What Can You Do With an Accounting Degree?

An accounting degree leads to jobs in public accounting (audit and tax), corporate accounting and finance, government, internal audit and forensic work. It is one of the few business majors tied to a defined profession, with the CPA license as the main credential. Demand for accountants is steady because every organization needs accurate numbers, and the skills transfer well into finance and management later.

What accountants really do all day

The stereotype is someone alone with a calculator. The real work is closer to investigation and explanation:

Checking whether financial records are accurate and complete.
Explaining what the numbers mean to managers who are not accountants.
Applying rules, tax law and standards to messy real situations.
Spotting what looks wrong and following it to the source.
Using spreadsheets, accounting software and increasingly data and automation tools.

Four directions out of school

Public accounting

Firms of every size hire new graduates into audit (reviewing clients’ financial statements) and tax (preparing returns and planning). It is demanding, with busy seasons, but it trains you fast and is the classic route to the CPA. Our how to become an accountant guide covers this path.

Corporate or industry accounting

Staff accountant: closing the books each month and preparing reports.
Cost or financial reporting accountant: tracking what things cost and how the company is doing.
Financial planning and analysis: budgeting and forecasting, a bridge into finance. See what you can do with a finance degree.

Government and nonprofit

Government agencies at every level hire accountants and auditors, as do nonprofits that must track grants and donations carefully.

Specialized work

Internal audit: testing a company’s own controls and processes.
Forensic accounting: investigating fraud and supporting legal cases, usually after experience in audit.
Advisory and consulting: systems, risk and transactions work for clients.

The CPA and other credentials

The CPA license is granted by each state and generally requires education beyond a typical bachelor’s degree, a multi-part exam and supervised work experience. Several states have recently added a route that accepts a bachelor’s plus additional experience, so check your state board of accountancy rather than relying on old advice. Other credentials cover management accounting, internal audit and federal tax representation. Some accountants later move toward advising individuals; see how to become a financial advisor.

How to stand out before graduation

Start early. Accounting internship recruiting often happens a year or more before the internship itself, so look into it as a sophomore.
Land an internship in audit, tax or corporate accounting; many full-time offers come from them.
Plan your credit hours with your advisor so you know how you will meet your state’s CPA education rule.
Get very good at spreadsheets and learn the basics of a data tool.
Join the accounting club and attend firm events; read LinkedIn for college students before you go.

Honest questions about the field

Will AI replace accountants? Automation is already taking over routine data entry and matching, and that will continue. Judgment, client relationships, investigation and explaining results are much harder to automate. Students who learn the tools now will be ahead; see choosing a major in the AI job market.

Is it boring? Some tasks are repetitive, especially early on. Many accountants find the problem-solving and the variety of clients more interesting than they expected, and the career moves quickly once you are licensed.

If you graduate without an offer

Apply to smaller firms, government agencies and companies’ accounting departments, not only the largest employers.
Look at staff accountant, accounts payable and receivable and tax associate roles as real starting points.
Keep moving toward the CPA exam; progress on it strengthens every application.
Follow a weekly plan from the senior-year job search.

For duties and outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Where a mentor helps

A mentor helps accounting students stay ahead of early recruiting, plan credit hours and study time for the CPA exam, prepare for interviews and stay accountable through a demanding first year. Mentors are not admissions counselors, credentialed career counselors or tax professionals. See mentoring for college students and career and education mentoring.

Common questions

Do I need to be a CPA to work in accounting?

No. Many accountants in corporate, government and nonprofit roles work without it. The CPA is required to sign audit opinions and opens more doors, especially in public accounting.

Is accounting a good major if I am not sure I want to be an accountant?

It can be. The skills transfer to finance, analysis, operations and management, and many business leaders started in accounting.

When should I start applying for accounting internships?

Earlier than most majors, often a year or more ahead. Ask your accounting department about recruiting events in your sophomore year.

Get started

Majoring in accounting and want help with recruiting timelines and the CPA plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

What Can You Do With an Accounting Degree? Jobs, CPA Paths and More