Accountants - 13-2011.01

O*NET-SOC Description

Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.

DOT Titles Included in this O*NET-SOC Code

  • Accountant
  • Accountant, Budget
  • Accountant, Cost
  • Accountant, Property
  • Accountant, Systems
  • Accountant, Tax
  • Bursar

Sample of Occupations in this SOC Family

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.
  • Advise management about issues such as resource utilization, tax strategies, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
  • Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations, to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
  • Appraise, evaluate, and inventory real property and equipment, recording information such as the description, value and location of property.
  • Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting or other tax requirements.
  • Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
  • Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
  • Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
  • Investigate bankruptcies and other complex financial transactions and prepare reports summarizing the findings.
  • Maintain or examine the records of government agencies.
  • Prepare forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel, and direct their work activities.
  • Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
  • Provide internal and external auditing services for businesses or individuals.
  • Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
  • Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues.
  • Serve as bankruptcy trustees or business valuators.
  • Survey operations to ascertain accounting needs and to recommend, develop, or maintain solutions to business and financial problems.
  • Work as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents.

Detailed Work Activities

  • advise clients on financial matters
  • analyze applicant's financial status
  • analyze budgets
  • analyze financial data
  • analyze financial information to project future revenues or expense
  • appraise, evaluate, or inventory real property or equipment
  • compile data for financial reports
  • compute financial data
  • compute taxes
  • conduct financial investigations
  • confer with taxpayer or representative
  • determine tax liability according to prescribed laws
  • develop budgets
  • develop or maintain budgeting databases
  • direct and coordinate financial activities
  • evaluate degree of financial risk
  • fill out business or government forms
  • follow tax laws or regulations
  • inspect account books or system for efficiency, effectiveness, or acceptability
  • maintain account records
  • maintain record of organization expenses
  • make revenue forecasts
  • note discrepancies in financial records
  • obtain financial information from individuals
  • perform general financial analysis
  • prepare audit reports or recommendations
  • prepare financial reports
  • prepare periodic reports comparing budgeted costs to actual costs
  • prepare tax reports
  • prepare tax returns
  • use accounting or bookkeeping software
  • use accounting terminology
  • use computers to enter, access and retrieve financial data
  • use cost benefit analysis techniques
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use statistical cost estimation methods
  • verify bank or financial transactions
  • write administrative procedures services manual