Accountants and Auditors

13-2011.00

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

• Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
• Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
• Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
• Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
• Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
• Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
• Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
• Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
• Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
• Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
• Prepare adjusting journal entries.
• Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
• Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
• Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries.
• Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
• Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
• Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
• Evaluate taxpayer finances to determine tax liability, using knowledge of interest and discount rates, annuities, valuation of stocks and bonds, and amortization valuation of depletable assets.
• Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives.
• Audit payroll and personnel records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws.
• Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office.
• Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
• 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.
• Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues.
• Direct activities of personnel engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records.
• Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned.
• Develop, maintain, or analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
• Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate financial planning.
• Process invoices for payment.
• Review data about material assets, net worth, liabilities, capital stock, surplus, income, or expenditures.

Technology Skills

• Accounting software - Accounting software; Accounts payable software; Accounts receivable software; Accurate NXG; AcorynSystems Activity Based Costing/Management ABC/M; AdaptaSoft CyberPay; ATX Total Accounting Office; ATX Total Engagement Office; Automation Counselors municiPAL; Best MIP Fund Accounting; Billing software; CCIS AccountAbility; Client billing software; Cost accounting software; CYMA IV Accounting for Windows; Evron Computer Systems SAGE PFW (Platinum For Windows); Financial reporting software; Financial statement software; FRx Software Microsoft FRx; Fund accounting software; General ledger software; Heron CrossTie General Ledger; Intuit QuickBooks 🔥; Invoice software; Lead Activity Analyzer; Lead Business Analyzer; Micronetics Xpert Write-up; Multiview Accounts Receivable; New Millennium Communications Genesis Accounting; Pro Systems Client Write-Up System for Windows; Profit Developers Electronic File Interchange; PROPHIX Enterprise; Roundtable Software Advantage Accounting System; Sage 50 Accounting; Sage BusinessWorks; Sage CPAAccounts Payable; Sage CPAAccounts Receivable; Sage CPAClient Checkbook; Sageworks ProfitCents; Softrax Revenue Management; Summit Software Summit Biofuels Accounting; Tax software; UA Business Software Professional Edition
• Analytical or scientific software - ACL Audit Exchange; Arbutus Analyzer; Guidance Software EnCase Enterprise; IBM SPSS Statistics 🔥; SAS 🔥; WizSoft WizRule
• Business intelligence and data analysis software - Alteryx software 🔥; IBM Cognos Impromptu; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau 🔥
• Cloud-based data access and sharing software - Microsoft SharePoint 🔥
• Compliance software - Accounting compliance software; ACCUCert; Bi3 Audit Intelligence; Corporate Responsibility System Technologies Limited Compliance Positioning System; Intrax ProcedureNet; Lumigent Entegra; Paisley Cardmap; Paisley Focus Control Assurance; Paisley RiskNavigator; Sage EDP Payroll Tax; Sage HandiSoft HandiLedger; Tax compliance property tax management software; TrendTracker Compliance Solution
• Customer relationship management CRM software - Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Salesforce software 🔥
• Data base management system software - Apache Solr; Teradata Database 🔥
• Data base reporting software - ADP Super Report Writer; SAP Crystal Reports
• Data base user interface and query software - Best Software CPAPayroll; Data entry software; Database software; FileMaker Pro; Microsoft Access 🔥; Microsoft SQL Server 🔥; Oracle Database 🔥; Practice management software PMS; Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate; Structured query language SQL 🔥; Yardi software 🔥; Yardi Systems Yardi Enterprise
• Data mining software - Data extraction software; WizSoft WizWhy
• Desktop communications software - Eko
• Desktop publishing software - Microsoft Publisher
• Development environment software - eXtensible Business Reporting Language XBRL; Microsoft Visual Basic 🔥; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA 🔥
• Document management software - Adobe Acrobat 🔥; Document management system software; Iron Mountain Accutrac records management software; OmniRIM Records Management Suite; Sage CPADocument Manager
• Electronic mail software - IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
• Enterprise application integration software - SAP BusinessObjects Data Integrator
