Accounting

What to expect

Getting a degree in accounting

What to expect

Most jokes about accountants put grey, boring people in grey, boring suits. Accountants do have to be accurate with numbers and in the advice they give to people doing their tax returns or trying to work out how their business is going, but the accounting profession has otherwise well and truly outgrown this bean counting image.

These days in accounting, there is less labour intensiveness at the number-crunching end, and more room for accountants to have an impact on business strategy and management.

So much for the bad press — or so accountants were hoping. With accountants now the glue in the all-important ‘accountability’ framework, some have come off as the bad guys in recent, high profile corporate scandals. However, for aspiring professionals, this controversy only puts into perspective the reasons for the fairly exhaustive requirements of professional recognition.

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Getting a degree in accounting

Visit the University Ratings section for accounting course ratings.

Courses and specialisations

In Australia, to become a member of the main professional accounting associations (details below), you will need to go through a program that begins with an approved accounting major in an accredited university course, followed by further study and mentored practical experience.

There are many accounting courses to choose from. Doing accounting does not necessarily mean doing a course with accounting in the title. You might undertake a degree in business, commerce or economics with an accounting specialisation or a double degree pairing accounting with law, information systems, or even arts.

You will also be required to complete accounting subjects in core areas. Details about which courses are accredited, and which subjects are required can be found on the accounting association websites (see below). However, most of the time, because they are accredited by these organisations, accounting specialisations are probably much the same wherever you do them. You might find the odd ‘co-op’ course, which includes work experience while you study.

Getting in

Overall, there is a big range of cut-offs so you will not find it too difficult to get into an accounting degree. However, as always, there is a great deal of variation between different courses and campuses. For example, competition for co-op courses is hot. Some accounting courses specify prerequisites (maths for instance).

Where to study

Accounting degrees are widely available at universities and selected private higher education providers throughout the country; some are even available by distance.

What to look for

Remember that if you want to qualify as an accountant, you will need to make sure that your degree is accredited by the relevant professional association(s).

Careers for accounting degree graduates

Accountants can work in any industry or sector, and can choose between large firms, smaller private accounting practices, government or non-profit organisations, schools, arts organisations — you name it.

In short, accounting covers many different workplaces, roles and specialisations (taxation, foreign exchange, cost and management accounting, auditing and insolvency, and business consultancy among them).

Graduate employment rates remained below average in 2009, suggesting that despite the skills shortages in the accounting profession, employers are looking for more experienced professionals to fill vacancies. Graduates are typically much less satisfied with the teaching quality of their course than those studying in other fields. The average starting salary for graduates was $46,089. Around 18 per cent of 2008 accounting graduates
went on to further study before seeking full-time employment, while among those who did gain employment, most were in private practice or private industry.

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For more information

For more information check out the CPA Australia website or find out more about the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or National Institute of Accountants .

Other fields of study likely to appeal to someone interested in accounting include business and management , and economics .

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