Your career:Why choose

Accountancy professionals are in huge demand around the world, so

there has never been a better time to launch your career. But why
choose accountancy? We’ve gathered together some of the most
popular reasons

Essential

Every organisation in the world shares a common factor. Their success is entirely
dependent on a sound approach to financial management. That makes accountancy as
essential to the health of organisations as medicine is to human health.

Diverse

It also makes accountancy one of the most diverse professions, with opportunities across all
sectors and industries, and in all parts of the world.

Dynamic

Accountancy offers exceptional job prospects. You can progress quickly to a position of
responsibility, and even work your way up to board level. It’s also an excellent foundation on
which to launch your own business, or springboard into another profession such as
corporate finance.

Satisfying

Accountancy isn’t just about numbers. It can employ a wide range of other skills such as
communications, teamwork, strategy, leadership and problem-solving. Choose a global
organisation and you could also benefit from some incredible travel opportunities.

Flexible

As one of the most flexible professions, accountancy can help you achieve the perfect work-
life balance. Part-time roles and career breaks are possible, and the global demand for
accountancy professionals also creates many self-employment opportunities.

Rewarding

Accountancy can be extremely rewarding. Senior roles often attract high value salaries and
benefits packages, with unlimited scope for progression.

Respected

You also benefit from being part of a prestigious profession that is respected and trusted by
organizations and communities.
7 Reasons You Should Choose Accounting
Students have longer now than any other time in history to answer the question, “What do you want to be
when you grow up?” Most colleges allow you to attend full-time for two years before declaring a major,
and many people decide to pursue a new or second career well into their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. If
you’re asking this question (or your family is asking for you), here are some good reasons to consider
a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a master’s degree in accounting.
1. Accounting is found in almost every industry in the world.

Image via Flickr by edinburghcityofprint

What do filmmakers, artists, sports organizations and figures, the FBI, zoos and veterinarians, restaurants,
tech companies, manufacturing, racing enterprises, book publishers, farms, hotels and resorts, and every
other business on earth have in common? They all need accountants. No matter what you’re passionate
about, or where on earth you’d like to live, you’ll be able to find work in accounting.
2. The demand for people who are good at things like math and statistics is
rising.
Remember in high school when the only friends you had, were the ones who wanted to cheat off your
math tests? In accounting, the nerds are the heroes. Accountants help keep the business solvent, protect
the company from the IRS and other auditors, and assure everyone gets a paycheck. Want to be the most
popular guy/gal on the block? Be the one who issues the annual bonuses.
3. Some accountants only do four months of work per year, but still take a
year’s salary.
CPAs who help businesses and individuals file their income taxes have brutal lives from January through
April. But after that, there’s little to be done at all. If you’re willing to work extremely hard for one-
quarter of the year, you can make a full year’s pay and spend the rest of the year pretending you’re
unemployed. Even full-time staff accountants usually have periods of little pressure.
4. Accounting is one of the fastest, easiest ways to get those coveted letters
added to your name.
Achieving a DDS or DMD in dental school takes about 6 years. An MD in medical school takes 7-9
years. Getting ESQ or JD attached through law school takes about 8 years. However, you can get CPA
attached to your moniker in just four years, and less in accelerated programs.

5. Accountants start out with a pretty decent starting salary.

The average accountant starts out at $53,300 per year, which is considerably higher than
the $45,327 average pay for all college graduates.
6. Some of your work can actually done on the golf course (or even on
somebody’s boat)
Depending on what industry you end up in, clients and bosses often prefer to talk with their
accountants away from the office. Some like the privacy and others just prefer to chat while wielding a
driver or helm. It’s quite common for accountants to be invited to fun places like these to mix a bit of
business with a healthy dose of pleasure.
7. The need for accountants isn’t going away anytime soon.
When tough times hit, companies start swinging axes at any jobs that aren’t necessary for survival. Not
only are accountants one of the most crucial jobs in any business, but the accountants are needed to help
decide who can go and who needs to stay. In fact, Salary.com lists accounting as the number one
recession-proof career.
Therefore, if you have a head for numbers, a heart for earning a good paycheck, and a will to live life on
your terms, accounting just might be perfect for you. Visit the UAB website to learn how you can earn an
accounting degree online while keeping your current position.

