{"id":7280,"date":"2020-05-01T07:47:05","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T11:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/?post_type=news&p=7280"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:19:14","slug":"types-of-accountants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/types-of-accountants\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Types of Accountants & What Their Daily Tasks Include"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n<\/div>\n

Accountancy has now, for a long time, been considered a safe and rewarding option for many. With the years going by, the number of types of accountants has gone up, too. Although a part of an accountant\u2019s job has become automated\u2014therefore, easier to do\u2014there\u2019s still a lot that needs an accountant\u2019s detail-oriented eye to be accomplished.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s take a look at the different types of accountants, what they do, and their salaries.<\/p>\n

1. Public Accountants<\/h2>\n

A public accountant is a professional who performs tasks such as tax, auditing, consulting, and accounting for a public accounting firm. To work as a public accountant, you\u2019re required to have a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Accounting and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credentials.<\/p>\n

What does a public accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A public accountant\u2019s daily duties include preparing and verifying financial documents, planning finances, and analyzing budgets. They often also perform consulting, bookkeeping, and auditing tasks for their clients.<\/p>\n

However, these are only the general responsibilities of a public accountant. Many field professionals specialize in a specific area and mostly do work around that.<\/p>\n

Public accountant salary<\/h4>\n

A public accountant\u2019s salary varies depending on the level of education, certification, and experience. The average salary, however, is around $78,000 annually.<\/p>\n

Entry-level public accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level public accountant salaries start at around $48,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior public accountant salary<\/h4>\n

A senior public accountant can expect to earn around $110,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Auditors<\/h2>\n

\"auditor-accountant-type\"<\/p>\n

Auditors are professionals who are in charge of verifying and validating a company\u2019s financial statements and compiling reports on them. An auditor is responsible for determining how honest a company\u2019s financial records are.<\/p>\n

What does an auditor do?<\/h2>\n

An auditor\u2019s daily duties include examining financial statements for accuracy, examining financial statements for compliance with laws and regulations, making sure taxes are paid timely, inspecting account books and accounting systems for efficiency, etc.<\/p>\n

How much does an auditor make?<\/h3>\n

The average salary of an auditor is somewhere around $57,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entry-level auditor salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level auditor jobs usually offer around $41,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior auditor salary<\/h4>\n

Senior auditor salaries start at $83,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

3. Tax Accountants<\/h2>\n

Unlike traditional accountants, tax accountants, tend to focus solely on the company\u2019s taxes. These professionals are in charge of ensuring that their clients\u2019 taxes are law-abiding, so their clients don\u2019t face any penalties from the government.<\/p>\n

What does a tax accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A tax accountant\u2019s daily duties include determining tax strategies for their clients, preparing tax documents, arranging audits with taxation authorities, interpreting tax laws and explaining any changes brought by new tax laws, etc.<\/p>\n

Tax accountant salary<\/h4>\n

A tax accountant\u2019s median salary is around $57,000<\/strong>, but that varies depending on the level of experience and position in the company.<\/p>\n

Entry-level tax accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level tax accountant salaries start at around $44,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior tax accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Senior tax accountants can expect to make up to $76,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4. Fiduciaries<\/h2>\n

\"fiduciary-accountant-type\"<\/p>\n

Fiduciaries, by definition, are people or organizations that manage assets on behalf of another person. This means that these professionals are ethically and legally bound to act in the other person\u2019s best interest.<\/p>\n

What does a fiduciary do?<\/h3>\n

A fiduciary\u2019s daily tasks include ensuring general financial well-being, performing due-diligence, managing all assets of a certain person, company, or organization, etc.<\/p>\n

Fiduciary salary<\/h4>\n

The average salary of a fiduciary is around $68,000<\/strong>, but that depends on the position they have and whom they are working for.<\/p>\n

Entry-level fiduciary salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level fiduciary job salaries start at $40,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior fiduciary salary<\/h4>\n

Senior fiduciary salaries can go up to $132,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

5. Forensic Accountants<\/h2>\n

Forensic accountants<\/a> are usually professionals that have a special set of skills to help them be an accountant in the world of criminology. They follow money trails to expose graft, white-collar crime, and corruption.<\/p>\n

