
If you were a teacher, for example, you’ll still have opportunities to explain accounting concepts to people you work with as an accountant.

Maybe the best thing about switching from another career into accounting is that you still bring all of that experience with you into the new accounting role. He found accounting, and the flexible, no-prerequisite online format of the UNC Master of Accounting Program. Listen to Mark Loyd, a Charlotte-area high school teacher, needed to switch careers to put himself on a path lined with growth opportunities. And accountants with an entrepreneurial bent often find success starting their own firms or working at a start-up. Many accountants find fulfilling careers doing auditing, tax or consulting work for public accounting firms, jobs that require plenty of teamwork and often bring opportunities for travel. Others work in nonprofits or for government agencies, helping an organization fulfill an important societal mission. Some accountants become top corporate executives, including chief financial officers and even CEOs. They help protect against fraud, measure the impact of corporate environmental initiatives, and find ways to reduce wasteful spending.Īn accounting degree prepares you for many career paths. Accountants also are the guardians of financial accuracy across the economy. Accountants provide fiscal insight, which, in turn, helps companies know when to launch new products, move into new markets, or avoid money-losing ventures.

While crunching the numbers and analyzing financial data is an essential part of accounting, it also requires problem solving, creativity and strong communication skills.Īccountants help organizations make better decisions - and help society do better.

If you think of accountants as people who spend their days bent over adding machines or manipulating spreadsheets, it’s time for an update. Strong employment and high pay are great, but they’re not the best things about accounting careers. Many accountants, especially those with CPAs and advanced degrees, can earn six-figure salaries, sometimes after just a few years of work experience. For example, the average forensic accountant or accounting manager earns about $90,000 per year. The median pay for accountants is nearly $70,000 per year, according to the BLS, but more qualified accountants can make significantly more. The pay is great.Īlong with higher demand comes strong compensation and benefits. Accountants, and those with deep accounting skills and knowledge, are the professionals who can help organizations of all types successfully navigate this change and complexity. Changing regulations and tax laws in the US and around the world are creating a more complex economy. That’s because accounting provides the financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills essential in the 21st century economy. A graduate accounting degree is great preparation for jobs in finance, business forecasting, business analytics, and more. And, unemployment rates for accountants are significantly lower than the overall unemployment rates - there are plenty of jobs out there.Īnd it’s not just accounting jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that the number of accountants will grow 10% from 2016 to 2026. There are a lot of accounting jobs.Įvery organization - from government agencies and nonprofits to small businesses and multinational corporations - needs accountants. Something with better job prospects, more opportunities for advancement, and enough potential to keep you satisfied for decades.Īccounting might be the new career you’re seeking.

Whatever the reason, you’ve decided it’s time to switch to a new career.
