The key difference between Accounting vs Engineering is that accounting is the process of

recording, maintaining as well as reporting the financial affairs of the company which
shows the clear financial position of the company, whereas Engineering is the application
of science in order to design machines, buildings, and other items.
Once students graduate from high school, they always get confused about what career to choose.
Having so many options make them suffer from analysis-paralysis. I was very much confused
about what should I choose – Engineering or Commerce (accounting). I finally chose to engineer
for my graduation and did my post-graduation majors in Finance 🙂

However, it’s always better to step back from all the opinions and make an informed decision
about your career. What you choose now will significantly affect who you will become in the
years to come. In this article, I discuss accounting vs engineering. Students get overwhelmed by
the opportunities and the impact both these careers have on society and the world at large. But,
here’s the question for you –  Do you really think that you are stuck with these two and are
not able to decide which one you should pick up?

We will share everything about these two careers in this article. Read it through and make a call.
You will get to know the outlook of these two careers, what sort of education and additional
qualifications you require, the primary tasks you need to perform in these two careers, work-life
balance you would have if you would choose to join one of these careers, the compensation of
both and finally the pros and cons of choosing these careers.

Accounting vs Engineering – Outlook

To be able to good at accounting and engineering, you need to be a person who is detail-oriented,
loves numbers and can be creative enough to think beyond the general conception of theories.
But they are completely different careers. In this section, we will discuss the perspective of these
two careers so that you can get a glimpse of what to expect from each of them.Ask any
businessman, who they depend upon most? Yes, you are right – accountants! Why? Because they
know the things about tax, auditing, clauses, company laws and moreover experts in how
business works. So, the experts in business always recommend that you should at least know the
basics of accounting if you want to go into business. But if you want to take a career in
accounting, it doesn’t need to be as boring as it is being projected. You can do a relevant course,
earn a professional qualification and then the companies will run after you. If you are confident
enough, you can also do your own accounting practice. In that case, your business will thrive in
tax seasons and at other times, you need to do some marketing to keep your business all-time
high.

In the case of engineering, you need to be at the top of the game all the time. There are new
inventions coming every year and you need to update yourself with all the information floating
around. Now, engineering is a very broad term. There are many specializations in the
engineering domain. There are computer engineers, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers,
civil engineers, software engineers, etc. But the thing is what should you choose? If you are
curious about my specialization, I graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi.

Each of these specializations is very much different than each other and you need to know what
you want to pursue. If you want to pursue computer engineering, you should have inclinations
for computers and hardware and a little extent of software. If you want to be a civil engineer,
then you need to be interested in making bridges, erecting buildings. Think through all the
options. And then decide whether engineering is your cup of tea or not.

Accounting vs Engineering – Education

Accounting and engineering require different sorts of degrees and additional qualifications.

Let’s start with accounting.

Accounting can be called a more general degree, but if you pay attention to top-notch
accountants, they are not general accountants. They specify and for that, the best qualification
you can go for is Chartered Accountancy (CA). This is the world’s second-best course. So, you
can imagine how good it really can be. But know that CA is not for the faint-hearted.

The pass percentage is 2-3, so you can guess how tough it is. Only the best get through. But once
you are through, a whole series of possibilities will open up for you.Having a CA degree allows
you to start your own accounting practice as well. If you are more interested in public
accounting, you can think of enrolling yourself in Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course
which is as good as Chartered Accountancy. But the focus of this is more on public enterprises.
It’s said that if you become a CPA and join a public enterprise, your salary would be at least 15%
more than any non-certified accountant.

You can also go for MBA in Accounting. MBA in Finance is also an option, but if you do it in
finance, the portions of accounting would be much less. Think about these options and then take
a call. I completed my MBA from IIM Lucknow with most of my electives in Finance.

