What Can I Do With an Accounting Major?

Accounting involves the collection, organization and presentation of financial information for effective decision-making.

Accounting services often include independent auditing, tax advice and tax return preparation, financial and management consulting and entrepreneurial services. Accounting is characterized by compiling, analyzing and reporting on the financial conditions of companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

Visit School of Accountancy website 

Degree Requirements

Includes foundation courses required for Professional Admission*, general education requirements, professional core courses, electives and a set of specific accounting courses

Sample accounting courses include:

• Cost and Managerial Accounting
• Intermediate Financial Accounting
• Principles of Profit Planning and Control
• Principles of Federal Taxation
• Information Quality and Assurance–A Management Perspective
• Accounting for Not-For-Profits Entities
• Analysis of Financial Statements
• Accounting Information Systems

* Students must achieve Professional Admission (a competitive and selective application process) to move from the pre-professional phase to the professional phase.
** Check the Degree/Academic Progress Report (APRR's) for your specific academic program requirements per your catalog.

Other Preparation

Work Experience and Internships
Part-time and summer jobs and internships can provide valuable work experience and training that employers and graduate schools value. Academic credit is not required to receive an internship nor do internship credits count toward major electives.

Clubs and Organizations
The college has a wide variety of professional fraternities, honoraries and student clubs. Student organizations offer: career information; networking opportunities; social and professional activities; and provide leadership roles and skills building opportunities.

Student organizations for Accounting majors include:

• Accounting Student Association/Beta Alpha Psi

Visit the Eller Undergraduate Student Organizations website for more information.

Career Opportunities

Accountant positions generally require a bachelor's degree in accounting or a closely related field. A sample of accounting occupations include:

A sample of accounting employers include:

1. Public Accounting Firms
2. Corporations
3. Government Agencies
4. Not-for-Profit Organizations

View PDF of Types of Jobs and Employers

Certification

To be designated a certified public accountant (CPA), you must pass the Uniform CPA Examination after graduating with a bachelor's degree and accumulating a specific amount of accounting credit (varies by state). Most states in the U.S. require applicants to have 150 credits of college-level coursework to become certified, which is commonly accomplished by the applicant getting both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in accounting. There are several other requirements a candidate must complete to become a CPA, but the specifics vary state-to-state. Visit American Institute of CPAs to find addresses for all State Boards of Accountancy in the U.S. The information for the Arizona State Board of Accountancy is:

Arizona State Board of Accountancy
100 N. 15th Avenue Suite 165
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Telephone: 602-364-0804
FAX: 602-364-0903
www.azaccountancy.gov

Other certifications available to accountants are certified management accountant, certified internal auditor, certified government financial manager, certified financial planner and certified fraud examiner.

Salaries

Starting salaries vary by size and type of employer, location, course work, and experience.

• Eller Accounting graduate average salary offer: $53,643. (Eller Graduate Survey, Spring 2020)
• National Accounting graduate average salary offer: $53,652. (NACE Salary Survey, Summer 2020)

Recruitment Opportunities

On-campus recruitment opportunities include the fall and spring Eller Expo and Career Showcase, hosted by the Eller College, and the fall & spring "Career Days", hosted by the University of Arizona Student Engagement & Career Development. "Meet the Firms" night is an on-campus recruiting event coordinated by the School of Accountancy and open to only Accounting majors.

Public accounting firms, consulting firms and corporations from several business industries, and federal, state and local government agencies all recruit accounting majors at Arizona.

A sample of employers which recruit Arizona Accounting majors for externships/internships and/or full-time jobs are:

Other Resources

Professional Associations

• American Accounting Association
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business
• Association of Government Accountants

Journals

• Journal of Accountancy

Graduate School

• Eller Master's in Accounting Options