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Accountants Templates JAZZ-It!; AcornSystems Corporate Performance Management; Cartesis ES Magnitude; Exact Software Macola ES; Lawson ERP; Microsoft Dynamics 🔥; Microsoft Dynamics GP; Microsoft Dynamics NAV; Microsoft Dynamics SL; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Fusion Applications; Oracle Hyperion; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft 🔥; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; Sage ERP Accpac; Sage MAS 200 ERP; Sage Platinum for Windows PFW; SAP Business Objects; SAP software 🔥; Workday software 🔥
• Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software
• Financial analysis software - Accounting fraud detection software; ACL Business Assurance Analytics; Audit management software; Audit planning and control environment software; AuditWare CaseWare Examiner; AuditWare financial reporting and auditing software; Automated auditors fraud detector software; Bi3 Financial Statement Fraud Analysis; BizBench; BNA Corporate Tax Audit Analyzer; Brentmark Estate Planning Quickview; Cammack Computations Inter-Est; Cartesis Magnitude iAnalysis; CaseWare International IDEA; CaseWare International IDEA SmartAnalyzer; CaseWare Working Papers; CashFlow Guardian; Cebos MQ1 Audit System; Choice Technologies PowerBill +; D'Arcangelo Galileo; Datavantage; Delphi Technology; Digital analysis tests and statistics DATAS for Excel; Digital analysis tests and statistics DATAS for SAS; Estate planning software; Financial Competence; Fixed-assets depreciation software; IAD Audit Leverage; InformationActive ActiveData for Excel; Internal audit software; Kirix ProffiPoint; MethodWare ProAudit Advisor; Microsoft FRx; MRO Audit Tracker; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials; OSI TrustWise; Paisley AutoAudit; Paisley IssueTrack; Palisade @Risk; Pentana audit work system PAWS; Pleier Audit Management System; PricewaterhouseCoopers TeamMate; Recovery audit software; RSM McGladrey Advanced Practice Solutions Paperless Audit; RSM McGladrey Auditor Assistant; Sage MAS 500; Sampson Data Pattern Index software; Solutions Technology & Software HR Premier; Star Software Fixed Asset Depreciation; Star Software Materiality Calculator; Sync Essentials Trade Accountant; Thomson Creative Solutions Engagement CS; Thomson Creative Solutions Financial Analysis CS; Thomson PPC e-Tools Suite; TimeValue software; TopCAATs; Tropics workers' compensation software
• Human resources software - ADP Workforce Now; CPSI EHR System; Human resource management software HRMS; Sage HRMS
• Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis
• Inventory management software - Asset management software
• Medical software - Epic Systems 🔥; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS; Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; MEDITECH software 🔥
• Object or component oriented development software - R 🔥; Swift 🔥
• Office suite software - Microsoft Works; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office software
• Operating system software - Microsoft Windows 🔥; UNIX 🔥
• Presentation software - Google Slides; Microsoft PowerPoint
• Process mapping and design software - Microsoft Visio 🔥
• Project management software - Microsoft Project 🔥; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management 🔥
• Risk management data and analysis software - Thomson Reuters Risk Management
• Spreadsheet software - Google Sheets 🔥; Microsoft Excel ; Spreadsheet software
• Tax preparation software - 1099 ProsSoftware; Abacus Tax; Advanced Micro Systems 1099-Etc; American Riviera Magtax; ATX Total Tax Office; Avalara AvaTax ST; BNA Estate and Gift Tax Suite; BNA Income Tax Planning Solutions; BNA Sales and Use Tax Rates and Forms; CCH ProSystem fx TAX; Creative Solutions UltraTax 1040; H&R Block Tax; IDMS Account Ability; Income tax return preparation software; Intellitax financial solutions software; Intuit Lacerte; Intuit ProSeries; Intuit TurboTax; KPB Associates TaxStream; NewPortWave Year End Solutions; Thomson GoSystem Tax; Universal Tax Systems TaxWise
• Time accounting software - Payroll software; WorkForce Software EmpCenter Time and Attendance
• Transaction security and virus protection software - NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
• Transaction server software - Tumbleweed SecureTransport
• Video creation and editing software - TechSmith Camtasia
• Word processing software - Google Docs 🔥; Microsoft OneNote; Microsoft Word 🔥

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
• Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Detailed Work Activities

• Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
• Report information to managers or other personnel.
• Advise others on business or operational matters.
• Advise others on financial matters.
• Collect evidence for legal proceedings.
• Investigate legal issues.
• Examine financial records.
• Oversee business processes.
• Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers.
• Examine financial records or processes.
• Verify accuracy of records.
• Analyze business or financial data.
• Analyze financial information.
• Prepare financial documents.
• Conduct financial or regulatory audits.
• Develop business or financial information systems.
• Assess financial status of clients.
• Evaluate effectiveness of personnel policies or practices.
• Verify accuracy of financial information.
• Calculate tax information.
• Advise others on human resources topics.
• Represent the interests of clients in legal proceedings.
• Coordinate regulatory documentation activities.
• Analyze budgetary or accounting data.
• Prepare operational budgets.
• Pay charges, fees, or taxes.