Responsibilities

• A capital accountant oversees the financial aspects of investing in capital assets and depreciating those assets. She analyzes the financial impact of purchasing specific assets and calculates the costs and financial benefits of purchasing those assets. She provides recommendations to management regarding which capital asset to purchase and how that purchase impacts the company's financial position. She ensures that the accounting records accurately reflect the value of all capital assets owned by the company.
  
  

Education

• Capital accountants spend a minimum four years in college pursuing a bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration. Many pursue certification as a CMA. A CMA, or Certified Management Accountant, demonstrates a higher level of financial management ability by passing a national exam. CMAs maintain this designation by continuing to update their skills through training or seminars. Capital accountants may attend training focused on capital asset reporting, which applies directly to their work responsibilities.
  
  

Industry

• Capital accountants work in industries which use large physical assets in their business. These industries include utility construction, home-building or bus companies. Companies in these industries spend a significant amount of financial resources to acquire capital assets and need dedicated accountants to manage them. Industries without large assets to manage rarely hire capital accountants.
  
  

Salary

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a capital accountant was $59,430 in May 2008. Many capital accountants receive additional benefits to increase their total compensation package. According to the Institute of Management Accountants, 80 percent of accountants earned bonuses and profit sharing. Some also received stock options, retirement matches or an automobile allowance.