Why I Chose Accounting

June 2, 2015

During internship interviews, everyone is asked:  Why did you choose (insert major) as your
major? When I am asked this question, I use it as an opportunity to tell the employer about
myself. Deciding a major is just as big of a decision as deciding where to go to college. Some
students decide their major based on the college that they are or will be attending, while
other students decide the college based on the major that they would like to major in. I was
a student that knew I wanted to major in accounting and then decided to go to Saint
Joseph’s based on majoring in accounting. Saint Joseph’s is accredited by the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in both business and accounting. This is an honor
because there are only a select few that have both accreditations.
When deciding which college to go to each prospective college student has to balance
financial, social, and education aspects of the school. For me, the educational aspect was
weighted just a bit more than the others. I knew that I wanted to major in accounting before
going to college based on my past experiences and the opportunities that it can provide.
Based on my prior work experiences growing up, I knew I wanted a major that could help
me find a job that has a great deal of responsibility. Accountants have a great deal of
financial responsibility. They are relied upon to record the sales, purchases, and other
transactions accurately.
Before I attended Saint Joseph’s, I took three accounting classes in high school. It became
apparent to me that accounting is a core part of any business. A company cannot function
without an accountant keeping track of the trial balance and balance sheet. In effect of every
business needing an accountant, I knew that I can choose an industry as well as a business
that interests me. I liked the idea of not being stuck at a company that I did not enjoy
working for.
The skills that accounting majors learn are transferable to other jobs. I knew that
accounting could lead to other professions because a couple of my relatives majored in
accounting; however they received other job offers out of college and were never
accountants. This showed me that majoring in accounting would provide me skills that are
unique in the business world that can be applied to other jobs that are not only accounting
related.
There is no doubt accounting is a challenging major, however I enjoy being challenged. After
solving an accounting problem and having my balances equal, I feel a sense of satisfaction of
doing something correct. One thing is certain; do not think that you have to know what you
want to major in before going to college. You can find what interests you as you take your
general required classes during your first couple years at Saint Joseph’s.
Why Choose Accountancy as a
Career?
Are you considering a career in Accountancy but are feeling unsure about what this

could offer? If you are good with numbers and want an established career with the

opportunity to progress, Accountancy could be for you. Here are a few key reasons why

you might want to consider a career in this field.

Stability
A career in Accountancy can offer stability as there will always be a need for your skill set.
All companies, however big or small, will require services that offer accounting and financial
expertise, making this a stable field to work in.

Accounting is not a profession that can be easily outsourced and as long as people need
help with taxes and businesses still exist, there will always be a demand for
Accountants.

Progression & Professional Growth

A role within Accountancy has a clear career path. Usually, you will start in an entry level
role such as an Accounts Assistant, Finance Junior or Junior Auditor and will then progress
within the role.

In order to qualify as an Accountant, there is the opportunity to become a member of a

professional body which can further your career advancement.

Some of the well-known reputable bodies include the Institute of Chartered Accountants in

England and Wales (ICAEW), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
(ACCA) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Upon completion of the numerous exams, alongside the relevant experience gained within
the workplace, you can achieve a qualified accountant status.

Another point worth noting is that you don’t have to have a degree to become an
Accountant. You can initially kickstart your career by studying for an AAT. This is the
equivalent of the first year of a Bachelor’s degree and will act as the foundation work
before moving on to join the professional bodies.

Financially Rewarding
Once you have gained a reasonable amount of experience within the field and have
qualified with a professional body, your potential earnings can be rather favourable (click
here to see our latest salary information).
A career in Accountancy offers you both stability and the potential to live a comfortable
lifestyle.

Self Employment
Within Accountancy, it is possible to become your own boss if you wish to, through
running your own bookkeeping business and becoming self-employed.

Initially, it is quite easy to set this up in your own home with minimum overhead costs. This
can be quite an attractive arrangement as you can have flexible working hours, especially
if you have other personal commitments such as a family. 

This opportunity to start your own firm isn’t true for every profession and is a great potential
option to have.

As I have summarised above, there are many reasons why a career in accountancy can be
a positive one.
From progression to being able to mould your career to how you see fit, jobs in this
sector definitely have many advantages. Having previously worked in accountancy, before
moving over to recruitment, I have had first-hand experience of these benefits so would
encourage anyone with a flair for numbers and an interest in this field to consider this as a
career.  
It’s more than just numbers…

What do famous personalities like Sir Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones), Julia Sweeney
(American comedian and actress), Kenny G (saxophone extraordinaire) and Peter Falk
(TV’s legendary detective Colombo) all have in common? Accounting – They either
studied accounting or were professional accountants!

