What Is Accounting?
If you think accountants spend their days tediously bookkeeping and balancing accounts, you have a very wrong perception of what it means to be an accountant. We don’t blame you. The media oftentimes portrays accountants as cubical-bound, antisocial math whizzes with quiet dispositions. We would like to challenge your perception of what accounting really is.
Accounting is the language of business. An accountant helps an organization to understand its financial standing and advises the organization on how to fulfill its financial goals. Accountants know the rules that govern business, and they communicate complex issues to people within an organization. They design and implement computer software that runs businesses and train others to use these programs effectively. Accountants are essential to the success of an organization.
Why Major in Accounting?
It’s marketable. Every organization requires the services of an accountant. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a need for accountants is projected to grow 11% from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations.
It’s meaningful. Accountants make it possible for an organization, whether government, profit, or non-profit, to fulfill its mission and vision. They are essential to keeping organizations ethical and accountable.
It pays well. The median annual pay for an accountant is around $67,000, and more experienced accountants can make around $119,000 or more. There are numerous opportunities for advancement; an accountant can be anything from a senior auditor to a chief financial officer.
