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How to Get into Accounting

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Recently we discussed what you can do with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Accounting, and today we’ll talk about how to launch a career in this exciting field. 

This post will cover whether or not accounting is a good industry to specialize in, what accountants do every day, and how to significantly increase your chances of successfully breaking into the industry. 

We’ll also provide you with an overview of what to expect from a career in accounting so you can make an informed decision on whether or not this is the right career for you. 

After you’ve learned everything you need to know about launching a successful career in Accounting, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting programs. 

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

 

Is Accounting a Good Career Field?

There are three excellent reasons to think about becoming an accounting professional:

  1. Accountants play an extremely important role in essentially every company regardless of which industry they are in, as they are responsible for a variety of tasks associated with the financial management and governance of the company. 
  2. Accounting jobs offer excellent compensation, including very high annual salaries, especially in large and successful companies. 
  3. The need for accountants is growing, with the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating that the demand for accountants and auditors will grow 7% annually between 2020 and 2030.

If you’re thinking about a career as an accountant and wondering whether or not this is a good career to specialize in, the answer is definitely yes.

 

What Do Accounting Professionals Actually Do?

Accountants are in charge of monitoring the financial health of the company, performing critical tasks like budgeting, journal entries, creation of financial reports, and ensuring the company is in good financial standing. 

Generally speaking, it is an accountant’s job to compile financial reports and ensure taxes are paid on time. Still, they may also be tasked with providing ideas for strategic investments and analyzing the success or failure of past investments.  

These professionals work in various settings as accountants are a necessity in virtually every industry. From healthcare to manufacturing to technology companies, accountants are required to oversee the financial side of a company. However, no matter what industry an accountant works in they tend to share a number of key responsibilities.

Typically, accountants are in charge of tasks like:

  • Preparing financial reports for management and outside investors.
  • Creating budgets for various departments.
  • Ensuring taxes are paid in full and on time.
  • Confirming financial compliance is met at all times.
  • Conducting internal audits to verify the accuracy of accounting records or reports.
  • Developing and implementing sound accounting principles.

As you can see, accountants are responsible for a wide variety of tasks and play an absolutely critical role in the success of a company. Some of their tasks also cross over into other disciplines such as operations or marketing, as an accountant must oversee the costs associated with other departments, and because of this, you can think of an accountant as having to wear many hats. 

This is due to the fact that accountants frequently need to be able to see the larger business picture, so they can understand how everything fits together to ensure the business is running effectively and efficiently. 

 

What Skills Do Accountants Need?

Here are some of the specific skills you should consider developing before embarking on a career in accounting:

  • Communication Skills – Accountants must be able to clearly articulate complex financial reports to executives and external stakeholders.
     
  • Data Analysis Skills – Accountants must learn to use advanced technology to predict and achieve outcomes.
     
  • Analytical Skills – To make recommendations to management you must be able to analyze financial reports.
     
  • Attention to Detail – Accountants must have strong attention to detail in order to keep track of and organize large amounts of financial data. 
     
  • Critical Thinking Skills – As an accountant, you must be able to consider a problem from different viewpoints and apply relevant techniques to formulate innovative solutions to complex problems. 
     
  • Time Management – Accountants often have multiple projects running at any given time, you’ll need strong time management skills to succeed in the field.

When working as an accountant, you may also have the opportunity to specialize in various areas, like financial accounting, forensic accounting, or managerial accounting.

If your interests lie on the operational side of the company, then you might want to concentrate on managerial accounting to better understand how financial decisions are made to improve the profitability of the organization. 

If you want to hone your skills in more specific areas within the general accounting profession, you might also want to consider studying some other areas of business that are important to this career, like:

  • Operations Management
  • Finance
  • Business Strategy
  • Business Leadership

No matter which type of accounting you choose to do, one thing to keep in mind is that it might be difficult to achieve success in this field without first developing a strong understanding of the basic accounting principles.

While this is a fantastic career path with numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, you may have trouble getting a job or maintaining a successful career trajectory without first completing a related degree program. 

 

Do I Need a Degree to Get Into Accounting?

In short, most likely. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, candidates for jobs in accounting typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field like accounting or finance; master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers as well. 

If you decide to pursue a career in accounting, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting would be the perfect way to enter the industry, and if you are looking to get one of the better jobs or a role in management or leadership, then you should consider completing a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting.   

No matter what your long-term career goals might be, the best way to start a career in the industry is to first develop a detailed understanding of the fundamentals of accounting, and getting a degree is the best way to do that.

