Description: The accounting major educates students to begin, and continue to develop, careers as professional accountants. The program of study provides both entry-level competence to make sound independent judgments, and a foundation for career development. Students are prepared for a wide range of professional careers in industry, finance, government and other not-for-profit organizations. The State of South Carolina requires specific coursework to qualify to take the CPA exam. Upstate students planning to sit for the CPA, take at least 24 semester hours of accounting (225,226,331,332,333,335,433,435 or 437) which covers financial accounting (225,331,332), managerial accounting (226,333), taxation (335) and auditing (435). Students planning to sit for the CPA must also have at least 24 semester hours of business courses which may include macro and micro economics (SECO 221 and 222), finance (363), business law (347), management (290, 371, 372 and 478), and marketing (350). To receive the CPA license, the student must have completed 150 university credit hours in accounting and business courses. Many students choose a masters degree for the additional credit hours.
| Skills/Abilities: | |
Analytical skills
Communication
Ability to synthesize
Abstract thinking
Computer knowledge
Logical problem solving
Mathematics
Motivation/initiative/drive
Writing | Objectivity
Legal knowledge
Decision making
Information handling
Numeric computation
Money Management
Organizing
Interpersonal skills
|
Typical Work Activities:
Design systems to gather financial and related information
Accumulate and summarize information
Analyze and interpret data
Conduct examinations of financial statements
Compile and review financial information
Prepare tax returns and supporting documentation
Devise a reporting system for better control and decision-making
Determine the financial effects of projected management actions aimed at achieving organization objectives
| Occupational Opportunities: | |
Actuary
Auditor
Bank Examiner
Benefits Administrator
Budgetary Control Analyst
Certified Public Accountant
Chief Financial Officer
Claims Adjuster
Consumer Credit Officer
Controller Cost Accountant
Credit & Collection Specialist
Inventory Control
Governmental Accountant | FBI or CIA Agent
RS Investigator
Loan Administrator
Management Consultant
Managerial Accountant
Personal Financial Planner
Professor
Public Accountant
Securities Broker
Systems Analyst
Tax Specialist
Treasurer
Trust Accountant
Underwriter |
Possible Employment Settings:
Federal, state and local government agencies
Banks/financial institutions
Industry
The Big 5 Accounting firms
Consulting firms
Non-Profit organizations
Salary Information:
www.focuscareer.comwww.salary.comwww.salaryexpert.comAccording to the Spring 2005 Salary Survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the average salary offer for Accounting majors is: $43,809.
Career Services Resources:
Careers in Focus: Financial Services, by Ferguson Publishing, 2000
Great Jobs for Accounting Majors, Jan Goldberg, 1998
Job Opportunities for Business Majors, 1998
Careers in Focus: Business, by Ferguson Publishing, 2000Careers in Business, by Lila B. Stair, 1998
What Can You Do With A Major In Business?, 2005
GCIS and Focus programs