Accounting Education - Accounting Degree Programs & Training

An accounting education can offer you a solid foundation from which to enter a number of interesting and varied accountancy related roles. An accounting degree requires a methodical approach, attention to detail, and of course numeracy.

There are four main areas that a prospective accountant can train for: management accounting, public accounting, government accounting and internal auditing. Accountants are responsible for preparing financial reports including the collation and calculation of various figures, tax, analyses, and projections. These figures can be used internally within an organization, or they may be required public records of an organization's financial dealings.

Accounting Degree Courses

Accountants tend to specialize in a particular area of accountancy, although introductory accounting classes will generally cover most areas to allow students to get a better idea of what they might want to concentrate on at a later date. Courses may include instruction on finance, information systems, international business, economics, managerial accounting, forecasting, regression analysis, financial statements, financial reporting, tax law, mergers and acquisitions, compensation, forensic accounting and bankruptcy.

Accountant Duties

Your duties as an accountant will vary according to what type of accounting you decide to specialize in. As a certified public accountant, you might offer a range of services to companies and private individuals. You might advise on the benefits and disadvantages of various financial plans or investments. You could prepare financial reports such as personal tax returns or you might work for the IRS and check that people have filed on time and correctly. Your accounting education may even lead you to forensic accounting, where you would analyze documents to establish evidence of criminal activity such as tax avoidance.

Career prospects for people with an accounting education are expected to be pretty good according to the Bureau of Labor. This growth is based on the increased scrutiny of financial dealings, and changes in tax law and legislation.