Your friends may get jealous (but what else is new).
An accountant’s salary is pretty hard to beat. Recent world events such as corporate frauds (Enron), terrorist attacks, global warming and even cable television have increased the demand for accountants. Hot fields include forensic (combating fraud), environment and entertainment accounting. You can work for a public accounting firm, any business you can imagine or non profit agencies like the Red Cross, the FBI or CIA. High demand for accountants means stable careers, better salaries, and your choice of what you want to do. Just take a look below the average salaries for college graduates in public and private accounting.
Accounting Salaries
| Field |
Title (experience) |
2006 Salary |
| Public Accounting |
Partner |
$181,000 |
| |
Manager (6-8 years) |
89,500 |
| |
Senior (3-5 years) |
68,500 |
| |
Junior (0-2 years) |
49,000 |
| |
|
|
| Private Accounting |
CFO |
221,000 |
| |
Controller/Treasurer |
140,000 |
| |
Manager (6-8 years) |
83,000 |
| |
Senior (3-5 years) |
69,000 |
| |
Junior (0-2 years) |
47,000 |
| |
|
|
| Recordkeeping |
Full-charge bookkeeper |
55,000 |
| |
Account manager |
48,500 |
| |
Payroll manager |
52,000 |
| |
Accounting clerk
(0-2 years) |
35,500 |
Source: Fundamental Accounting Principles, Eighteenth Edition; by Wild, Larson and Chiappetta, McGraw-Hill Irwin Publishing
Program of Study
Accounting majors at SUNY Cobleskill will find their experience both challenging and rewarding. In addition to specialized coursework, students will take courses in computer science and business law, as well as selected coursework to meet their individual needs. Our A.A.S. degree program focuses on preparing students for entry level accounting jobs. The program also transfers well into bachelor degree programs in accounting or into our own BBA in Financial Services (link to BBA program). Students who take this path are qualified to transfer in Masters of Accountancy programs and take both the Certified Public Accountant Exam (CPA) and the Certified Financial Planners Exam (CFP®)
Skill Requirements
“You may not even realize it, but you've been honing your leadership, communications and other skills just by debating with friends, playing ultimate frisbee or doing whatever you usually do. So learn how to keep putting those skills in action, and take the personality test to see what kind of career your strengths can land you by going to the accountant’s website www.startheregoplaces.com” (Source: American Institute of Public Accountants).
Job Outlook
There are a lot of accounting jobs, but not a lot of people to fill them. In recent years students majoring in accounting have gone down, yet demand for graduates has increased. It doesn’t take an accountant to figure out that means higher salaries and greater job security. Following are some recent headlines to help you calculate your future in accounting.
For Accounting Graduates, Big Numbers Are Only the Beginning... by the Atlanta Journal
Wendy Gates went to college with one goal in mind: to come out with a degree that would get her a job. "There's a lot you can do in accounting, which is one of the reasons I've stayed with it: I like the variety," says Wendy. Though far from being a math whiz, Gates majored in accounting and has been busily employed ever since. Most new graduates can expect a starting salary of about $43,000 a year.
The Top 10 Degrees in Demand... by CNNMoney.com
When asked which new college grads they were likely to hire, the greatest number of employers said they were interested in hiring grads who majored in accounting, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, business administration and economics/finance.
IN DEMAND IN '07 - Robert Half International Identifies This Year's Hot Accounting and Finance Positions
MENLO PARK, CA -- Which accounting and finance professionals will have the most promising career prospects in 2007? Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance, identified five jobs positioned for growth. The information is based on research from the company’s 2007 Salary Guide, actual candidate placements and discussions with hiring managers throughout the United States.
There’s an accounting course for everyone…well, almost
Here at SUNY Cobleskill, we offer accounting majors the opportunity to explore career paths they may be interested in. Our courses included:
ACCT 101 Financial Accounting (learn the basics and how every business uses accounting)
ACCT 103 Managerial Accounting (learn how to use accounting to make better business decisions)
ACCT 303 & 304 Intermediate Accounting I and II (Financial accounting on steroids – move it to the next level to see if CPA is the path for you.)
ACCT 235 Financial Management (learn the basics of personal and business financial management to see if financial planning is your forte.)
ACCT 311 Cost Accounting ( learn computer skills along with how to figure out how to exactly what things cost. Career paths include working as an accountant for any business.)
ACCT 310 Tax Planning (learn the about taxes and how you can save yourself and your clients some money.)
FSMA 330 Computer Applications in Accounting and Financial Services (gain experience with common accounting programs like Turbo Tax and Quickbooks.)
ACCT 370 Not for Profit Accounting (learn all about governmental and nonprofit accounting including the unlimited job opportunities in these sectors.)
