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Job outlook for accounting consultants in the United States
Accounting consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected accounting consultant job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 81,800 new jobs for accounting consultants are projected over the next decade.
Accounting consultant salaries have increased 8% for accounting consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 259,058 accounting consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 74,894 active accounting consultant job openings in the US.
The average accounting consultant salary is $62,830.
Are accounting consultant jobs in demand?
Accounting consultant job and salary trends over time
Accounting consultant jobs over time
Accounting consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 259,058 | 0.08% |
| 2020 | 251,348 | 0.07% |
| 2019 | 252,526 | 0.08% |
| 2018 | 244,529 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 238,517 | 0.07% |
Average accounting consultant salary over time
Accounting consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,830 | $30.21 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $61,113 | $29.38 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $60,216 | $28.95 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $59,234 | $28.48 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $58,209 | $27.98 | +1.4% |
Accounting consultant jobs by state
Most common states for accounting consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 317 | 46% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 197 | 23% |
| 3 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 411 | 20% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,029 | 15% |
| 5 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 746 | 15% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 153 | 15% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 142 | 15% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 799 | 14% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 758 | 14% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 518 | 13% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 170 | 13% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,580 | 12% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 655 | 11% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 444 | 11% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 403 | 11% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 342 | 11% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 334 | 11% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 121 | 11% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,822 | 10% |
| 20 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 866 | 10% |
Most common cities for accounting consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Myers | 3 | 4% | $51,772 |
| 2 | Stamford | 4 | 3% | $63,237 |
| 3 | Fort Lauderdale | 4 | 2% | $51,747 |
| 4 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $63,081 |
| 5 | Tampa | 5 | 1% | $51,298 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $61,132 |
| 7 | Miami | 4 | 1% | $51,840 |
| 8 | Orlando | 4 | 1% | $50,743 |
| 9 | Anaheim | 2 | 1% | $82,770 |
| 10 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $82,205 |
| 11 | Springfield | 2 | 1% | $75,640 |
| 12 | San Diego | 5 | 0% | $79,687 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $83,753 |
| 14 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $56,048 |
| 15 | Jacksonville | 3 | 0% | $49,931 |
| 16 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $74,696 |
| 17 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $75,560 |
| 18 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $48,572 |
| 19 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $61,029 |
| 20 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $92,836 |
Accounting Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of accounting consultant experts
Washington and Lee University
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Manhattan College
Methodist University
Lynn University
University of Oregon
American University
Misericordia University
Southern Utah University
The University of Scranton
University of Maine Orono
Florida Atlantic University
Michigan State University
Case Western Reserve University
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Mollie Sweet Ph.D., CPA, CMA, SHRM-SCP: Likes: Having a set schedule, upward mobility and career growth, opportunity to continuously learn and exposure to many areas, close relationship to clients and understanding of their business, solving problems, participate in strategic decision making and make strategic recommendations, collaborating with different departments, analyze data to guide decision making, leading process improvements. Dislikes: The work entails high responsibility and is at the same time prone to human error, can put in long hours (especially at the end of a close period or during tax season), can be frustrating when things don't balance, can be a challenge finding missing pieces, repetitive work.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mollie Sweet Ph.D., CPA, CMA, SHRM-SCP: Accounting is an in-demand career with impressive salaries and job growth to match. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the employment of accountants and auditors will grow 6% by 2031. Accounting job postings have experienced substantial growth as well.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Mollie Sweet Ph.D., CPA, CMA, SHRM-SCP: What an accountant does on a day-to-day basis depends on the particular field of accounting. What a tax accountant does will vary dramatically from what an auditor or corporate accountant does on a day-to-day basis. The specific tasks that an accountant performs will vary depending on their employer and industry. Entry-level tax accountants prepare tax returns for clients using information provided by the client. This includes ensuring that all of the required tax information is accurately reported to the government. Clients can include individual taxpayers, small businesses, nonprofits, and/or corporations. Some tax accounting firms specialize in the types of clients they service, while others cover a broad spectrum. Once an accountant has been in the tax field for some time, he or she may also examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice on tax planning, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Corporate accountants have a variety of accounting responsibilities, which may include recording all of the financial transactions of a business, including sales, purchases, expenses, and payments. Accountants prepare financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, which show the financial health of a business. Accountants analyze financial data to identify trends and patterns. This information can be used to make decisions about pricing, inventory, and other business operations. Accountants may also perform other tasks, such as managing payroll, billing customers, and reconciling accounts.
