When numbers are nothing but a game to you, then a career in accounting and finance might add up to a great future. In general, accountants are responsible for monitoring and translating the vast amount of financial information that’s generated by a company or organization. They may also be responsible for creating budgets, making financial recommendations, and translating numbers into terms other professionals can understand.

While some people seeking an accounting and finance career will first earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, others will instead opt for the Certified Public Accountant exam. Administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the test is given in four parts over two days. There are also other certifications available for those seeking a career in accounting/finance. For example, you can become a certified management accountant, certified internal auditor, or an accredited business accountant. The key, however, is to gain the proper knowledge and training by researching accounting trade schools and picking the one that best meets your needs.

The benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree from accounting trade schools should not be overlooked, though. "Accounting is a very flexible option, and those with a bachelor degree in this specialty have been offered jobs even before graduation, over the past few years," said Ken Martin, senior partner of accounting & finance at Winter, Wyman & Company, a Northeast staffing firm. "The Big 4 accounting firms often recruit on campus, but will generally choose only from the upper ranks of the senior class. Other graduates may forgo this route and pursue accounting jobs within corporations."

In fact, if you wish to work in accounting for the federal government, you will typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accounting trade school under your belt. As for the employment prospects that await you in this field, the numbers from the U.S. Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are very encouraging. Employment for accountants and auditors is projected to increase by 18 percent from 2006 through 2016 and new positions are expected to open as financial laws and corporate governance regulations change and more business are created. What really helps is that most companies, no matter their size, need accounting personnel. "This makes accounting a somewhat stable profession that is often more secure during changing economic conditions," explained Martin.

As for what you could earn, the BLS reports that the median yearly earnings for accountants and auditors was $54,630 as of May 2006. Meanwhile, the top 10 percent in this profession earned over $94,050 annually and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $34,470. Payroll administrators earn XXXXX.

To further ensure your employability, you can go above and beyond the call of duty and work on your master’s degree in either accounting or business administration. You can also improve your chances of getting hired in accounting by working on things like your interpersonal and communication skills (valuable things in any profession), and proficiency with accounting and auditing computer software.

According to Marvin L. Bouillon, chair of Iowa State University’s accounting and finance departments, "Accounting recruiters are in great need for talent and are willing to pay a premium for the best talent with excellent communications skills, technical skills, and teamwork."