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Accountants

Advancement Prospects

Talented accountants can advance quickly. Junior public accountants usually advance to senior positions within several years and to managerial positions soon afterward. Those who are successful in dealing with top-level managers may eventually become supervisors, managers, and partners in larger firms or go into independent practice. However, only a small percent of new hires advance to tax manager or partner.

Private accountants in firms may become tax managers or cost accounting managers, depending on their specialty. Others on the finance side may rise to become managers of financial planning and analysis, controllers, treasurers, or chief financial officers. Others advance to top-level business executive positions such as chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or chief operating officer. Some accountants leave the profession to work as accounting professors.

Federal government trainees are usually promoted within a year or two. Advancement to controller and to higher administrative positions is ultimately possible.

Although advancement may be rapid for skilled accountants, especially in public accounting, those with inadequate academic or professional training are often assigned to routine jobs and find it difficult to obtain promotions.

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