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A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT may work at the federal, state or local level to perform accounting and other financial functions. Some duties may require the implementation of routine practices while others are investigatory or advisory. Many career paths are open to accountants who work for the government, including the maintenance of records and the auditing of transactions related to taxation or regulations.
Working at the Federal Level
Major government agencies that employ accountants include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Treasury, the General Services Administration, the General Accounting Office and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Duties of a GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT at the federal level may include performing audits and investigating incidences of white collar crime. The Association of Certified Fraud Investigators at ACFE offers resources that assist accountants in investigating fraud and related matters.
Congress may call on accountants to testify on tax legislation or internal audits. Staff accountants ensure that financial systems and reports conform to laws that implement regulations. Evaluating the effectiveness of internal controls and audit readiness contribute to the monitoring of agency performance. A variety of cost accounting reports provides the basis for recommendations to improve economic measures and efficiencies that can affect government policy.
Understanding the Role of an IRS Accountant
The GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT job that is the most familiar to taxpayers is one at the IRS, and it usually makes them dread the possibility of an audit. The initial responsibility of the job involves examining tax returns and assessing over payments or liabilities. When an accountant discovers an inaccuracy in a return, he or she notifies the taxpayer to pay the balance that is due or initiates the refund process.
An accountant may go to a field office to conduct an audit of a return submitted by an individual or a business. The process requires a taxpayer to present returns from the past three years for review by a GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT, along with receipts and financial statements. The purpose of an audit is to make sure that the taxpayer has paid the proper amount. A full description of the duties of an IRS accountant appears at Chron.
Working at the State and Local Levels
Accountants who work in positions that are below the federal level perform traditional duties of recording financial data to form the basis for evaluating the appropriateness of expenditures. An expanding role of responsibility allows an accountant to provide internal consulting and to assist in decision making. The responsibility to serve as a custodian of financial records that affect public funds is the primary requirement of the job, but an emerging role in management makes the position more demanding. In state and local governments, accountants can offer guidance and recommendations that are based on the analysis of financial data.
Accounting is a field that requires good math skills and an eye for detail. An inquisitive mind is an attribute that enables accountants to create ideas for the best ways to resolve financial problems at the community or state level. Strong organizational skills create a sense of orderliness that adds to efficiency in a demanding and complex field. A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT contributes to the public welfare by keeping senior level managers well informed of pressing financial matters.