Earn your accounting degree online, from accredited universities which offer associate, bachelor, and master degrees as well as accounting certificates for entry level accounting programs. (CPA) Courses are based on the standards from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Fundamentals of Bookkeeping program. Earn a degree in finance, financial planning, or financial management.
Job Highlights for Accounting and Auditors
Most accounting jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
Job seekers who obtain professional accounting recognition through certification or licensure, a master's degree, proficiency in accounting and auditing computer software, or specialized expertise will have an advantage in the job market.
Competition for accounts will remain keen for the most prestigious jobs at major accounting and business firms.
In the United States, there are three main classes of accountants: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). CPAs provide a wide range of services to the public, including auditing, accounting, litigation, tax, and financial advisory services. CIAs generally work in an auditing capacity for employers, while CMAs generally work for employers, but might also serve the public in a more limited manner than CPAs. CPAs are licensed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In the UK, Canada and Australia, the Chartered Accountant (CA) is the equivalent to the U.S. CPA.
Accounts and Auditors (CPA)
Accountants and auditors and (CPA's) Certified Public Accounts, help to ensure that the Nation's firms are run more efficiently, its public records kept more accurately, and its taxes paid properly and on time. They perform these vital accounting functions by offering an increasingly wide array of business and accounting services to their clients. These services include public accounts, management accountants, and government accounting, as well as internal auditing.
Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, who may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals.
Some specialize in forensic accounting, investigating and interpreting bankruptcies and other complex financial accounting transactions. Still other accountants audit clients financial statements and report to investors and authorities that the statements have been correctly prepared and reported.
Others are accounting consultants who offer advice in areas such as; compensation or employee healthcare benefits, the design of accounting and data-processing systems, and the selection of controls to safeguard assets.
Accountants also are increasingly assuming the role of a personal financial advisor. They not only provide clients with accounting and tax help, but also help them develop a personal budget, manage assets and investments, plan for retirement, and recognize and reduce exposure to risks. This role is a response to demands by clients for one trustworthy individual or firm to meet all of their financial needs.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors earn, on average, $56,680 a year (May 2004). Naturally, no educational program can guarantee a future salary or employment upon completion, but accredited degrees and certificates are typically required or preferred by employers hiring in this field.
Our online bachelor's degree program in accounting will help you develop the important technical, professional, and interpersonal skills you need to succeed in this fast-growing field. You may customize your academic program by selecting elective courses based on your professional goals and needs
Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Accounting
The MBA specialization in accounting will expand your knowledge in areas such as budget planning and control, audit and evaluation of controls, and the nature and function of accounting information in the decision-making process. This program will build the strategic perspective you need to interact effectively with executive management and strengthen your ability to succeed in middle and senior management positions. This program can be completed in two years.
Prepares you for entry-level positions in the accounting industry, including tax preparation firms and payroll departments. Courses cover accounting principles, including new tax laws, financial statements, balance sheets, asset management, inventory analysis, accounting software, and cost-volume-profit analysis. This emphasis area also covers accounting procedures related to managing and controlling business activities.
AAS in Business Administration / Accounting
If you want to begin a career in accounting, the online Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration/Accounting will give you the credentials you need to achieve your professional goals. While building a solid educational foundation, our program features a comprehensive study of accounting. Through an extensive and varied curriculum, you will learn to apply problem-solving skills and accounting principles in a business setting.
