Accounting Careers

Accounting at Angelo State

Accounting Career Information
Area	Employer	Information/Strategies
Public Accounting Auditing/assurance Services Tax Environmental Accounting Forensic/Investigative Accounting International Accounting Personal Financial Planning	Public Accounting Firms: Large, multinational Regional Local Sole practitioners	Public accounting firms hire candidates who meet the educational requirements for sitting for the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) exam: 150 hours of education including 24 hours of accounting, i.e. the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in accounting. State laws govern the practice of accountancy and specify the requirements to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. In most states, the State Board of Accountancy has a website that outlines those requirements.
Corporate Accounting Financial Management Financial Reporting Internal Auditing Cost Accounting Tax Planning Budget Analysis	Companies of all sizes, in all industries	Many managers in corporate settings obtain an MBA degree after several years of work experience.
Government Auditing Financial Reporting Financial Management Budget Analysis Research	Federal agencies and departments including: Federal Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service Department of Treasury General Accounting Office Office of Management and Budget Securities Exchange Commission State and local agencies	Complete an internship in a government agency. Become familiar with the government application process. Accounting is a “hot area” in government hiring and many opportunities exist in the public sector.
Education Teaching Researching Consulting	Universities and colleges	A Ph.D. in Accounting or a DBA, Doctorate in Business Administration, in accounting is generally required. Maintain a high g.p.a. and secure strong faculty recommendations for admittance into graduate school.
Non-Profit Accounting Internal Audit Financial Planning Budgeting Money Handling Record Keeping	Social service agencies and organizations Hospitals Public school systems Universities and colleges Religious organizations Libraries and museums Political parties Labor unions	Volunteer at non-profit organizations and build a network of contacts in the non-profit sector.

General Information and Strategies

Earn good grades. Grades are an indicator of technical competence in accounting and of a person’s work ethic.
Potential employers place a big emphasis on strong interpersonal skills. Demonstrate these skills by having a well-rounded background.
Actively participate in student organizations to develop leadership skills.
Develop excellent computer skills.
Learn to work well within a team.
Develop strong communication skills.
Gain work experience and learn information about careers through internships. Consider completing internships in the spring semester, not just summer term.
Join Beta Alpha Psi, the honorary fraternity for accounting and finance information professionals, to gain knowledge about the accounting profession.
Certifications available through the Institute of Internal Auditors or the Institute of Management Accountants may increase job marketability in some areas of accounting.
Accounting students should develop their analytical, critical-thinking and problem solving skills. Develop high ethical standards.
Accuracy and attention to detail are important traits for accountants.
Accounting is a versatile degree. Students who graduate with a major in accounting may find jobs in many areas of business including: banking, financial planning, sales, production management, client management, product development, procurement, and general management

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