Accounting Degree

This site provides information on earning an accounting degree and pursuing a career in accounting. Information provided includes a directory of schools offering accounting degrees, along with forms to request additional information.

Nature of Work in Accounting: Accountants find jobs in public accounting, management accounting (also known as industrial accounting, corporate accounting, or private accounting), government accounting, government auditing, or internal auditing. Accounting work includes financial record keeping, book keeping, closing the books, financial reporting, and all aspects of keeping a group’s accounting records in order. Accountants might fill many other functions as well, such as budget analysis, business model analysis, investment planning, and more.

Accounting Skills: Accounting requires people who can work with complex business structures, computer systems, and financial analysis packages, since much critical accounting information is stored and processed in these types of systems. Accounting work further requires an aptitude for mathematics and the ability to compare and analyze accounting data quickly. Accountants also need to have strong communication skills as they must effectively communicate accounting data to their employers and/or clients. The accounting profession also demands a high level of integrity because the financial data prepared by accountants is used by business managers to run their business, and, in public companies, such accounting data is used by potential investors to decide whether or not to invest in the business.

Accounting Degree Courses: Most accounting positions require that the applicant have an accounting degree. Accounting degree schools typically train students on the fundamentals of business economics, auditing, ERP systems, general ledger and accounting systems, bookkeeping, and more. While earning your accounting degree you will also develop substantial computer skills and the ability to work with spreadsheets, databases, and financial analysis packages.

Employment in Accounting: Most accounting professionals work in private industry or in government. The next largest segment is that of accounting firms, where about 25% of accountants find employment. About 12% of all accountants offer accounting services on a freelance basis.