by Mike Churchill © 2007, All Rights Reserved

When most people hear the term "accounting," certified public accountants (CPAs) come to mind. However, this is not the only area in which accountants work. There is a wide range of entry-level occupations available to two-year accounting program graduates that don't involve the extensive education and boards required of CPAs.

Let's take a more in-depth look at a few career paths related to accounting and bookkeeping. For the purpose of our examples involving job responsibilities, I'll use the city of St. Louis. College graduates with a degree in accounting might elect to become:

• Entry-level accountants
  
• Accounts receivable clerks
  
• Accounts payable clerks
  
• And more
  

Below you will find some details about each career path that can help you decide if these positions are a good fit with your interest and qualifications.

Entry-Level Accountant

A wide range of responsibilities can be placed on a general accountant depending on the type of company for which you work. As an entry-level accountant in St. Louis, college graduates will likely be required to assist in organization with calculating and preparing payroll. This can entail calculating time cards, commissions and/or bonuses in addition to annual salaries employees might receive. You may also be asked to manage ledgers and journals, enter financial data into the computer system, compile reports and charts, and more.

Accounts Receivable Clerk

Accounting program graduates who become accounts receivable clerks will generally have responsibilities including entering, tracking and managing incoming revenue for a company. You might also be required to collect past due accounts, prepare payments for deposit at the bank as well as prepare monthly, quarterly or annual reports for the accounting manager.

Accounts Payable Clerk

Those who choose to work as accounts payable clerks will likely have duties including processing invoices and statements from vendors, verifying that all materials or services stated on the invoice have been received, issuing checks, balancing company checking accounts, compiling reports and more.

Accounting program graduates in St. Louis will most likely find themselves working in an office environment using a computer for the majority of their duties. If you enjoy this type of work and consider yourself to be detail oriented, a career path in accounting might be right for you.

Because of state and federal regulations, organizations of all sizes will continue to need proficient accounting help. If you are graduating from high school or are transitioning from one career to another, you may wish to investigate entry-level positions in the accounting field. Search for St. Louis colleges that offer flexible class schedules as well as multiple campuses for convenience.

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