High school graduation isn't that far away - as you're probably hyper-aware! And with guidance counselors, teachers, and parents breathing down your neck about your next move, you're probably feeling a lil' bit of heat. We want to take some of the pressure off by talking about one solid career move that you may actually like: accounting.
Now, hear us out.
Finance is actually a hot career move right now.
Like, really hot!
And we've got all the deets you need to decide if it's one you'd like.
In this article, we're going to talk about:
- Why an accounting career is a smart move
- What types of accounting jobs are out there
- How that accounting degree can really bring in the big bucks
- The absolute best places to go to school for accounting
Let's talk more about majoring in accounting and why it's a good idea.
Why you should choose accounting as your major
Here's why the accounting field is such an in-demand career choice:
- Choice of industries. The job market for accountants is on fire right now. Like, seriously, every business needs accounting. From Fortune 500s to small nonprofits, accounting career opportunities are everywhere you turn.
- Professional network.Accounting professionals look out for their own - from mentoring to professional advice, you'll always have people in your corner.
- Crazy earning potential. Looking to live that Gucci lifestyle? Look no further because a career in accounting can get you there.
- Career growth. Once you get that degree in accounting, the only way to go is up. You could take your CPA exam, go niche, or work your way up with a bank or accounting firm.
7 top accounting jobs
Once you get that degree, you have so many options! Here are just a few of the things you can do.
Auditor
Salary range: $47,970 - $128,970
This accounting role is responsible for inspecting a company's financial records and ensuring everything is on the up and up. As an auditor, you can work for a specific company or at one of the major accounting firms.
In auditing, you're responsible for:
- Preparing audit reports
- Making inquiries about loans, expenses, and financial statements
- Assisting in the case of a branch audit or investigation
- Reporting fraud
- Complying with auditing standards
Sound appealing? You'll need a bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration.
Bookkeeper
Salary range: $29,120 - $61,980
If you're unsure about the whole accounting thing, bookkeeping can be a great gig. It comes with less pressure than an accountant gig but involves a lot of the same respect and even some growth potential.
As a bookkeeper, you'll:
- Record financial transactions
- Post debits and credits
- Maintain and balance a company's ledgers
- Reconcile ledgers with bank statements
- Create invoices
- Manage payroll
Some companies may even have you file tax returns and contribute to business strategy.
Better yet? You don't need a degree or license to become a bookkeeper! Still, you can get a license through the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB).
Financial analyst
Salary range: $57,900 - $166,560
Want to help people and businesses make wise money moves? This may be just up your alley. Financial analysts work with banks, pension funds, and insurance companies to help people grow their profits.
A financial analyst job includes:
- Analyzing financial data
- Organizing financial data reports
- Analyzing and evaluating financial opportunities, such as investment opportunities, profit plans, financial statements, expenditures, depreciation, and more
- Overseeing a company's financial details, such as auditing, budgeting, taxes, consolidation, and more
- Providing advice and guidance on business investments and financial strategy
- Identifying trends in financial performance and making recommendations
Interested? You'll need a bachelor's degree in accounting or business to get in on this career.
Credit analyst
Salary range: $47,630 -$153,560
Credit analysts really get in the weeds of people's financial info to see if they're trustworthy enough for a loan or credit increase.
Credit analyst duties include:
- Gathering financial data for loan applicants to evaluate risk
- Collaborating with other financial experts to approve or deny loans
- Making recommendations for whether to increase, adjust, extend, or close lines of credit
- Analyzing risk with the help of regional, industry-specific, environmental, or other financial data
- Preparing and presenting credit reports
- Completing quality assurance reviews
- Gathering data to confirm the information and uncover fraud
This is a totally awesome gig for someone who's all about data analysis. But first, you'll need a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or mathematics.
Controller
Salary range: $77,040 - $208,000
If you're all about that boss life, controller might be the job title for you. Controllers run the entire financial operation of a company, from accounts payable to business strategy!
Controllers are responsible for:
- Overseeing internal control implementation
- Assisting with budget preparation
- Establishing and implementing consistent accounting policies, practices, and procedures
- Managing the transaction reporting process
If this sounds like you, you'll need a degree in accounting or finance and a CPA license. And that's not all. This is a top position, so you'll also need 10 to 15 years of accounting experience.
Forensic accountant
Salary range: $70,000 - $90,000
If you've got mad problem-solving skills and a little touch of Sherlock Holmes in you, forensic accounting may just be your calling. These crime solvers sift through financial data to find real criminal evidence - I mean, how cool is that?
Forensic accountant duties may include:
- Reviewing personal, retail, and corporate finances
- Tracing criminal activities, such as embezzlement, fraud, and kickbacks
- Collecting financial information related to civil and criminal disputes to use in litigation
- Investigating insurance claims to determine if fraud is present
- Giving court testimony of their findings
If this sounds like your kinda job, you'll need a bachelor's or master's degree in accounting or something related to it.
Compliance officer
Salary range: $38,950 - $117,500
No cap, there are a lot of regulations in the finance world - and companies pay compliance officers big bucks to stay on top of it.
Compliance officers are responsible for:
- Developing and implementing company-wide programs to ensure compliance
- Continual audit processes, practices, and documents to identify areas of weakness
- Evaluating business activities to assess compliance
- Drafting and revising company policies
If this sounds like you, secure that bag with a bachelor's degree in finance, criminal justice, or something in that ballpark.
Depending on your level of specialization, other great accounting careersinclude:
- Certified public accountant (CPA)
- Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
- Certified management accountant (CMA)
Is an accounting major worth it?
An accounting major is one of the best options, and it sets you up for a good career!
Facts.
I mean, look at all the great accounting jobs out there - but only if you put in the hard work to get that degree. We're talking an associate degree or bachelor's degree for most top-paying gigs (though you could go for a master's degree)!
How much do people with accounting jobs make?
As with most things in life, there's no straight answer here. Accounting graduates are guaranteed to make the bread - no question - but the level of bread ranges from basic to Gucci.
I mean, just take the average salaries for a full-time accountant in the United States. If you're in a state like North Dakota or Mississippi, you're looking at around $66,000. If you're in an area like NYC, though, you're looking at more like $101,000 - hits different, right?
Honestly, though, most places fall somewhere in between. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average U.S. accountant takes home around $77,250 - not too shabby!
What are the best schools for accounting?
Now that you see how a career path in accounting can help you live your best life, it's time to find a college that will get you there. Don't worry - the following three universities offer top-shelf degree programs and certifications.
- The University of Texas at Austin is where it's at for accounting! And you couldn't ask for a better city than Austin - music, food, it has it all!
- The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is all you want in a college. Not only will it help you slay your accounting degree goals, but it's also got all the small-city vibes you want in your college life.
- Indiana University has all the accounting coursework you could want - we're talking advanced accounting principles like managerial accounting and tax accounting that will set you up to live your best life!
Compare the best accounting colleges and universities with College Rover
Vibe check.
We know, planning out your major and career is a little high-key. But we're all about those job opportunities - whether you study accounting or not is up to you!
As you're looking at your college and career options, make College Rover a part of it! If there's one thing we know, it's colleges. And our search engine is ready to help you find and compare the best colleges with a solid, in-depth accounting program.