Colin Reid
Associate Professor of AccountingWashington and Lee University
Accounting And Related Services
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Colin Reid: Communication and critical thinking have always been important in accounting, but I believe the importance of these skills will increase. Professionals in accounting spend more time working in groups and with other people than many realize. Currently AI can assist with technical tasks and other repetitive work. I believe there will always be a role for accountants in terms of building relationships with clients, team members, and others with whom they work. Many problems that professionals face will involve multifaceted decisions that can be informed by data analysis but often will still need to be communicated clearly through a relationship built on trust. I believe that balancing a technical accounting education with the traditional liberal arts (e.g. humanities and social sciences) is critically important to help develop these critical thinking and communication skills.
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Patrick O'Brien: Currently, the demand for accountants is higher than the supply of accounting majors coming out of college. As a result, this is allowing students and other accounting professionals their pick of the type of firm, company, industry, etc. for which they would want to work. Additionally, the salaries in the profession are increasing because the talent pool is smaller than the number of jobs available.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Patrick O'Brien: There are a variety of fields in the accounting profession. Most accounting majors in college usually end up in public accounting working in either audit or tax. An audit professional will usually work for a public accounting firm, such as PwC or Deloitte, and will be assigned to various clients to perform audits of their client’s financial information. This could include tasks like reviewing the financial statements of the client he or she is working for, meeting with the client to discuss information and documentation needs, validating various transactions the company has recorded to ensure they are in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), etc. A tax professional working at a public accounting firm will usually be working with his or her client to prepare income tax returns for the corporation, partnership, etc., as well as determining tax withholdings and liabilities. Some large public accounting firms will even work with high net worth individuals to assist them with their taxes given the complexity. Medium-sized and smaller accounting firms would work with individuals to have their taxes done and filed annually. There are other fields of accounting, such as forensic accounting, which becomes necessary when there is potential financial fraud occurring within a business. Additionally, there are always needs for accountants within the government on the local, state, and federal levels. These accountants would be responsible for providing financial information to the taxpayers and the general public. There are also accountants that work within companies and other organizations that are responsible for gathering, recording, analyzing, and summarizing financial data both inside and outside of the organization.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Patrick O'Brien: No matter the field of accounting that one goes into, each one has its own type of “busy season”. These busy seasons generally require an accountant to work more hours than a typical 40-hour work week for a set period of time. While the hours can be intense, they are usually predictable, so the accountant can plan accordingly. In terms of what people usually like about being an accountant, there are a number of factors. The main one is that it is a career (rather than a job) with a clear path for advancement and promotion (generally, speaking). With this, there comes a level of career stability that many other professions and jobs cannot provide. Additionally, it has often been said that the accounting profession is “recession proof”. During poor economic periods, accountants tend to experience less career disturbances than other professions. Lastly, every business needs an accountant! This allows accountants the opportunity to break into any industry or company that they desire. Many professionals begin as accountants within an organization and have incredible upward mobility (whether as accountants or not). Accountants see most aspects and operations of an organization, so this knowledge and understanding makes them excellent top-level executives.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Dr. Mfon Akpan CGMA: An accountant day-to-day can vary depending on the role, and accounting is a very broad field. So the way that I would answer this question is when you're thinking of getting into the accounting field, think about if you're the type of person that likes to sit at your desk, you don't like to interact with a lot of people or move around or have to travel, or if you're the person that likes to move around, you don't want to be sitting at your desk for a long period of time doing work at a computer. Also, so that could mean if you're the type of person that will be a tax associate. So if you're a tax associate during busy season, you may be in the office, you may be at your desk, you may be working 60 hours a week. If you work in internal audit, for example, you may be moving all around, speaking with people, performing your risk assessment, doing tests. So you may move around quite a bit and you may not be in your office as much. So I think one thing to consider is that accounting is a very broad field and you can work in various aspects of the field and in different industries, which can have drastically different day-to-days. The other thing to think about is as an accountant or entering the field, we're just talking about the field of accounting, which is very broad. You also have to think about adjacent fields. So if you work in finance, if you work as a financial advisor in the financial services field, you can work in banking, investment bank. So you can move