Engineering is a technical degree. You need to choose which engineering courses you are
interested in and then enroll yourself for the same. If you are interested in academics, you can do
M.Tech and ultimately Ph.D. as well. But if you are more interested in going for a job, the
opportunities are endless. It’s said that Computer Engineers earn the maximum in the United
States after graduating from their courses. So, if you are inclined toward computers, you can go
for it. Otherwise, Chemical engineering, Electronics engineering pay well too.
Both of these courses require strong math skills and you need to be really good with calculation.
Accuracy is the key here.

According to the survey conducted by Career Bliss in 2012, accounting and engineering both
come in the top 20 happiest jobs in the USA.  So, before you choose anything between
accounting and engineering, know that work satisfaction is guaranteed.

Let’s look at what key roles you need to play as an accountant or an engineer.

Accounting vs Engineering – Work-life balance

If you become an accountant, you will be to maintain a great work-life balance. You will
generally have a 40-hour work-week and will get enough time for your family and to enjoy any
hobby you like. If you become CA, your work pressure will increase, but still, you will not have
16 hours a day every day. Rarely do you need to work 16 hours a day?

If you choose to engineer, the work-life balance would depend on what specialization you
choose. But the job hours are not as much as you would see in the case of an investment banker.
Thus, as an engineer, you can maintain a good work-life balance throughout.

Many times engineers want to make a career in Investment Banking. I have written an in-depth
article on this topic – Can an engineer get an investment banking job?

Accounting vs Engineering – Compensation

Now here’s the most important part for many, yes, the compensation for each profession.

Let’s start with the accountant. The median salary for an accountant in the USA is around the US
$65,940 per annum. The best ten percent get around the US $115,000 per annum and lowest-paid
make around the US $41,000. This salary is for those who have done their degree course and
don’t have any specialty. Let’s call them general accountant. What if you go for Chartered
Accountancy after you complete your bachelor degree course or along with it? Have a look at the
salary of the Chartered Accountant. A chartered accountant makes anywhere between the US
$150,000-200,000 per annum. Now you can see the difference. If you can do your chartered
accountancy, you would be able to earn much more than the general accountant.

In the case of engineering, let’s say the compensation one by one.

  A computer engineer earns around the US $110,650 per annum. The top 10 percent earn

around the US $160,610 per annum.

 A software engineer earns around the US $106,050 per annum. The top 10 percent earn

around the US $154,800 per annum.

 A chemical engineer earns around the US $103,590 per annum. The top 10 percent earn

around the US $156,980 per annum.

 An electrical engineer earns around the US $95,780 per annum. The top 10 percent earn

around the US $143,200 per annum.

 A mechanical engineer earns around the US $87,140 per annum. The top 10 percent

earn around the US $126,430 per annum.

So, you can understand that if you do your engineering in any field, the money is not an issue at
all.

Accounting vs Engineering – Pros and Cons

Accounting

Pros:

 As an accountant, you would be paid well with just 40 hours of work. Yes, during tax

seasons you need to work more than that, but still, it’s a good profession to be in, if you

think about the money it provides.

 Progression is fast in accounting. As you are the center of the business, your growth

would be much higher than in other professions.

  As an accountant, you can move to many different careers. You can work as an auditor or

a tax consultant or you can choose to go for management accounting. Of course, you

need to do a specialized course to get more value, but accounting opens the doors for you.

Cons:

 To be a top-notch accountant, you need to do the certification. We have put in the cons because

not everyone is ready to do the certification. And without certification, you can become a general

accountant. But that way, you will stall new opportunities and great compensations.

 As some part of accounting is monotonous, it may seem boring to you sometimes.

Engineering
Pros:

 The work is always interesting. You will always find new things to learn and to think about.

 Usually, it’s easy to find a job in engineering if you pass out from a good college and you have at

least a fundamental understanding of how things work.

 From the above, you understand that one of the best things about being an engineer is you will get

paid well.

 A degree in engineering would be helpful for you if you want to change direction to finance or

any other difficult career path.