Completing your degree is the best way to develop the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities required to succeed in the industry, and it’s also the best way to signal that you are qualified and prepared to provide real-world value to any organization from your first day on the job. 

 

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting?

Once you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a variety of interesting, challenging, and exciting roles in the accounting industry, including jobs like:

These are just a few of the many roles that you can pursue with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

In reality, earning your bachelor’s degree will make you eligible for countless jobs in a variety of different industries.

 

What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Accounting?

The short answer: all sorts of things!

Completing a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting will make you eligible for a wide variety of jobs in the public and private sectors, including positions like:

Again, these are just a few examples of the types of jobs you could get after earning an accredited master’s degree in the field. 

The reality is that after a master’s degree, you’ll have the opportunity to explore many different career paths in an industry that is seeing excellent growth. 

 

What Else Can I Do To Increase My Odds of Success?

Getting your degree is definitely the best thing you can do to establish a career in accounting, but there are other things you can do to improve your knowledge, skills, and especially your resume.

To begin, make sure you’ve worked on developing some of the most essential skills for accountants, including both hard and soft skills needed for this challenging industry. 

Hard skills are those that can be easily measured and quantified, such as preparing and interpreting financial statements or experience using accounting software. 

For this field, hard skills include things like:

  • Developing efficient financial reporting methods.
  • Implementing accounting controls and procedures.
  • Auditing tax payments.
  • Forecasting budgets.

Soft skills are more difficult to quantify, but no less important, and include more general skills such as the ability to communicate with team members, or effectively manage your time.

Here are some of the most important soft skills for accountants:

  • Critical thinking.
  • Leadership skills.
  • Project management skills.
  • Written and oral communication skills.
  • Problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to delegate tasks.
  • Ability to work under tight deadlines.

As you can see, the skills required for a successful career in accounting are quite diverse, but with proper education and training, you’ll be on your way to a rewarding and successful career in this growing industry. 

One other thing you may want to consider doing before attempting to break into the industry, or when trying to advance your career, is completing relevant certification programs.

Certain certifications can help show employers that you have the specific skills and abilities needed for certain positions in the field, and there are a variety of certifications that you might want to consider completing here.

According to Indeed.com, the most important certifications for people working in accounting include:

  1. Certified Professional Bookkeeper 
  2. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  3. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  4. Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  5. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  6. Chartered General Accountant
  7. Chartered Global Management Accountant 
  8. Chartered Management Accountant 
  9. Chartered Professional Accountant
  10. Computerized Accounting Certification
  11. Fixed Asset Accounting Software Certification
  12. Certified Payroll Manager

Keep in mind that these certificates are not essential to starting or advancing a career, but they could be valuable for enhancing your skills, abilities, and resume, especially for certain positions.

 

Should I Get My Degree in Accounting Online?

Yes, you should definitely consider getting your accounting degree online.

Online programs offer numerous benefits, including allowing you to learn from anywhere with no need to relocate or commute, and many online programs offer the same high-quality education as traditional in-person schools.

CSU Global’s online programs offer maximum flexibility since they were designed to be completed online from the ground up. To make our programs as convenient as possible, we offer several excellent benefits, including:

  • No set times or locations for classes.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated, eight-week courses.

Thanks to these benefits, studying online with us could make it much easier to juggle your studies with existing work and family responsibilities.

If you’re looking to get your degree, but you’ve already got a busy schedule, then you should definitely think about studying online at CSU Global.

 

Why Should I Choose to Study Accounting at CSU Global?

Our 100% online Degrees in Accounting are both regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and designed to provide you with the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities you need to become a successful accounting professional.

Both our Bachelor’s and Master’s programs were designed to be completed entirely online and they provide far more freedom than traditional, in-person programs.

Each program also holds excellent rankings from third-party organizations, and our alumni report fantastic results from the job market as well.
 

Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Accounting Program

Our Bachelor’s Program in Accounting holds several excellent rankings and acknowledgments, including:

Reasons to Choose our M.S. in Professional Accounting Program

Our Master’s Program in Accounting also holds several excellent rankings, including:

  • A #5 ranking on Best Online Master’s in Accounting from Online Schools Report.
  • A #13 ranking on Best Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs of 2022 from Intelligent.

Furthermore, you can count on your degree earning the recognition you deserve, as CSU Global itself is widely regarded as an industry leader in higher education, having recently won several important rankings, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Finally, we offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee to ensure that your affordable tuition rate won’t increase for as long as you remain enrolled as a student, which protects you from the rate hikes that are common at other schools.

To get additional details about our fully-accredited online Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Accounting, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now