Accountants & Auditors Description OES Code: 211140 Accountants and auditors prepare, research, analyze, and verify financial reports that furnish information to customers in all businesses, industries and government organizations. The four major fields are management, public and governmental accounting, and internal auditing. CA Wages, hourly median range New, no experience: $11.51 minimum – $19.41 New, experienced: $14.38 minimum – $26.00 3 yrs+ experience: $16.78 $7.00 – $31.16 Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES Survey Salaries vary with the size and location of the firm and individual qualifications. Hours & Benefits Work hours vary. Most Accountants work 40 hours a week with additional overtime during busy seasons. They may receive extra pay or compensating time off for overtime. Fringe benefits normally include paid vacations, sick leave, group health insurance and retirement plans. Some companies offer profit-sharing plans. CPA firms often pay for CPA exams, professional courses and professional society membership dues. Wages by CCOIS SurveyWages by OES Survey Employment Trends Employment 1996 104,060 Projected Employment 2006 123,350 Growth Rate 1996-2006 18.5% Openings due to Separations 23,360 Employment Trends by California County Advancement Experienced CPAs may advance to manager and eventually to partner. Some leave to open their own practices. Management Accountants may become senior-level supervisors or department managers. A few become Controllers, Treasurers, or Chief Financial Officers. Getting the Job & Other Information Applicants should: Register with their college career center Network through professional association members, employed Accountants and Auditors and personal contacts Apply directly to agencies and firms For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training Accountants and Auditors need a BA degree with a major in accounting. Certification is required for CPAs. California and all other states use the same Uniform CPA examination prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The examination is rigorous and the failure rate can be high. To earn their CPA certificate, candidates need two years of auditing experience with a CPA agency. Some colleges offer internships and/or cooperative education (work-study) programs for a limited number of accounting students in their junior year or above. Interns work in an accounting office for about three months; co-ops alternate several periods of work and study. Such programs offer valuable practical experience and often lead to permanent jobs. Skills & Other Requirements Accountants should be able to work independently, perform well under pressure, comprehend information quickly and possess good analytical and communication skills. They must be able to explain and interpret data for clients. The ability to use personal computers and accounting software is essential. Employers often require that applicants be bondable. References Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Accountants & Auditors #1 & Bookeeping, Accounting & Auditing Clerks #26 Training: California State Training Inventory See Also: California State Board of Accountancy 2000 Evergreen Street, Suite 250 Sacramento, CA 95815-3832 Phone: (916) 263-3680 © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.