Departments > Accounting & Law > Accounting

What is Accounting?

Many people confuse accounting with bookkeeping. Bookkeepers handle clerical, repetitious record-keeping tasks. Accounting means using business and accounting concepts to make decisions about difficult issues. College trained accountants are problem solvers. They are trained to critically evaluate alternatives. They examine which approach will be best for a business when more than one approach can be logically supported.

Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring and communicating economic information about an organization for the purpose of making decisions and informed judgments. Accounting is often referred to as the language of business.

Users of accounting information include the management of the entity or organization, the owners of the organization, employees, and various federal, state, and local governmental agencies that are concerned with regulatory and tax matters.

Where Do Accounting Graduates Work?

Successful accounting graduates are prepared to pursue a wide range of career paths, including, but not limited to the following entry-level positions:

• Auditor
• Bank Examiner
• Budget Analyst
• Corporate Accounting
• Cost Analyst
• Governmental Accounting
• Public Accounting
• Revenue Agent
• Tax Preparer

Beginning Salary Expectations

Many factors influence the beginning salary of the new graduate. Included in these are your work history (including internships), your major, the area in which you wish to locate, the degree you are receiving and your success in your higher education studies.

Accounting Certifications

CPA Exam

Accounting Degree Requirements