Steps to Becoming an Accountant in South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Accountancy licenses and regulates the practice of certified public accounting. The requirements for those interested in becoming CPAs includes a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 150 semester hours of college credit, passing scores on the Uniform CPA Exam, and one year of professional accounting experience. While satisfying the experience requirement, aspiring CPAs often begin working to earn a master’s degree in accounting to earn the full 150 semester hours required for a CPA license, as most bachelor’s programs only result in 120 semester hours.

While none of the “Big Four” CPA firms hold offices in South Dakota, there are plenty of opportunities in other well known accounting and professional services firms, private industry, as well as for those interested in establishing independent practices. Financial advisory and investment firm, AXA Advisors, LLC, has offices in Sioux Falls; energy company, Black Hills Corporation, has its headquarters in Rapid City; and the regional branch office of international equipment trailer company, Terex Load King, are located in Elk Point. These companies are recognized as some of the leading private employers of accountants in the state.

There are many areas of specialty for CPAs and other accounting professionals interested in pursuing additional certification. Some work as forensic accountants investigating claims of fraud, while others find their niche as financial planners for companies like the multinational investment firm Edward Jones, which as an office in Rapid City.

South Dakota Accountants: Salary Expectations and Job Growth

With the oil industry booming again in South Dakota, every other field, business and industry it touches has taken off close behind, and accounting is no exception. According to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, more than 500 accounting jobs are set to open annually across the state through 2026, reflecting a 9.9 percent growth rate coupled with normal changes in the workforce.

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area had the highest concentration of accounting jobs of any rural region in the country as of 2018.

The average annual salary for accountants and auditors in that part of the state came in at $62,900, but statewide the mean is an even more impressive $65,800. Accountants in the top ten percent, those with CPA credentials and the right experience, come close to six figures, with an annual salary of $92,400.

Those top-line numbers don’t necessarily reflect the diversity and breadth that are actually found in the accounting industry, however. For a more detailed breakdown, the 2019 Robert Half Accounting and Finance Salary Guide has the answers.

Salaries for Accountants in Different Specialized Roles

The Salary Guide takes the top metro areas in the state and analyzes various accounting positions available there, segmented by industry, specialist role, and, in some cases, experience. Excluding bonuses and other incentives, the data reflects the 25^th, 50^th, and 95^th percentile starting salaries for each role.

The differences in percentile level are usually explained by additional factors, such as:

• Size of the employing firm
• Industry specialization
• Advanced credentials, such as a CPA license

In Sioux Falls, those numbers looked like this for 2019:

Corporate Accountants in Financial Services

Financial services firms are more typically associated with big city establishments in places like Chicago and New York, but they are gaining a toe-hold in South Dakota as the big oil money rolls in. A general accountant at such firms with between one and three years of experience could be started off at a salary of anywhere between $52,080 (50^th percentile) and $81,060 (95^th percentile).

Experience makes a major difference for these roles as well, with the following salaries for Sioux Falls staff accountants at the 25^th and 95^th percentiles:

• 3 to 5 years experience: $50,190 - $95,130
• 5+ years experience: $57,120 - $108,570

Corporate Controllers

Controllers are key figures in modern corporations, and they get paid like it in South Dakota. Sioux Falls companies typically offer a starting salary of between $77,280 and $174,510, with a midpoint near six figures at $99,330 a year.

Forensic Accountants

Another accounting job that can command top dollar is forensic accounting. It’s a role for professionals with a specialized purpose and skills, and one that can command strong salaries for anyone with that kind of niche expertise. In Sioux Falls these specialized professionals start off at $77,280 in the 50^th percentile and can earn as much as $121,590 as they rise to the 95th percentile bracket for the profession.

Tax Specialists and Auditors in Public Accounting Firms

Many accountants start off in public accounting performing auditing and tax services. Although starting rates for non-certified public accountants can be modest, they can also climb quickly for those with some time in the field and CPA licensure. Working with big money clients is something generally reserved for accountants with advanced credentials such as the CPA.

Assurance/Audit Services:

• Management - $62,580 - $119,700
• Senior - $44,730 - $85,260
• 1-3 years experience - $36,540 - $69,510

Tax Services:

• Management - $72,450 - $137,970
• Senior - $50,820 - $94,920
• 1-3 years experience - $40,110 - $76,860

Accountants in Executive Roles

Corporate CFOs almost always come from a background that involved earning a CPA license at some point along the way, a path that ensures they have the kind of industry-specific experience to back up the numbers with hard-won first-hand knowledge. In Sioux Falls, they can expect to start with six-figure salaries, between $101,850 (25^th percentile) and $417,690 (95^th percentile) with a midpoint of $165,270.

Salaries for Accountants and Auditors in South Dakota’s Cities and Rural Areas

Salaries are remarkably flat for accountants and auditors throughout the state. It’s notable that there are nearly as many employed, and at nearly the same average salary, in the east South Dakota non metropolitan area as there are in Sioux Falls, the largest and best-paying metro region.

(This is a broad classification that includes accounting professionals in different areas of specialty, with different credentials, and with varying levels of experience).

Tax Preparer Salaries Throughout South Dakota

There is a wide spread when it comes to salary potential for tax preparers around the state, with those in Rapid City generally earning the most. Sioux Falls is not far behind at the high end, however, with a median of $70,070 for those in the top ten percent.

Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018. Figures represent accumulated data for all areas of specialty within the field of accounting and auditing - https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sd.htm#13-2011 .BLS salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Salary data for specific job titles sourced from the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting & Finance Professionals - https://www.roberthalf.com/salary-guide/accounting-and-finance. All ranges represent starting salaries at the 25^th and 95^th percentiles unless otherwise noted, with midpoint figures representing the 50^th percentile. Experience, specialty area, credentials, and role all influence where salaries might fall within this range. These base salaries do not include bonuses or other incentives.

Job growth projections sourced from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation and reported in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database - https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm

All salary and job growth data accessed in May 2019.