Accounting By, Stanton Smith

Financial Advisor It’s an exciting time to be a financial advisor, since several decades ago, the position didn’t really exist. You were either a stockbroker or a community banker or even in insurance sales, according to James Kinney, a certified financial planner and founder of the New Jersey- based Financial Pathways. Now, however, financial advisors perform all these roles, from small independent practices to big investment firms.

Actuary But after a serendipitous course of events, she ended up back in her small hometown looking for a job. She saw a job ad that stated, “We’ll hire math majors,” so she answered it. And it turns out the job was in the actuary field.

Bill Collector Some unexpected phone calls are pleasant; for instance, when a florist rings you and asks the best time to drop off a surprise bouquet. But other calls might not be so enjoyable to receive, such as when the caller asks you to pay off past due credit card debt or medical bills. In the latter scenario, a bill collector is the person on the other end of the line.

Cashier Cashiers ring up items at your local grocery store, convenience store and other establishments using electronic scanners and cash registers. There were 3.3 million cashiers in the U.S. in 2012, making this occupation the country’s second-largest behind retail salespeople. But the pay is low, averaging just $9.82 an hour, or $20,420 per year.

Bookkeeping, Accounting and Audit Clerk Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks wear many hats. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, bookkeeping clerks handle a company’s accounts, complete financial statements and check reports for accuracy, among other responsibilities. But as David Bybee, president of the National Bookkeepers Association, notes, bookkeepers can only handle financial statements and reports if they have a QuickBooks certification.