Studying accounting gives you a much broader perspective than additions and
subtractions.

Ask any student of accounting, and he/she will readily affirm that studying accounting is not just
about the numbers.

Their influence in business and society, in general, goes much beyond ledgers, sheets
and numbers.

As a student studying accounting, you don’t necessarily need to end up working as a

‘traditional’ accountant, recording transactions in ledgers and preparing ‘profit and loss
statements. Studying accounting opens the doors to a whole range of interconnected
careers, including:

 Finance Management
 Business Analysis
 Business Management
 Investment Advisory
 Risk Management Specialisation
While the current workforce in accounting and related jobs is estimated at around
188,100 (as of November 2015), a 5-year projection by the Australian Government, in
their Job Outlook (to November 2019) has determined that there will be over 50,000
new job openings for accountants (and associated jobs).
Not only this, but a revealing report by the Australian Workforce and Productivity
Agency (AWPA), titled Demand and Supply of Accountants, sheds some interesting
light on why you may wish to consider studying accounting, and what prospects lie
ahead for you if you do decide to pursue such a career.
 Numbers Do matter
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicate that not only is there a healthy demand for
accountants, but that the median earnings for accountants are approximately 22%
higher than the benchmark for all occupations, confirming that studying accounting is
conducive to outstanding employment with relatively better but pay.
Age doesn’t matter

Accounting students, enrolled in a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or

professional degree today, should be heartened by the fact that they could be absorbed
into the workforce shortly upon completing the course.

ABS data also shows that while 31% of accountants are in the 25-34 year age group
(compared to 22% for all other professions), studying accounting can also bring
youngsters in the age group of 20-24 into the workforce. The need to fill the imminent
void left by retiring accountants (Boomers and Gen X’s) means you are more likely to
position yourself to fill that void if you start your accounting studies now!
Great employment potential
We’ve got even more exciting news for you! A study by the Australian Department of
Employment in 2014 has indicated that:
 Studying accounting opens doors to employment: Over 86% of individuals with an
accounting qualification were contributing members of the labour force, compared to
82.5% of individuals with other qualifications
 Accounting degrees get you the jobs you love: While 58.3% of other (non-
Accounting) Bachelor or higher degree holders are in their professions of choice,
59.5% of individuals with an Accounting degree entered occupations related to their
studies
 Accounting studies can lead to better, full-time employment: While a significant
percentage of individuals from all other occupations and all other professions (30.5%)
were stranded with part-time work, only 17.8% of accountants were engaged in part-
time employment.

Studying accounting offers you great long-term potential for employment, whether you
are an Australian or overseas student studying accounting at an Australian institution.
International appeal

Overseas students wishing to pursue accounting will find that Australian educational
institutions are second to none anywhere else in the world. Equipped with an Australian
Accounting degree, international students can confidently return to their home countries
with a competitive advantage over their peers and pursue their accounting careers
there.

Alternately, on completing their course of studies, international students may be eligible

for the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa for a period of up to 18 months from receiving
their Bachelor’s degree, with the possibility of a 5-year visa for doctoral degrees.
Overseas students wanting to settle in Australia and work in accounting or related
professions often consider this as a favourable factor.

The AWPA report also made some telling observations about the accounting
profession, and intended migrants to Australia:
“Accountants are one of the largest occupations in the Australian workforce and is the
largest source (by occupation) of migration into Australia, with typically over 7,000 visas
granted to Accountants each year.”
Some international students may find that getting an Australian Accounting degree, and
then returning home to gain some vital work experience as accountants, before
deciding to migrate, may be a wise alternative to seeking 485 visas.
Why I chose accounting as my major
Mar 17,2016

17

If you were to ask any one of my friends to describe me in a single word, the
overwhelming majority of their responses would be: practical. Next would be:
logical. I’m completely fine with these definitions with regards to my character
and actually find some pride in them. Logical thinking and practicality is
something my parents (who still live in Albania today), instilled in me from a
very young age. They taught me to make intelligent choices in my life. Because
of my practical and logical nature, I decided to major in accounting. We are
living in a society, today, where money, its value, and how it is used and
moved around is in constant need of monitoring and analysis. I decided to
major in accounting because of my logical thinking: I am going to college
because I want to have a job, companies will always need people to handle
their finances and will pay good money for someone to do so, so I am pursuing
a major in a field that is in high demand and will most likely be in high
demand for years to come.

