4 answers
Olivia
Student
Statesville, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
1038 views
What exactly can I do with a degree in Accounting?
I honestly really love math and I love how organized the world of math is and because of that when I started my search of majors I choose accounting but the bad part is that when I begin looking into what I can actually do with it all I really found was doing peoples taxes, is there anything else that I could possibly do? #accounting
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4 answers
Peggy P. Wang
Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Private Company Services
2
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Peggy P.’s Answer
Hi Olivia,
Most people think that "oh I am good at math so I am good with numbers and therefore, I should be good in accounting!" I can tell you that Math and Accounting are not the same. In accounting, there are more accounting guidance, tax rules, and compliance, consulting, auditing type of work. When you are good with numbers in accounting means that typically someone is sensitive to how the numbers impacting a business. In accounting profession, you have Excel and calculator to help with basic math and really we don't get too fancy outside of the basics. If you are good in math and in general love working the mathematic problems, calculus, statistics, I would recommend seeking more exposure in other fields within the business environment. Actuary or risk-benchmarking type of career may be more interesting to you.
However, accounting is not just about doing people's taxes, there are other career paths that were outlined in the answers above. Hope this helps!
Peggy
accounting consulting auditing
Most people think that "oh I am good at math so I am good with numbers and therefore, I should be good in accounting!" I can tell you that Math and Accounting are not the same. In accounting, there are more accounting guidance, tax rules, and compliance, consulting, auditing type of work. When you are good with numbers in accounting means that typically someone is sensitive to how the numbers impacting a business. In accounting profession, you have Excel and calculator to help with basic math and really we don't get too fancy outside of the basics. If you are good in math and in general love working the mathematic problems, calculus, statistics, I would recommend seeking more exposure in other fields within the business environment. Actuary or risk-benchmarking type of career may be more interesting to you.
However, accounting is not just about doing people's taxes, there are other career paths that were outlined in the answers above. Hope this helps!
Peggy
accounting consulting auditing
Matthew Morrill
Experienced Assurance Associate at PwC
2
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Olivia,
That's a great question. First I'd like to address your question about preparing taxes. This is a pretty common question. The field of Accounting covers so much of the professional business world, and preparing people's taxes is only one piece of the Accounting field.
As an accountant, I work as an auditor, which means that I analyze and verify the financial information of large companies. When banks or investors want to know company's financial information, they rely on auditors verify that the information is true and accurate.
Some other common jobs within the field of Accounting are:
Consulting, which is giving business advice to companies and government offices
Financial Planning, which is helping people make smart decision with their finances and make plans for their future
Wealth Management, which includes analyzing and trading different investments (like on the stock market)
Accounting is a great field to get a well-rounded understanding of how business works. As a professional accountant, you have direct access to the world of business and finance. From the field of Accounting, you can really go anywhere in the world of business.
That's a great question. First I'd like to address your question about preparing taxes. This is a pretty common question. The field of Accounting covers so much of the professional business world, and preparing people's taxes is only one piece of the Accounting field.
As an accountant, I work as an auditor, which means that I analyze and verify the financial information of large companies. When banks or investors want to know company's financial information, they rely on auditors verify that the information is true and accurate.
Some other common jobs within the field of Accounting are:
Consulting, which is giving business advice to companies and government offices
Financial Planning, which is helping people make smart decision with their finances and make plans for their future
Wealth Management, which includes analyzing and trading different investments (like on the stock market)
Accounting is a great field to get a well-rounded understanding of how business works. As a professional accountant, you have direct access to the world of business and finance. From the field of Accounting, you can really go anywhere in the world of business.
Angelica Rossana Tolentino
Global Mobility Services at PwC
15
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Angelica Rossana’s Answer
Hi Olivia,
I'd always like to say that Accounting is more analysis of numbers than just math. If you go to public-accounting, meaning you work at a company that provides services for other companies/individuals, you can choose to do taxes (corporate or individual) or assurance (auditing financial-statements) or advisory (consulting). If you go to private-accounting, meaning you do accounting work for your own employer, then you can choose to join the accounts-payable, accounts-receivable, payroll, or tax department. If the company has their own internal-audit team, that is another option for you.
There are a lot of things you can do with accounting. You can even do bookkeeping for a small business or even be your own boss and provide bookkeeping services to small-business owners.
Check out some resources online to help yourself get familiarized with different careers you can have with accounting. I found this one: http://www.accounting.com/careers/.
You can also check out what types of careers you can have at a public accounting firm such as PwC by checking out the PwC website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers.html.
Good luck!
Best regards,
Angelica
I'd always like to say that Accounting is more analysis of numbers than just math. If you go to public-accounting, meaning you work at a company that provides services for other companies/individuals, you can choose to do taxes (corporate or individual) or assurance (auditing financial-statements) or advisory (consulting). If you go to private-accounting, meaning you do accounting work for your own employer, then you can choose to join the accounts-payable, accounts-receivable, payroll, or tax department. If the company has their own internal-audit team, that is another option for you.
There are a lot of things you can do with accounting. You can even do bookkeeping for a small business or even be your own boss and provide bookkeeping services to small-business owners.
Check out some resources online to help yourself get familiarized with different careers you can have with accounting. I found this one: http://www.accounting.com/careers/.
You can also check out what types of careers you can have at a public accounting firm such as PwC by checking out the PwC website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers.html.
Good luck!
Best regards,
Angelica
Joseph R
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
People get confused between bookkeeping and accounting. The same when it comes to nurses and doctors. You don't need a degree to become a bookkeeper. Accountants are a level up from bookkeepers. They can (but usually don't) perform bookkeeping functions, but usually, they prepare detailed financial statements, perform audits of the books of public companies, and they may prepare reports for tax purposes. Unfortunately, due to lack of information some recruiters who don't have accounting & finance background, they think CPA'S & accountants are bookkeepers.