What Can I Do with My Accounting Major?
Overview
The concentration in accounting includes courses in basic and intermediate accounting, and in specialized fields such as cost accounting, auditing, and taxation. The program provides education for those who intend to become certified public accountants as well as internal auditors, industrial accountants, or corporate or government managers. Graduates are prepared to continually make decisions based on accounting information and operate control systems using accounting principles. Furthermore, the field provides an excellent background for graduate study in business law, tax law and economics. Prospective accounting majors should note that most states are implementing a 150-hour credit requirement in order to be licensed as a certified public accountant.
Skills
The study of accounting allows for the development of a core set of skills sought after by employers in a wide range of occupational settings. A sample of representative skills and abilities follows.
Critical Thinking
- Understand the effects of financial statements on decision makers
- Analyze complex financial situations
- Advise management, set budgets, and manage assets
Communication
- Effective communication of complex analysis
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to briefly and precisely communicate ideas
Technical
- Excel
- Internet research
- Accounting information systems
Sample Internship Opportunities
- Accounting firms (e.g., Deloitte and Touche, Ernst & Young LLP, KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers)
- Banking (e.g., Goldman Sachs, World Bank Group, CITI, UBS, Barclays Capital)
- Consulting firms (e.g., Accenture, IBM)
- Corporate accounting Office (e.g., Tyson’s Galleria)
- Federal government (e.g., Central Intelligence Agency, Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Nonprofit organizations (e.g., Greenpeace, Red Cross)
- Public accountants Office (e.g., Clifton-Gunderson)
Where are Georgetown Accounting Majors Now?
- Staff auditor, audit manager
- Tax manager
- Management services
- Consultant
- Account executive financial accounting reporter
- Management accountant
- Tax accountant
- Internal auditor
- Controller financial planner
- Credit analyst
- Treasury operations analyst
- Treasurer
- Chief financial officer
Relevant Websites and Publications
Professional Organizations
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- American Accounting Association
- Association of Government Accountants
- Institute of Management Accountants
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
- The Institute of Internal Auditors
For information about career options, internship and full-time opportunities, contact the Career Education Center at One Leavey Center, (202) 687-3493.