Can someone explain different types (specialties) of accounting and all the different levels of education that can be obtained regarding accounting? What would it take for someone to become a financial consultant for people or companies in serious debt and/or a spending consultant (showing people how to save, where to cut back, etc)?

I'd like to hear from someone who does accounting work, please. It's always better to hear it from an experienced person IMO!

Thanks in advance. :)

My partener is an accountant- he was going to go to uni to get a qualification but ended up going straight into a job (as a junior) to work and learn at the same time. It saved him about £30,000 of student loans, got him the qualification quicker and got 3 years experience at the same time

In the US I'd be more concerned about passing the personal interview and background check - depending on the type of accounting - than the actual schooling.

Different Types of Accounting @ Career Opportunities (http://www.career-opportunities.net/articles/view/different_types_of_accounting)