into many of these adjacent fields as well. So that's also something to think of when entering the field of accounting or entering the profession. Very broad, very dynamic, very interesting, very flexible. Additionally, your role might mean being a tax associate. During the busy season, you could find yourself in the office, at your desk, working sixty hours a week. Conversely, if you work in internal audit, you might be moving around a lot, speaking with people, performing risk assessments, and conducting tests, which means you might not be in your office as much. It's important to recognize that accounting is a very broad field, offering various roles across different industries, each with drastically different day-to-days. When considering a career in accounting, also consider adjacent fields like finance. As a financial advisor or working in financial services, opportunities extend to banking and investment banking. This flexibility makes the field dynamic, interesting, and very broad, suitable for those looking for diverse career paths.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mfon Akpan CGMA: What people like and dislike about being an accountant. I think from the education standpoint, being a professor, many of the students do not like the numbers and the jargon. So you've got to really learn the language of an accountant and you have to contend with the math. So I think those are things that many students do not like. The other thing that there's a dislike about could be that depending on what area you work in are the hours, so there could be issues with work-life balance, and then issues with pay.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mfon Akpan CGMA: Accounting is a great field to enter right now because, number one, of the broad spectrum of areas in accounting. So you could work in tax, you can work in audit, you can work in fraud if you want to focus on financial reporting, managerial accounting. There's so many areas that you can move into with accounting as well as industries. So you can be an accountant, or let's say, for example, you could be an internal auditor in the healthcare industry or for government or for a university. So you can maneuver into different industries if you'd like. So there's that flexibility within the profession. The other thing that I think we don't talk about is the adjacent fields that you can enter into in accounting, working in finance, marketing, in other area of business with your accounting education. You can move into those easily because, again, accounting is the language of business.
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: From my experience as an external auditor for one of the big four accounting firms, the day to day involves a lot of talking with clients and looking through their accounting records to verify that everything has been recorded as it should have been. The ultimate goal of an auditor is to provide assurance to investors, lenders, or other external users that they can rely on the financial statements of a particular company. Auditors work in teams, oftentimes at the client site (which often entails travel), where each member of the team is assigned different tasks or sections of the company to audit. For example, while a lower level staff might be assigned the 'Cash' section or 'Inventory', a more senior staff member will likely be assigned to more complex areas such as 'Derivatives' or 'Financial Instruments'. Within their assigned area(s), auditors will select samples of transactions or some other unit from a population and proceed to verify that all supporting documents match and the correct number ultimately ends up in the financial statements. This can entail looking over documents such as invoices, shipping documents, and checks, meeting with clients to ask questions about various transactions or components of the business, working through spreadsheets, ensuring client calculations are justified, or coming up with expectations for account balances and comparing them to the client's. A day's activities likely include a number of these activities, along with collaboration with team members on how to handle more complex issues, and even helping clients out by identifying efficiencies that could be implemented to make their business run more smoothly. Public accounting is an incredibly diverse field, with each day bringing on a new set of challenges.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: Accounting is an excellent profession to enter now because, more than ever, there is a huge demand for accountants. Accountants entering the profession have a lot of power in the market. Many employers are willing to negotiate salary, benefits, and flexibility in attempts to attract and retain talented individuals. Firms are also relying on the next generations of accountants to keep the firm current when it comes to things like data analytics and the use of AI. There are an incredible amount of possibilities in the accounting field, with the opportunities continuing to grow to include many activities outside the classic stereotype of accounting.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: Depending on the type of accountant, the likes and dislikes can vary quite a bit. Returning to my experience in public accounting, the number one component individuals dislike is the hours required during 'busy season'. However, they often discuss how much they enjoy being surrounded by smart people, the variation in tasks, the daily challenges that encourage them to continue to grow, the social aspect of the job, including interactions with coworkers and clients, the upward mobility and opportunities these firms provide, and the generous PTO and flexibility that firms allow outside of busy season. In private industry accounting on the other hand, people tend to enjoy the consistency and normalcy of hours required, as this realm of accounting more closely follows a typical 8-5 schedule. These individuals often refer to the consistency and predictability of their days in the office and the job security the profession provides. Both realms of accounting provide secure careers working with smart, driven, and oftentimes, even fun individuals.
