Press Release
Accounting and finance degrees open doors to successful careers
Friday, July 06, 2012
Going the route of accounting and finance could be a successful career move.
Accountants may be perceived as robotic, number-crunching machines in the movies, but the reality is that it is a fulfilling, lucrative career choice, many recent college graduates say.
According to the Sacramento Bee, 27-year-old Grayson Moyse has been working at one of the top accounting firms in the country, Marcias Gini & O'Connell, for a year now, and he says the decision to pursue a career in accounting in finance has been a smart one.
"When I was in college, I didn't think it would be as people-oriented as it is. It's not being on a computer in a cubicle all day," said Moyse, who switched from a biology major to accounting. "What's great about accounting is there are a bunch of ways you can tailor it to accommodate what you want to do."
Moyse added that an accounting education can open the doors to several careers, including auditor, bank examiner, analyst and chief financial officer. The fact that accounting and finance staffing is picking up precipitously around the country is also influencing many to find a career in the world of numbers, according to the media outlet.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting is one of the best sectors for hiring at present, and jobs are expected to grow 15.7 percent through 2020. So far this year, the median salary for accountants has hit $61,690, the statistics show.
To help further separate current accounting jobs with those of decades past, University of California, Davis has developed new programs and masters' degrees.
"Accounting is way beyond the Dark Ages of the green eyeshade," said Will Snyder, executive director of UC Davis' new accounting program. "You have to be a dynamic person, a global thinker… Accounting can be very creative and a good way to make a difference."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who go into accounting and financing positions can expect to prepare and examine financial records, and ensure those records are accurate and taxes are paid promptly.
As global business place becomes more connected, there will be an even greater demand for accounting expertise and services associated with international trade and global mergers and acquisitions, which will also drive demand higher for such workers.