1. accounts payable clerk
Accounts payable clerks carry out critical tasks like processing invoices, posting business transactions and verifying key financial data to maintain cash flow for your company. Other responsibilities include compiling and calculating extensions and totals on invoices to complete payments, as well as checking coding and vendor profiles to ensure accurate billing.
about this job2. collections manager
Are your people skills just as strong as your financial acumen? Then a job as a collections manager may be for you. Credit and collections managers oversee teams responsible for conducting credit investigations and collecting delinquent customer accounts. They also determine responsibility for fraud investigations and set credit limitations on customer accounts.
about this job3. financial analyst
Financial analysts use data to ensure a company’s business decisions are economically sound. These number crunchers are integral components of an organization's finance function, responsible for everything from auditing, planning and budgeting to taxes, consolidation, cost control and investment opportunity analysis. Financial analyst jobs are expected to remain in high demand, with employment projected to grow 9 percent in the decade to 2031.
about this job4. underwriter
Underwriters review individual insurance or mortgage applications to determine eligibility. Charged with ultimately deciding whether applicants meet the qualifications for approval, underwriters evaluate applicant profiles and recommend appropriate premiums based on the perceived level of risk. While many insurance and mortgage underwriters work in offices, remote jobs are also available.
about this job5. loan processor
Loan processors provide key clerical and administrative support, helping to secure loans for borrowers. Daily duties include preparing paperwork, assembling documentation and forwarding applications for loans, construction plans, credit ratings and other key items to loan companies for approval.
about this job6. staff accountant
Critical members of any organization, staff accountants keep the books in order and serve as key advisors to operating officials. They are responsible for overseeing regular financial and business transactions, as well as ensuring future financial stability by analyzing data to illustrate the effects of proposed plans on capital investments, income, cash position and overall financial condition. Some staff accountants may work remotely depending on their company’s policies.
about this jobessential accounting and finance skills and certifications
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accounting
Accounting skills pertain to the preparation and analysis of financial records for clients and companies. In addition to tax preparation, accountants should also be proficient in risk analysis and determining the viability of business initiatives. Familiarity with accounts payable and receivable processes is also required for roles managing cash flow.
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coding
Billing and coding go hand in hand, but coding is the important first step in the process. Coders must be able to extract monetary value from services rendered to settle on an appropriate bill rate to be sent to customers and clients.
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CPA
CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a professional certification that unlocks increased opportunities for those in the accounting profession. This designation is the occupation’s highest seal of approval, and those who pass the CPA exam can expect better wages and employment opportunities.
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credit
Knowledge of credit is needed for occupations like accounts payable clerks, among others, where the ability to analyze client financial profiles is critical. Credit analysts are able to assess disparate financial data points to come to conclusions regarding risk and overall creditworthiness.
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customer billing
Billing is about more than just preparing and sending out invoices. A fully trained customer billing specialist is responsible for analyzing financial statements to detect errors, maintaining payment records for all accounts and working with necessary parties to resolve disputes.
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data entry
Numbers and data are at the heart of any finance or accounting function, and data entry personnel are charged with guarding — and inputting — business-critical figures into company databases for further analysis and record-keeping.
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finance
Those looking to improve their basic financial skills should establish proficiency in financial data analysis as well as forecasting to ensure the financial health of their clients and companies both today and over the long term. Knowledge of risk management is also crucial for assessing outcomes of business decisions and weighing consequences against gains.
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loan administration and processing
Loan administration encompasses the entire process of securing a loan, with oversight responsibilities that run the gamut from processing and evaluation to underwriting and final approval. Loan processing precedes the underwriting process and involves preparing prospective loans and delivering them for approval.
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mortgage lending
Mortgage lending is similar to loan administration but focuses on approving loans for homebuyers. Mortgage lending involves preparing and evaluating candidate documentation, assessing applicants’ financial profiles and underwriting.
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reconciliation
Reconciliation is an important part of the accounting process that ensures there are no disruptions to the flow of funds. Reconciliation specialists scrupulously monitor outgoing transactions at regular intervals to make sure they line up with the actual amount of money being spent.
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reporting
Reporting skills involve taking financial data — mixed with your own analysis and interpretation — and distilling them into easy-to-read summations for colleagues and leadership to digest and inform business decisions.
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underwriting
Underwriters use strong mathematical and analytical skills to create insurance policies based on candidates’ individual risk profiles. They are responsible for determining ultimate eligibility following a review of both the financial history and personal background of clients.
