Accountants analyze and audit financial reports, prepare tax
returns, and monitor information systems, etc.
Before you begin to look at the different types of opportunities
available to Accounting majors, you must look at yourself and ask
yourself a few basic questions:
What am I good at?
Understand your major strengths, skills and accomplishments
as they relate to this field.
Employers look for evidence of skills in:
- Information and communication systems
- Analysis
- Interpretation of facts
- Decision making
- Interpersonal skills
- Accuracy
- Independence
- Leadership
- Integrity
- Communication
What do I like to do?
Examine your interests. What kind of life style do you want
to lead? Examine your values...is money what you're after,
potential for advancement, challenging work?
If you are having trouble answering these questions, you are not
alone. Make an appointment an advisor in the Career Center. We want to help
you!
Positions
Once you know yourself, you are ready to decide where and how you
want to apply this knowledge.
A bachelor's degree in Accounting and the
appropriate skills and/or experience can lead to the following
positions:
Public Accounting
Tax
Benefits/Compensation
Budgets
Treasury
Auditing financial statements
Management consulting,
etc.
Private Accounting
Corporate accounting
Fraud auditing
Internal auditing
Financial analysis &
reporting
Planning and budgeting,
etc.
Self Employment
Tax preparation
Financial planning
Attestation services
Experience in the field, becoming a CPA
or completing an advanced degree could lead to certain positions
as:
- Partner in an Accounting
firm
- Comptroller
- Treasurer
- CFO
- Tax attorney
- Teaching,
colleges/universities
- Research
- Consultancy
Related occupations
Appraisers
Budget officers
Loan officers
Bank officers
Credit analyst
Financial analyst
Actuaries
Underwriters
FBI special agents
Securities sales, etc.
For information on graduate schools,
consult Peterson's..
Employment
Public Accounting Firms
Colleges/Universities
Insurance Companies
Non-Profit Organizations
Hospitals
Banks
Corporations
Government
Learn More
To help you decide which area to
pursue you must do in-depth research
into each area of specialization and/or industry you have an
interest in.
Accounting
Career and Job Resources on the Internet
Places to begin
Join the Career Center's COACH Program
The Occupational Outlook
Handbook
Talk to people in the field, talk
to professors, write to and/or join one of the following
associations:
National Association of
State Boards of Accountancy
150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37219 - 2417
(800) 272 - 3926
www.nasba.org
American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants
1211 Ave. of Americas New York, NY
10036 - 8775
(212) 596 - 6200
www.aicpa.org
American Accounting Association
5717 Bessie Drive Sarasota, FL 34233
- 2399
(941) 921 - 7747 http://accounting.rutgers.edu/raw/aaa
NYS Association of CPA Candidates
530 Fifth Ave., NY, NY
10036-5101
For additional lists of Associations
consult the Encyclopedia of Associations.
Trade Publications
Accounting Today
CPA Journal
Journal of Accountancy
Practical Accountant
Management Accountant