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career in the accounting field, gaining relevant experience through internships while in college can significantly enhance your employability and set you apart from other candidates. Internships provide valuable hands-on experience and allow you to demonstrate your skills and capabilities to potential employers. Additionally, pursuing professional certifications such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or other necessary credentials specific to the role you are applying for can greatly increase your earning potential. These certifications not only validate your expertise and knowledge but also signal to employers that you are committed to advancing your career in the accounting profession.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: Starting a career in accounting can be challenging as it is a constantly evolving field with new regulations, standards, and technologies. Strong technical skills and soft skills such as communication, leadership, and problem solving will help you contribute to your organizations success. However, the way to get comfortable and accelerate your professional development is to continually seek feedback and soak up knowledge when doing so. Actively seeking input from your supervisors and peers will not only allow you to identify areas for improvement but also fosters an environment conducive to knowledge-sharing. By engaging in collaborative exchanges of insights and expertise, you not only enhance your own understanding but also contribute to the collective intelligence of your team. Ultimately a strong culture of knowledge sharing not only accelerates individual growth but also cultivates a synergistic environment which can propel the entire organization forward.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: When asked about accounting and the future of the field, there is no surprise the accounting field is expected to continue to see changes driven by advancements in technology, evolving regulations, and shifting business landscapes. Accountants will increasingly need to analyze large datasets to derive insights and make data-driven decisions. However, what is less spoken about is the need for communication and leadership skills due to decline in people wanting to become accounts in the US. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) found through its 2023 Trends report that only 47,067 individuals graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2022 compared to 52,481 in 2020 and 51,031 in 2021. As the profession faces a shortage of skilled professionals, the demand for individuals who possess strong communication and leadership abilities becomes increasingly pronounced. Accountants do more than just crunch numbers; they are also tasked with translating complex financial data into actionable insights and guiding strategic decision-making, driving value for their organizations and clients alike. Further, effective communication and leadership skills are needed within your organization to ensure younger staff are adequately mentored and guided as they navigate their careers in accounting. With a decline in the number of individuals entering the accounting profession, it's crucial to cultivate an environment where knowledge transfer and professional development thrive. Thus, while technical proficiency remains essential, the cultivation of interpersonal competencies is equally vital for aspiring accountants to thrive in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the profession.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
James Lawson: The ability to leverage AI (artificial intelligence). There is a lot of discussion regarding the impact of AI on society, but AI is another tool that accountants can use to complete their tasks and add value to their client relationships.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
David Spohn DBA, MBA, MJUR, CWM®: Likes:
- Intellectual Stimulation: Many finance analysts enjoy the challenge of solving complex financial puzzles and deriving insights from data. The role often requires staying updated with the latest economic trends and financial theories, providing continuous learning opportunities.
- Impact on Decision-making: Analysts often take pride in the fact that their work directly influences strategic business decisions. This can be highly rewarding, especially when their recommendations lead to successful outcomes.
- Career Opportunities: The field offers numerous pathways for career advancement. Analysts can ascend to roles in senior management, specialize in particular sectors such as fintech or healthcare, or move into investment roles.
Dislikes:
- High Pressure: The role can be highly stressful, with tight deadlines and significant implications tied to their analyses and recommendations. Financial markets are dynamic, and the pressure to provide accurate, timely insights can be intense.
- Monotony in Initial Stages: New entrants might find the work initially repetitive as they learn the ropes of data collection and basic analysis techniques. The intellectual rewards and more engaging tasks often come with increased responsibility.
- Work-Life Balance: Depending on the employer and the state of the market, long hours can be common, especially during financial reporting periods or significant market changes, which can impact work-life balance.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: As a beginner in any field, it pays to listen more than to talk. Be humble, pay attention, be nice to folks and probably most helpful is having a mentor who can guide you along and show you some best practices for navigating your career. You should take advantage of your education, not just to show a piece of paper that says you graduated but think of every single project, essay or paper that you write as part of a portfolio that demonstrates your skill sets. Especially in finance where we can sometimes be enamored with the beauty of a mathematical model, think about how any model should be applied in the real world. In some cases that might mean that you have to “get your hands on the wheel and learn how to drive.” I am not suggesting that you should put all your savings at risk and buy the next iteration of the latest cryptocurrency, but If you’re interested in a career in investing, put a small amount of money at risk and trade a stock, or if you must trade a few dollars’ worth of Bitcoin or Ether – as much as you would risk for a movie ticket seems reasonable. There are lots of virtual trading apps where you can trade with paper money, but there’s nothing like understanding risk when your own dollars are at stake, even if it’s just a few dollars. You should also absorb all the workshops, seminars and resources available out there. Follow Prof. Aswath Damodaran who has a YouTube Channel and hundreds of spreadsheets with financial models, all for free! Also follow some good content providers on various channels to get additional insights – in the field of finance, you need to be up-to-date on all events because those influence markets and the economy. Be ready to continue learning and update your skills and understanding while you’re working. Education doesn’t end after you finish your degree. All successful people are life-long learners.
