• Most accounting jobs require candidates who have a bachelor's degree or higher.Young business man and woman at office image by dimis from Fotolia.com
  
  Accounting jobs come with many different titles, are found in all industries and involve various requirements depending on the nature of the job. In addition to being adept at math, ideal candidates for accounting positions are expected to have the appropriate schooling or experience and a high standard of integrity.
  
  

Schooling

• Most accounting jobs require a person to have at least a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, finance or business. For entry-level positions, candidates may need only an associate's degree or a couple of years' experience. For higher-level accounting jobs, a bachelor's degree may not be enough. Some employers may specify that a candidate must possess a bachelor's degree plus five or more years' experience. An employer may also require a job candidate to have a master's degree or higher.
  
  

CPA Certification

• Certain accounting jobs require candidates to be certified public accountants, or CPAs. Certification is required if an accountant files reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any company registered with the SEC must use a CPA when filing documents. In order to qualify as a CPA, a student must complete 150 college credit hours of classes in an accounting department and pass a CPA exam.
  
  

Personality Characteristics

• Ideally, accountants should possess certain character traits, such as honesty and a high standard of integrity and ethics. Accounting candidates need to have a high aptitude for mathematics and understand how to work with and analyze financial figures. Most companies prefer to hire accountants with a strong knowledge of computers and computer programs.