Cons:

 One of the worst things about engineering is that you have ideas about all the things. But most

engineers lack the depth of understanding in a specific area that other science and commerce

graduates have.
  You often need to work long hours which can affect your work-life balance.

The Theory Of Accounting Engineering

İsmail TEKBAŞ http://ismailtekbas.blogspot.com/

The digitalization affects almost every step of the accounting profession from the record to the
declaration stage with an application such as e-book, e-invoice, e-declaration, interactive tax
office, and bookkeeping system. Today, traditional accounting practices are being replaced by
digital accounting applications. On the other hand, the transition from traditional practices to
digital applications reveals the necessity of change in the name of the accounting profession. We
can define this situation as a "Digital Evolution" for the accounting profession. Undoubtedly, the
digital transformation has started once and will present new opportunities for the accounting
profession in the hands of different creators. It is necessary to read the digital conversion in a
correct theoretical way.

The emergence of digital applications alters the relationship of the accounting profession with
traditional tools such as paper and notebooks. When it comes to the accounting profession,
digital systems and technologies bring new materials, processes, and values for professional
accountants to discuss. In the accounting profession, verbal culture has turned the direction
towards numerical and analytical culture. Thereby, traditional accounting practices are
requestioned today. The main questions in the discussion are; will the accounting profession
disappear, will digital systems take the place of professional accountants and how should we see
the digitization in the accounting world? The theory of accounting engineering is based on these
questions. Along with the incredible change created by the digital systems have in the accounting
profession, it is necessary that a new language for the digital field should be established in the
process of correct use of the digital systems by the members of the accounting profession, access
to correct information and management processes. Because digital accounting involves more
than the ability to use a digital system. The theory aims to discuss whether the "Accounting
Engineering" can be a new model in order to enable the accounting profession to adapt to
digital revolution starting from these questions.

The theory of accounting engineering covers concepts, principles, and procedures that form the
basis of the digitalization of accounting. It deals with how to shape the accounting profession on
the basis of digitalization. The theory deals with the effects of digitalization on the structure of
accounting and the professional accountants. It analyzes the changes that accounting practices
have created in the accounting profession and in the profession and its members, by focusing on
the change that was experienced with digitalization. And it focuses on the redesign of the
accounting profession with digitalization at the center.

The theory of accounting engineering is an accounting derivative composed of the expression of

systematic principle and methodology. The role of theory is to develop accounting practices
within the framework of digitization and solve the accounting

problems that will arise with digitization. The purpose of the theory is to present a new model
proposed by providing a consistent set of logical principles that constitute the general framework
of reference for the evaluation and development of the effects of digitalization on accounting
practices. In the absence of a new model proposal, it is unrealistic to expect the accounting
profession to adapt to digitalization.

Digital transformation is not just about the change of materials, tools, or technology; It's also
important to change the perception. In this case, based on these cases, it is necessary to change
the structure of accounting education on the way to improve the perception and awareness of
accountants on digital systems. The theory allows for the reshaping of existing accounting
education within the framework of engineering skills by predicting how the accounting
profession and professionals will be affected by digitalization. The most important element in the
conceptualization of digital accounting is the use of engineering skills for digital evolution. In
this context, the engineering profession will provide professional accountants with the abilities of
analytical and numerical thinking, effective communication, problem-solving, creativity and, to
see the big picture. And these capabilities have a critical importance for the accounting
profession to realize the digital transformation.

As a result, all the data used in the accounting profession today are produced in the computer
environment. In other words, it is almost impossible for today's accounting industry to avoid
digital systems in the implementation process. The digital world opens new fields of discussion
on accounting on this axis. The theory of accounting engineering is structured on the basis of
these discussions. Because the accounting profession is changing with digitalization, and beyond,
it creates new opportunities for professional accountants.

The quote of the Article "When the eternal field of wisdom and virtue are opened in front of our
eyes, the boundaries of the earth disappear." Immanuel Kant