What general advice would you give to an Accounting Consultant?
Amy Kass CPA, MBA: My advice to a graduate beginning a career in the accounting industry is to take advantage of as many new learning opportunities and work-related experiences as possible. The accounting industry offers accountants many specialized areas to choose a career path in, so using those learning opportunities and work-related experiences will help graduates choose which area in the accounting industry they'd like to work in while expanding their skills on their resume, their confidence, and ultimately their salaries. A great way to access a variety of work-related experiences is to work at a public accounting firm.
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Kass CPA, MBA: The three skills I think that will become more important and prevalent in the next three to five years in the accounting industry will include: technical skills, regulatory knowledge, and written and oral communication skills. The technical skills and the regulatory knowledge skills areas are constantly changing, so there's always something new to learn that will benefit your role in the industry.
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Amy Kass CPA, MBA: The most important way you can maximize your salary potential when starting a career in the accounting industry is by sitting for the CPA exam as soon as possible. Passing the exam will provide you with a higher salary and more advanced career opportunities.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Accounting Consultants increase their earning potential?
Z. Jay Wang: Students who have a history of doing work in the field outside the classroom either through internships, industry projects, or school-sponsored clubs managing financial decisions are better poised to maximize starting salary potential. Starting early to secure internships with top companies will also position students well for higher earning potential. Most top banks and firms will post internships from April/May to August, and close by the end of September for the following summer. They are also rolling, so may fill the roles by as early as June of the sophomore year for the following summer after junior year. Finally, networking with industry and alumni professionals in the companies, firms, banks prior to applying for an internship or full-time position will have an impact. The candidate will learn more about the opportunity and company culture for their resume and potential interview, and most top companies in finance will have a referral program. If the candidate impresses the internal connection with excellent questions and strategic answers, they may get a referral that moves them up in the stacks of applicants.
Octavian Ionici PhD
Sr. Lecturer in FinanceAmerican University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Accounting Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Octavian Ionici PhD: The finance profession is lucrative, rewarding and very competitive. Graduates should do their research about the organization they are interviewing with and be able to discuss how their skills can contribute to the business. They should also know if they would rather interact with people and clients or if they are drawn to intellectual pursuits such as analysis. Do they value power, prestige status, risk, or something else? Ultimately our core values, personal goals, interests, aptitudes, and personality will shape our career paths.
Being able to articulate what sparked their interest in the financial field and why they are interested in a chosen role will be an advantage during the hiring process. While still in college, students should join a professional association like the Financial Management Association to give them more access to that broad network, as well as access to career development resources that can set them apart from the crowd.
It's also critical to get an internship (paid or unpaid) in order to show some real-life experience. They can do this while they are still in college, during the summers, or even afterwards, to get a foot in the door.
Reading the WSJ and FT daily, and listening to Bloomberg, or other financial programs as a regular practice will help them to have fluency in the language of our profession. Because the finance sector is heavily regulated and changes occur due to changing economic and political conditions, they will need to stay updated with those changes. Financial media sources will help bring them that context to stay up to date on all of these moving parts.
Charles Makar
Instructor of BusinessMisericordia University
Business Department
What soft skills should all Accounting Consultants possess?
Charles Makar: Communications skills (oral and written).
Robin Boneck
Department Chair/Professor,Southern Utah University
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Accounting Consultant resumes?
Robin Boneck: Skills with ERP software and data analytics software would stand out to me.
What soft skills should all Accounting Consultants possess?
Robin Boneck: Communication is at the top of the list. You have to be very clear in what information you need and, on the other hand, be able to summarize and share the results of your analysis.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Accounting Consultants?
Robin Boneck: You have to have mastered financial accounting principles. The larger the company, the more complex the accounting will be. The second is the ability to work with data (clean, manipulate it, and present it).
What skills will help Accounting Consultants earn the most?
Robin Boneck: Data analysis and experience with related software.
