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Business and organizations across a variety of industries rely on accountants to help ensure financial health and compliance. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting. This degree program can prepare students with relevant skills such as financial and business management, budgeting, forecasting, business economics, data and financial analysis, and more.

A bachelor’s degree in accounting is an undergraduate program that helps equip students with fundamental financial knowledge and skills to manage and analyze the finances of an individual or organization. This degree is typically an educational requirement to get hired as a professional accountant.

An accounting degree program can prepare candidates with skills like:

• How to ensure accurate financial records for payroll
• How to manage bank reconciliations and accounts receivable to stay compliant
• How to get and stay informed about the financial health of an account

Accounting professionals can apply these skills to help individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

This profession also offers a few different career paths. Candidates may choose to specialize in public accounting, management accounting (corporate accounting), government accounting, internal auditing or even IT auditing.

For example, public accountants provide auditing and tax services to corporations, individuals and nonprofits, while management accountants analyze finances within businesses to inform strategic decisions.

Some accountants focus on forensic accounting, where they collaborate with law enforcement to investigate financial fraud, embezzlement, contract disputes and other crimes and irregularities.

Important qualities for accountants include:

●      Critical thinking and analysis: Accountants must have the ability to evaluate and analyze financial data and identify discrepancies or issues.

●      Clear and effective communication: Accountants must listen to the concerns of stakeholders, clients or managers and explain findings clearly in meetings or reports.

●      An eye for detail: Keen attention to minutiae is necessary when examining financial documents and ensuring accuracy.

●      Proficiency in math: Being proficient in math (e.g., statistics or calculus) helps with analyzing figures and performing calculations.

●      Strong organizational skills: Accountants often handle numerous documents and tasks for various clients, which requires the ability to stay organized.

While degree programs might differ from one college to the next, a typical accounting program covers basic accounting principles as well as related business topics. Depending on where students enroll, they may take courses or specialize in:

• Principles of accounting: These courses may focus on risk management; forecasting; budgeting; accounts payable and receivable; reconciliations and adjustments; and more.
• Corporate taxation: These courses might focus on analyzing the differences in tax characteristics across entity types, the implications of deferred taxation, and laws and policies of federal corporate taxation.
• Contemporary auditing: Students may learn liability assessment, internal auditing, financial auditing, external auditing, how to audit working papers and more.

An undergraduate degree for accounting can take up to four years to complete if studying full time. Some colleges offer accelerated tracks or allow transfer credits (from an associate degree or prior coursework), which can potentially shorten the time to graduation.

Working adults or parents may appreciate the flexibility online accounting programs afford. For example, online learners often have the ability to log in and study at any time of day, which helps facilitate the balance between coursework and a job or family responsibilities. Additionally, an online bachelor’s degree in accounting may offer start dates year-round rather than at the start of a semester, which can enhance the convenience of going to school.

In some cases, employers might hire candidates for a junior accounting role if they have an associate degree or experience in bookkeeping or auditing. Earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting, however, prepares aspiring professionals with skills to better pursue an entry-level position as a public accountant, cost accountant, general accountant, tax examiner or examining officer.

Some accountants may eventually become supervisors, managers or partners. Some move into executive roles in management accounting or internal auditing for private companies. Others may start their own accounting practice.

Management accountants typically start as junior internal auditors, cost accountants or trainees in various accounting roles. With experience, they may move into higher roles.

Accounting professionals may also choose to transition between fields. For example, public accountants may shift to management accounting or internal auditing, while management accountants and internal auditors may move between those two areas.

According to BLS, accountants held about in 2023. About 23% worked for accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation services.

Accountants also held jobs with finance and insurance firms (8%), government (8%) and management companies (6%), and 4% were self-employed.

While many accountants work in offices, some have the option to work remotely. They often collaborate in teams, though certain tasks may be performed independently. In some cases, they travel to client locations to conduct their work. They also typically work full-time schedules and tend to work more hours during tax season or quarterly audits.

Being an accountant may also require long hours of sitting and some driving, possibly to commute or meet with clients.

As of May 2024, accountants earned , with a median wage of $81,680, according to BLS.

is projected to grow 6%, an average of 130,800 job openings each year from 2023 to 2033, according to BLS.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of ������Ƶ. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. ������Ƶ does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2023-2033 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ������Ƶ students or graduates.

When selecting an accounting program, prospective students should look for more than just coursework. A bachelor’s degree in accounting should come with a commitment to integrity, student development and outcomes-based quality. Before enrolling in an accounting college degree program, students should consider looking for the following characteristics:

• A clear and focused mission that aligns with the institution’s broader goals and specifically supports excellence in accounting education.
• Defined learning outcomes that promote a balanced mix of technical knowledge, ethical values and practical skills.
• Qualified and engaged faculty with the right mix of academic credentials and real-world experience in the accounting field.
• Up-to-date and rigorous curriculum that integrates theory, hands-on learning and current technologies used in accounting.
• Strong student support services, including access to academic advising, career planning and professional development resources.

Interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting? ������Ƶ offers a variety of online business degrees that help prepare students for this field, including:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting with an Associate of Arts Concentration in Business Fundamentals
• Graduate Accounting Certificate

To request more info about these degree programs, reach out to UOPX.

These degree programs prepare students with skills that can be used on the job in areas like managerial accounting, auditing, financial reporting, and accounting information systems. This program does not lead to any certification or licensure including Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).