What does a forensic accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A forensic accountant\u2019s tasks often include assessing loss and potential damage awards, research, report writing, applying tax law knowledge, providing courtroom testimony, conducting and assisting in investigations, etc.<\/p>\n

Forensic accountant salary<\/h3>\n

The average salary of a forensic accountant is somewhere around $70,000<\/strong> annually, but that varies depending on what kind of position they hold.<\/p>\n

Entry-level forensic accountant salary<\/h4>\n

An entry-level forensic accountant\u2019s salary starts at $43,650<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior forensic accountant salary<\/h4>\n

The salary of a senior forensic accountant is around $122,840<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

6. Financial Accountants<\/h2>\n

Financial accountants are individuals often described as very analytical and organized. These professionals are in charge of overseeing proper maintenance and reporting of a company\u2019s financial statements.<\/p>\n

What does a financial accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A financial accountant\u2019s daily duties often include computing, maintaining, and classifying financial records of a company. They\u2019re also responsible for reconciling billing vouchers and making financial statements public by using accounting software.<\/p>\n

Financial accountant salary<\/h3>\n

Although the salary varies depending on the position, experience, and education, the average salary of a financial accountant is around $55,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entry-level financial accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level financial accountant salaries start at $41,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior financial accountant salary<\/h4>\n

A senior financial accountant can expect to make up to $79,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

7. Cost Accountants<\/h2>\n

\"cost-accountant\"<\/p>\n

Cost accountants are professionals responsible for reducing the company\u2019s financial waste and increasing their profits. They often work closely with management, so they can achieve the financial objectives.<\/p>\n

What does a cost accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A cost accountant\u2019s duties include determining what the actual cost of a certain product or manufacturing is, preparing the company budget, analyzing profitability, scrutinizing any associated company expenses, etc.<\/p>\n

Cost accountant salary<\/h3>\n

The median salary of a cost accountant is around $56,000.<\/p>\n

Entry-level cost accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level cost accountant salaries start at $43,000.<\/p>\n

Senior cost accountant salary<\/h4>\n

An experienced cost accountant\u2019s salary can go up to $78,000.<\/p>\n

8. Managerial Accountants<\/h2>\n

Management accountants are professionals that work for private businesses, public companies, and government agencies in order to help the company\u2019s owner, the board of directors, or manager make financial decisions.<\/p>\n

What does a managerial accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A managerial accountant\u2019s tasks include analyzing and managing risk, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement, monitoring and enforcing compliance, arranging the funding and financing of operations, etc.<\/p>\n

How much does a management accountant make?<\/h3>\n

The average salary of a management accountant is somewhere around $70,500<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entry-level managerial accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level managerial accounting position\u2019s salaries usually start at $60,000<\/strong> and can go around $80,000<\/strong> for Certified Management Accountants (CMA).<\/p>\n

Senior managerial accountant salary<\/h4>\n

The average experienced CMA salary is around $125,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

9. Government Accountants<\/h2>\n

Government accountants are professionals employed at all government levels\u2014local, state, and federal. In order to get such a job, an accountant must have Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credentials.<\/p>\n

What does a government accountant do?<\/h3>\n

A government accountant, depending on what government level they work for, is in charge of managing public funds, investigating white-collar crime, performing financial statement audits for government agencies, recommending corrective action, etc.<\/p>\n

How much does a government accountant make?<\/h3>\n

The average salary of a government accountant is around $75,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entry-level government accountant salary<\/h4>\n

Entry-level government accounting salary starts at around $55,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Senior government accountant salary<\/h4>\n

A certified government accountant\u2019s salary is around $110,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Accountancy offers a wide array of jobs and qualifications for those interested in the field, ranging from cost accountant, government accountants to financial accountants. So, if you\u2019re good at numbers and details, an accounting degree<\/a> is definitely worth it. Every type of accountancy job has its own perks, and it\u2019s up to you to decide which one fits you best. We hope this list helped you understand the different types of accountants there are.<\/p>\n

If one of these accounting jobs appeals to you, start your journey now by enrolling in our Bachelor of Arts in Accounting program.<\/p>\n\n

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