today's best accounting and finance jobs.

Accounting skills pertain to the preparation and analysis of financial records for clients and companies. In addition to tax preparation, risk analysis also falls under the purview of accountants, and those looking to hone their accounting skills can expect to play a hand in strategy, as their financial acumen will be called upon to assess risk and viability of business initiatives.

Accounts receivable specialists govern the payment process for their companies, keeping track of all outstanding funds and client accounts to ensure all services rendered get properly reimbursed in a timely fashion.

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.

CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a professional certification that unlocks increased opportunities for those in the accounting profession. As the occupation’s highest seal of approval, those who pass the CPA exam can expect better wages and employment opportunities.

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.

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.

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.

There are a lot of individual specialties that go into the finance bucket of skills. Those looking to improve their basic financial skills should look toward establishing 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.

There’s no reward without risk, and financial risk managers are the ones who assess whether too much is being taken on when it comes to the strategic decisions of their clients or companies. Financial risk management requires being able to deftly assess potential outcomes of any given business decision and weigh the consequences against potential gains.

Loan administration involves 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 to the underwriter for approval. Loan processors must be highly organized and able to handle and review documentation from borrowers to ensure all applications are accurate and compliant.

Mortgage lending skills and duties are very similar to loan administration with the one difference being that mortgage lenders are focused on approving loans for homebuyers. Mortgage lending involves preparing and evaluating candidate documentation, assessing applicants’ financial profiles and underwriting.

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.

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.

Underwriters wield strong mathematical and analytical skills to create insurance policies based on candidates’ individual risk profiles. Underwriters are responsible for determining ultimate eligibility by taking into account both the financial history and personal background of clients.