If working with financial records and crunching numbers is something you excel at, then a career in accounting could be right up your alley. Plus, with a range of diverse career opportunities in the field, you can explore an area of specialty that best suits you. Whether you want to get certified as a CPA or solve mysteries in forensic accounting, there are plenty of career paths from which to choose.
Have you ever wondered, “What degree do you need to be an accountant?” or, “How much does an accountant make with a bachelor’s degree?” Read on as we address such questions and even more.
Is an Accounting Degree Worth It? 7 Ways an Accounting Degree Pays Off
What degree do you need to be an accountant? This can vary depending on the specific job title you’re seeking, but most entry-level accounting jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting. So, is an accounting degree worth it? Ultimately, only you can answer this question for yourself—but if you’re genuinely interested in a career in accounting, there are many ways in which having a degree can pay off.
1. Diverse Career Opportunities
What can you do with an accounting degree? There are numerous career paths to consider, each with its own distinct roles and responsibilities. Professionals can truly choose a path that aligns with their passions and professional goals, with some common types and examples of accounting job titles listed below.
- Public Accounting: auditor, consultant, tax advisor
- Corporate Accounting: financial accountant, internal auditor, management accountant
- Government Accounting: budget analyst, government accountant, revenue agent
- Nonprofit Accounting: fund accountant, grant accountant, nonprofit accountant
- Forensic Accounting: forensic accountant, fraud examiner, litigation support specialist
- Environmental Accounting: environmental accountant, sustainability accountant
- International Accounting: international accountant, transfer pricing specialist
2. High Earning Potential
How much does an accountant make with a bachelor’s degree? In addition to the variety of jobs available in accounting, accountants enjoy relatively high earning potential compared to other fields. However, it is worth noting that earning potential can vary based on a number of factors, such as location, specialization, certification, and years of experience.
Entry-Level Accounting Positions
Common entry-level roles in accounting include staff accountant, junior auditor, and tax associate. These positions allow new graduates to gain foundational experience and build a strong base for their careers.
Mid-Level Accounting Positions
With five to 10 years of experience, accountants often advance to mid-level roles such as senior accountant, financial analyst, and internal auditor. At this stage, professionals typically take on more responsibilities and may begin to specialize in specific areas of accounting.
Senior-Level Accounting Positions
Senior-level accountants, with 10 to 20 years of experience, often hold leadership positions like accounting manager, controller, or senior auditor. These roles involve overseeing teams, managing larger projects, and driving organizational financial strategies.
Executive-Level Accounting Positions
Accountants who reach executive roles, such as chief financial officer, vice president of finance, or corporate controller, are responsible for the financial health and strategic planning of entire organizations. These roles represent the pinnacle of a successful accounting career, with significant leadership and decision-making responsibilities.
3. Job Security and Stability
Aside from high earning potential, accountants also enjoy a fair amount of job security and overall stability in their work. Even during economic downturns, businesses and nonprofits (in addition to government agencies) continue turning to accounting professionals to help manage their finances and ensure regulatory compliance.
4. Professional Growth and Advancement
No matter where your interests lie, there’s a good chance you’ll have plenty of opportunity for professional development and growth in your field. Many accountants, for example, will proceed to pursue professional certifications (such as a CPA, CMA, or CIA) to boost their credentials and stand out from other job applicants.
Some accountants with bachelor’s degrees may also go on to obtain a Master of Business in Accounting (MBA), which can further open the doors of opportunity.
5. Transferable Skills
An accounting degree program can help students build core skills that are essential in this line of work, ranging from analytical and problem-solving skills to addition to detail and proficiency in accounting and financial software programs. These skills are invaluable in the sense that they can be highly transferable to various roles within the accounting field (and even across different industries).
Technical Skills
Students in an accounting degree program will have the opportunity to learn how to understand financial statements as well as budgeting and financial forecasting.
Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
The right accounting degree program should also teach students how to analyze financial data and identify trends, even when working with large amounts of data at one time. Likewise, students learn key problem-solving and strategic-planning skills that can be applied to their everyday work in the field.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Although some might view accounting as a reclusive job, in reality, this work often requires ongoing communication with clients and other team members. With this in mind, accountants need to have strong written and verbal communication skills as well as the ability to build professional relationships with both clients and stakeholders.
6. Opportunities for Specialization
Because the realm of accounting is so broad, there are ample opportunities to explore specific areas that may interest you. For instance, accountants can pursue specialties like forensic accounting, environmental accounting, international accounting, and information systems auditing. In turn, these specializations allow accounting professionals to focus on their unique interests while becoming experts in niche areas of the field.
7. Impact on Business Decisions
Finally, working in accounting allows you to play a crucial role in business strategy by providing valuable insights into your clients’ financial performance. Additionally, your work will involve other important tasks like identifying cost-saving opportunities, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and maintaining industry compliance standards. All of these responsibilities mean you can have a real impact on business decisions with your everyday work, which can be highly rewarding.
3 Advantages of an Online Accounting Degree at Baker College
There’s much you can do with an accounting degree—but at the end of the day, choosing the right accounting degree online program can make all the difference in your learning outcomes and future career prospects. At Baker College, we take great pride in our online accounting degree program and all we have to offer our students.
Flexibility and Accessibility
Our bachelor’s in accounting program is offered 100% online, giving students the flexibility and accessibility they need to balance their education with their ongoing personal commitments. Meanwhile, because course materials and resources can be accessed from anywhere, this makes it possible for students to partake in our program from wherever they are (with a reliable internet connection).
The flexibility of our accounting program also means that students can study at their own pace, making it easier to balance other commitments (such as work and family life) with academics.
Comprehensive Curriculum
Our online accounting degree curriculum is designed with the current state and future trends of the accounting field in mind. We’re always looking ahead to ensure that what we’re teaching in our accounting program is in line with industry trends—adding specialized courses and electives as needed. Examples of courses students take in our online accounting program include:
- Auditing and Assurance I
- Cost Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
Our online bachelor’s degree in accounting also includes two 120-hour work experiences in the field, empowering students to gain valuable hands-on experience before graduation.
Supportive Learning Environment
At Baker College, we know that students are more likely to succeed when they feel valued and supported through every step of their learning experience. That’s why our faculty members, instructors, and professors strive to be as accessible as possible. In addition, we’re proud to offer a wide range of student support services and special resources available for our online students.
Clearly, you stand to gain a lot from obtaining your accounting degree—and Baker College has a flexible, comprehensive, and supportive program to help you get started. Get in touch today to learn more about our accounting degree online, or feel free to begin your application for enrollment.