Management Accountants and Internal Auditors

Management accountants and internal auditors are watchdogs of efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance. Both kinds of accountants can be found in corporations, but each plays a different role.

Management accountants study and interpret business numbers, such as earnings and salaries. They decide how money should be spent and advise management on key business decisions. Internal auditors, on the other hand, check that records are accurate and that controls are in place to protect against fraud and waste.

Management accountants review and analyze information from a company's financial records. Internal auditors check that these records are accurate and that operations are running smoothly and comply with laws and regulations.

Are You Ready To...?

• Examine business operations, trends, costs, and profits
• Analyze accounting records, financial statements, and other financial reports
• Work on budgets
• Study financial data for signs of fraud and other illegal activity
• Coordinate and direct the financial planning and budgeting of an organization
• Advise management on reaching financial goals
• Use accounting software
• Create and present reports

It Helps To Be...

Conscientious, analytical, good at math and problem solving, and able to work with business systems and computers. Accountants and auditors must also be good at working with people and communicating the results of their work.

Make High School Count

• Take four years of math, including calculus.
• Sign up for accounting and economics classes.
• Take full advantage of English and speech classes to sharpen your communication and presentation skills.
• Build strong computer skills.
• Practice accounting skills by saving money, creating a budget, and sticking to it.
• Run for the office of class treasurer.
• Learn about the business world in Junior Achievement or a similar group.