You can then find employment in any industry that needs someone to manage its operations.
5. Auditor
An auditor examines the books of a company to determine how well it is performing financially.
Auditors use specialized software to analyze data and compare results against previous years.
Auditing is one of the most demanding jobs for most auditors because they have to keep up with the constantly changing laws and regulations.
To qualify as an auditor, you will need to pass the Uniform Certification of Public Accountancy (UCPE) exam.
Other career fields or job titles that an accounting supervisor can explore include:
- Financial Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- Risk Management Specialist
- Forensic Accountant
- Fraud Examiner.
How to Advance your Accounting Supervisor Career
If you are looking to advancing your accounting supervisor career, then here are some tips to help you achieve your goal:
- Be proactive: Don’t wait until your supervisor asks you to do something. Instead, ask them what they would like you to do. This way, you won’t be caught off guard when they need something done.
2. Learn about new technologies: Keep yourself updated on current technology trends. The best way to learn about these trends is by reading trade publications.
3. Get involved in professional organizations: Joining professional societies can help you network and gain valuable experience. It can also open doors for you in getting better job offers in the future.
4. Take advantage of internships: Internships give you hands-on experience in your field. Many schools offer internship programs where students work under real world supervisors.
5. Network: Make friends with people who hold similar positions as yours. Ask them questions about their experiences on the job.
How to find a Good Accounting Supervisor School
Choosing a good accounting supervisor school is important. Here are some things to think about while selecting a program:
- Accreditation: Look into whether the school offers accreditation. An accredited school means that the program meets certain standards set by the NACEP.
2. Program length: Some programs last only a few months while others last several years. Choose a program that fits your schedule.
3. Tuition cost: The tuition fee may seem expensive but if the program is worth it, then it is money well spent.
4. Location: Is the location convenient? Do you live near the school? If location is important to you, then it can be a big factor to consider in making your decision about a school.
5. Job placement rate: Does the program place graduates into high paying jobs?
6. Faculty credentials: Are the faculty qualified to teach the course?
How to be Successful in your Accounting Supervisor Career
To be successful in your career as an accounting supervisor, here are some tips you can use:
- Know yourself: What skills do you have that make you unique? What skills do you lack? Knowing yourself will help you decide which path you should follow.
2. Focus on your strengths: When applying for a job, focus on the areas that you excel in. If you don’t know what you are good at, then find out!
3. Develop a plan: Once you know what you want to achieve, then go ahead to develop a plan to reach your goals. You might not always hit all your targets, but having a plan helps you to stay focused.
4. Stay positive: Being negative doesn’t help anyone. Instead, think positively and take action.
5. Have fun: Enjoy your time working in an accounting supervisor position. It is a great opportunity to meet new people and explore different careers.
Qualities of a Good Accounting Supervisor
Here are some qualities of a good accounting supervisor:
- Organized: Accountants often ask for help from supervisors because they are organized. You must be organized to be effective in this position.
2. Detail oriented: Accountants need someone who pays attention to detail. You need to pay close attention to details, such as ensuring there is no spelling errors or missing numbers in their documents.
3. Knowledgeable: The best accounting supervisors are knowledgeable about their company’s finances. They understand how the business operates and what needs to be done to keep the books accurate.
4. Hardworking: Accountants work long hours and sometimes even late nights. Be ready to work hard and put in extra effort to get the job done.
5. Flexible: Your boss may change their mind about something, so you need to be flexible enough to adapt to changes quickly.
Accounting Supervisor Job Outlook
The job market for accountants is expected to rise by 10% between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The Bureau also stated that those who have earned professional recognition, such as the title of CPA, will be best positioned to take advantage of this job growth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being a successful accountant requires knowledge, experience, dedication, and persistence.
A strong understanding of accounting principles and procedures is also essential.
An accounting supervisor provides support to accountants and ensures that their work meets deadlines.
If you are interested in the accounting supervisor career, then this post has provided valuable information to boost your knowledge of what to expect and how to make a success of it.