            Making sure I was never out of a decent paying job isn’t the only
motivation for me to pursue an accounting degree. As I’ve mentioned above, I
consider myself a practical individual. I realize that in order for one to lead a
fulfilling life, one must take a certain pride and glean some enjoyment from
one’s work. The mathematical nature of accounting, the right or wrong of it,
balancing books, tracking a company’s cash flow, all of these things excite and
interest me. There is nothing subjecting about it, it feels almost like police
work when I sit down and have to piece together just how the numbers add up,
or why they aren’t. I would really like to secure a paid internship at a Mortgage
Company and, although there is a lot of work to do, I would accumulate a
great deal of invaluable knowledge. Knowledge of what an accountant does for
a mortgage company such as this and the responsibilities I can expect of
myself in my future field, but also, the knowledge that I would truly be content
in this career

            I understand that accounting jobs are in high demand, but I also
understand that I am facing a lot of talented competition in the workplace. In
order to distinguish myself as an accountant and attain a successful career in
this field is to first become certified in the CPA. While I pursue my additional
credits required of me to qualify for the CPA exam, I plan to finish off those
credits and attain my Master’s degree in accounting. I also have a passion for
teaching and training and I hope to impart the knowledge I learn through my
studies and workplace experiences to younger, hopeful accountants, later in
my life.

            I may be a practical and logical person, but I truly believe that someone
can have a successful career that is personally fulfilling. I don’t have a pipe
dream of becoming an accountant. I have worked hard, coming to a foreign
land, by myself, working multiple jobs to pay for my own classes, finishing my
degree on time, all while maintaining a high GPA was a daunting task.
However, I was always taught that if one sets aside the time and effort, then
there is no reason for them not to succeed. Please help me to continue
realizing my dreams, as reasonable as they may be.
 Why I Chose
Accounting As My
Future Career
When I was a child I wanted to be everything such as: an anesthesiologist, a lawyer, and
a detective. So, how did I end up being an accounting major? Well, it all started with a
conversation on a late fall night with my cousin, Lee. He was an accounting and business
administration major that was preparing for his final semester at Thiel College. Lee
convinced me that accounting would be a safe and interesting major that would
constantly be challenging me. After some thought and talking with my mom, I decided
to change my major from criminal justice to accounting along with forensic accounting
and business administration. Also, I decided to come to Thiel College instead of going to
The University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. I chose Thiel College because I had heard
nothing but good things about the college, especially about the Business and Accounting
Department. It was also close to home, which is something I greatly value. Now that I
am entering my sophomore year at Thiel College I have realized that accounting is the
right choice for me.

I think that it is important that you find interest and passion in your major, which is
something I found in accounting. I have always been a numbers person. Ever since I was
in elementary school I have excelled in mathematical subjects. When looking for a
major, I looked for something that involved numbers because I am interested in working
with numbers, big and small. Now, accounting isn’t extremely mathematical, it’s more of
adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. No algebra, or calculus, but it still
provided me with what I wanted within a major. Additionally, I found that I was
interested in forensic accounting because it digs deeper into the accounting world.

Some characteristics that I have that will contribute to my success in the accounting
field are being professional, technologically advanced, and determined. My definition of
professionalism is being organized, mature, confident, and possessing proper time
management skills. I am able to work with the Microsoft Suite. If I come across
something that I am not able to do then I take it upon myself to figure it out. Along with
being professional and technologically advanced, I am extremely determined. I do not
like to start a project and not finish it the same day, nor do I start papers and put them
aside. I like to think that I am not a procrastinator.

I knew on the very first day of Principles of Accounting 1 that accounting was not going
to be an easy major and that it was definitely going to challenge me daily. Now that I am
in Intermediate Accounting, I have realized that there are a lot of different methods,
principles, and rules. It all seems very overwhelming to have to memorize all of these
methods and principles, but I think that in the long run it will benefit me greatly.