A career as an environmental accountant may be the ideal way for people who are interested in finance and concerned about environmental issues to combine their two passions. Unlike traditional accounting positions, which are primarily concerned with a company’s financial gains and losses, environmental accounting is concerned with the environmental costs of a company’s business practices. An environmental accountant analyzes pollution costs, the financial implications of switching to green technology, and the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To work as an environmental accountant, you’ll need to complete the same steps as a traditional accountant: get a higher education, become a certified public accountant (CPA), and gain on-the-job experience.
The majority of environmental accountants have obtained their CPA certification, which typically requires a bachelor’s degree and passing a certification exam. It’s worth noting that few colleges and universities offer environmental accounting as an academic discipline, so you’ll probably need to take classes in general accounting, mathematics, and economics. If you want to work as an environmental accountant, you’ll need to be knowledgeable about local and national pollution and greenhouse gas regulations. If you want to be successful, you’ll need to be able to work in a team environment with professionals from various fields, such as scientists, lawyers, public relations executives, and staff accountants.
Because not all companies use specialized accounting, if you want to work as an environmental accountant, you should look for jobs at companies that are more likely to prioritize environmental concerns. Companies that are regulated environmental agencies, such as oil and power companies, as well as other manufacturers, such as automobile, chemical, and paper companies, will fall into this category. Environmental accountants are typically employed larger companies, but there may also be opportunities at general accounting firms, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
After specializing in environmental accounting, an accountant will typically begin collecting and analyzing a company’s pollution controls and materials flow. Internal executives and a broader audience, such as representatives from regulatory agencies and company investors, are typically given access to these reports. An environmental accountant may also be asked to consider how a company uses natural resources and the impact that has on the environment on a local and national level. However, because a company’s primary concern is usually its bottom line, even environmental accountants must be familiar with all aspects of traditional accounting, including auditing, banking, and maintaining other financial records.