Online Accounting Degree Career Options
Are you considering a career in accounting or auditing? If so, have you learned about the job outlook for this career for the future? You might want to learn this information before you pursue a degree in accounting.The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics provides up-to-date information about accounting and auditing careers nationwide. You’ll learn that most jobs in this field require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, and that opportunities are best for those students who seek a master’s degree and who obtain certification or licensure and who have proficient knowledge of accounting and auditing computer software.
In most cases, accountants and auditors help to ensure that businesses and nonprofit organizations are run efficiently, that public records kept accurately, and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants also analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and government. Many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services.
You might find work as a public accountant for corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations or individuals. You could specialize as a management accountant, or cost, managerial, industrial, corporate, or private accountants, as you record and analyze the financial information for companies. You also can work as a government accountant and auditor, an internal auditor or as a personal advisor. Many accountants who can turn a nice phrase may offer services as a business writer for financial magazines or Web sites.
Many accountants and auditors work in office settings, but many corporations may allow some accountants to work at home or may travel to perform audits at various locations. Self-employed accountants and auditors often work longer hours, and tax specialists often work long hours during tax season.
Accountants and auditors held about 1.3 million jobs in 2006. They worked throughout private industry and government, but one fifth of wage and salary accountants worked for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms. Approximately 10 percent of accountants or auditors were self-employed. The growth outlook for this occupation is strong for the period between 2006 and 2016, as stricter accounting and auditing regulations, along with an expanding economy, demand more growth in this area.
Professional certification is even more important following many accounting scandals to ensure that accountants’ credentials and sound knowledge of ethics. Regardless of specialty, accountants and auditors who have earned professional recognition through certification or licensure should have the best job prospects. Applicants who have obtained a master’s degree in accounting or business administration with a concentration in accounting also will have an advantage.
With growth expected to outperform many other professions, the chances of obtaining a job after you obtain your accounting degree are strong. However, as with any other profession, experience in the field also is vital for job success in the future. But, no matter how much experience you might obtain, the degree and your certification are your tickets to a bright future as an accountant or auditor.
