A degree in
accounting provides students with a strong foundation in financial, tax and
cost accounting concepts. Students are encouraged to use critical and analytical thinking to make rational decisions, solve
problems and understand the ethical implications involved in reporting and
using financial and nonfinancial information.
Graduates can
pursue careers in one of the four major fields of accounting: public
accounting, management accounting, government accounting and internal audit. Employment
can be found in public accounting firms, private industry, nonprofit
organizations, government agencies and educational institutions. Some graduates
open their own firms and are self employed.
Many students
continue their education in graduate school, and most obtain certification to advance
their career, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant. In addition to
passing all four parts of the Uniform CPA Examination, most states require
candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework and have two years
of professional experience.
Other potential
certifications include Certified Management Account, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified
Internal Auditor, Certified Financial Services Auditor, Certified Information
Systems Auditor, Certified Information Technology Professional and Personal
Financial Specialist. These certifications also have requirements in addition
to the bachelor’s degree in accounting.
In the Workforce
Public accounting
Public
accountants provide a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax and consulting
services to their clients. Our graduates have held various positions in these
areas for all types of public accounting firms, including the Big Four firms. Positions
have included: audit associate, staff accountant, senior accountant, tax senior
accountant, supervising senior auditor, tax manager, forensic accountant and consultant.
Management accounting
Management
accountants support the management
functions of planning, directing and controlling operations within a company. They
work in various areas, including strategic planning, budgeting, performance
evaluation, cost accounting, asset management, financial analysis and reporting.
Positions our graduates have held include: corporate accountant, corporate
accounting manager, senior tax analyst, budget analyst, net asset accountant, international
audit supervisor, organizational development specialist, administration
director, assistant controller, controller, senior vice president, president, chief
administrative officer, chief financial officer and chief executive officer.
Government accounting
Government accountants perform audits of private businesses
and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or
taxation and maintain and examine the records of government agencies. Career
opportunities exist at the federal, state, and municipal levels. Federal agencies
include the Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Our graduates have held positions as accountants,
auditors and technical specialists for various government agencies.
Internal auditing
Internal auditors
perform compliance and operational audits within their organization. Their
responsibilities include examining and evaluating the organization’s internal
controls, financial and information systems, management procedures and the
efficiency and effectiveness of operations. Our graduates have held positions
as senior internal auditors and internal audit managers.
Other
Graduates have also pursued careers in related areas and
have held positions as portfolio
managers, insurance advisers, financial advisers, security analysts, fixed income
traders, financial planning and analysis directors and university
administrators.