How to Become an Accountant
Keeping track of a business’ or individual’s finances can be a full-time responsibility. That is why accountants are essential to so many different industries. If you are interested in a career in accounting, then you will want to learn what steps you will need to take to enter this field.
Earn Your Accounting Degree
Finding a great accounting degree program is important if you want to gain the skills necessary to become an accountant. A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting degree program should teach you a variety of topics you will need to know to enter this field. These topics include budgeting, auditing standards, job order costing systems, financial statements preparation and more.
Compare Different Types of Accounting Careers
After earning an accounting degree, there are many different types of careers you can consider. Some of these include the following:
- Accountant
- Auditor
- Revenue Agent
- Financial Examiner
- Credit Analyst
- Tax Examiner and Collector
- Forensic Accounting
- Online Accounting
- Financial Accounting
It is a good idea to learn about all of these different career options to determine which ones are most appealing to you. Then, you can focus on finding the right job.
Find a Great Job and Consider Certification Exams
You will be qualified for many rewarding jobs after earning your accounting degree, so you can start looking and applying right away. If you are interested in continuing your education, then you might want to consider pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting. You might also be interested in taking certification exams, such as the CPA certification.
A CPA, certified public accountant, is an accountant who has passed the CPA exam. Not all accountants need to take the CPA examination, but taking one will give you more opportunities. While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. CPAs have a wide range of career options available, either in public or corporate accounting. Individuals with the CPA designation are legally allowed to do different things that a non-certified accountant is unable to do such as auditing or taxation services.
Now that you know the basic steps of becoming an accountant, you can learn more about earning your accounting degree from Grand Canyon University. Our Business Degree and Management degree programs include a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting, as well as a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting for students who want to continue their academic journey. Click the Request More Information button at the top of this page to learn more.