Dr. Douglas Boyle
Chair & Professor, Director, Doctorate in Business Administration Program , Director, Nonprofit Leadership ProgramThe University of Scranton
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Accounting Consultant resumes?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: Accounting is a very technical profession, so any credential that shows you have an advanced level of knowledge makes a candidate stand out. Accountants have many opportunities to pursue credentials. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the only accounting credential that is a license from the state. If you hold a CPA, the AICPA offers six specialty credentials to consider pursuing, including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), and Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV). Three other organizations to consider that do not require a CPA to pursue are the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The IMA offers two credentials, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA). The IIA offers six credentialling opportunities, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership (QIAL), Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA), and Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA). Last, the ACFE offers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). These opportunities enable accountants to specialize in several areas and provide opportunities to stand out. Our research shows that in addition to technical skills, soft skills are very important as you move to higher levels of a firm or organization.
What soft skills should all Accounting Consultants possess?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: Our research shows that achieving a high level of emotional intelligence is viewed as most important by senior accounting professionals. Emotional intelligence is made up of self-awareness that includes emotional awareness and self-confidence. Self-management includes self-control, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability, and innovation. Social awareness includes empathy and organizational awareness. Relationship management includes influence, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, and communication. While it is important to work on all these skills, the three that are deemed most critical for accounting professionals are trustworthiness, conscientiousness, teamwork, and communication.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Accounting Consultants?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: While it is important to be technically competent in all areas of accounting, you add the most value by being an expert in a few areas. That is why you may consider pursuing additional credentials (as shown above) in areas of interest to you. This enables you to master the technical skills and demonstrate such skills on your resume.
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingUniversity of Maine Orono
Maine Business School
What hard/technical skills are most important for Accounting Consultants?
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.: -In today's environment, with greater usage of data big and small by companies, accountants are expected to have a better understanding of accounting analytics and a greater ability to analyze and identify patterns in data. Therefore, accounting analytics is a very important skill for accountants today.
-Just knowing excel is not enough. Being able to use software like excel QuickBooks for accounting/controllership/audit/tax-related decisions is a plus.
-In addition, being able to use visualization software like Tableau or Power BI is also a plus.
-Some type of analytics certification (Excel, general analytics, etc.) is a plus.
-However, this does not substitute for accounting-related knowledge and understanding.
What skills stand out on Accounting Consultant resumes?
Dr. George Young: Skills pertaining to software, especially software used to analyze data for reasonableness, classification non-conformity, other errors, and fraud, will always be eye-catching to employers. Students should also not overlook participation in activities that represent a contribution to the greater good. Activities like Habitat for Humanity and the local Helping Hands organizations not only convey the willingness to benefit others but also conveys the skill of getting along with others while working on a common goal.
Lynne Zelenski Ph.D.
Director of Academic ServicesMichigan State University
Department of Accounting And Information Systems
What skills stand out on Accounting Consultant resumes?
Lynne Zelenski Ph.D.: Quantitative, communication, critical thinking, analysis and problem solving, organization, strong work ethic.
What soft skills should all Accounting Consultants possess?
Lynne Zelenski Ph.D.: Communication skills, both written and verbal. Accountants need to be storytellers and be able to explain and interpret accounting information to non-accountants. Employers also emphasize the importance of leading and working in teams.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Accounting Consultants?
Lynne Zelenski Ph.D.: Employers still seek strong Excel skills, and in addition, they want technologically savvy people. Most have internal systems, proprietary software, or certain systems/programs that they use. AND these will change! Thus, accountants need to be tech-savvy and able to learn and catch on quickly. For example, look at the variety in data visualization programs. If someone has experience in one, they will be able to figure out others pretty easily. The same goes for ERP systems.
What skills will help Accounting Consultants earn the most?
Lynne Zelenski Ph.D.: Experience and skills in complex accounting transactions. Data analysis and interpretation. Accounting information systems, controls, cyber security.
Thomas King
Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, AccountancyCase Western Reserve University
Accountancy Department
What skills stand out on Accounting Consultant resumes?
Thomas King: Evidence that someone is smart is a fast learner and works well with others.
What soft skills should all Accounting Consultants possess?
Thomas King: The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Accounting Consultants?
Thomas King: The ability to extract information from unfamiliar data sets and then explain conclusions reached in a clear, persuasive manner.
What skills will help Accounting Consultants earn the most?
Thomas King: The ability to lead others to bring about intended change.