For those who love math and have an accounting background, you may be able to use these skills to help you to create a business from your home. Accounting is the method of managing the accounts receivable and accounts payable for a business. Many businesses hire full time staff to manage these financials, but sometimes, small businesses do not have the ability to hire someone to do this work for them. They turn to freelancers and accounting consultants who work for a set fee per week or month from their homes.

What The Job Entails

When you work at home as an accountant, you will be managing the books of a business, or more than one of them. Often, these professionals handle tasks like making payments for the company, collecting invoices, sending invoices and balancing the company's profit and loss statements. Most of the work is done on the computer and sometimes through direct connections to the business's computer system. It is often the case that individuals are able to build up to have several businesses they work with.

Educational Requirements

As with any business in which specific skills are needed, to be proficient as an accountant, you do need to have an education in the field. Most accountants do have four year degrees. On the other hand, you may handle just the recording of financials rather than the analysis of them. In this case, you may work as a bookkeeper. This professional's job does require training but often a two year degree or on the job experience is all that is needed.

If you have previously worked in the accounting industry, then you likely have all the experience you need to do well as an accountant. You may need to freshen up on skills. You may also need to take on some training on various accounting software tools, as needed by the company.

The amount of money you can make as an at home accountant ranges widely. Some people make a considerable amount of money by working with several businesses. Others specialize in certain fields and may charge more for doing so.

If you have the ability to work in this field, then working from home is not difficult to make happen. You will need to market yourself and be able to communicate to businesses. In many cases, you will need to take steps to sell yourself until you get the type of business you need. Many businesses need these out of the office accounting services.