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Types of Accounting Degrees

Shrinivas Kanade
Knowing about types of accounting degrees is important for anyone who is interested in this field.
Anyone who is interested in being part of the financial side of a business can do so by acquiring one of the various types of accounting degrees. Although, there aren't many types of degrees as one finds in the field of technology and sciences, these are enough for any hardworking person to get a job. The following are type of degrees one should go for.

Accountant

An accountant prepares financial statements and record transactions of the organization, or for the individual he is working for. He helps in deciding the cost of technology against its efficiency.
When the market is abuzz with news of the mergers and acquisitions, he is the person to know and keep a track of all things happening around. An accountant, in such a situation, is tasked with going through the financial accounts of the entities to be merged together or to be acquired.
For his organization, he helps in developing IT systems or computer programs to ease the task of keeping an eye on its financial performance, tax strategies and employee benefits program. All in all, the data provided by an accountant is useful in charting the present and future course of the financial activities of an entity.

Types of Accounting Degrees

For a student in his final year, starting to collect information about all the different areas of accounting to plot his career in this field is common. The following list may be able to furnish all the data in this direction, a student may want to know about.

Certificate in Accounting

For an individual in a hurry to get an accounting job, certificate in accounting can be a useful thing. He has the option of, either to opt for a certificate for bookkeeping, or as an accounting technician. In terms of education, prime requirement for these certificates is one year of post-secondary education.

Associate Degrees

After completing secondary school education, a student can opt for an associate degree. This college-level degree can be acquired in 2 years of full-time study.

Bachelors Degree in Accounting

A bachelors degree is must if you want to reach to those higher positions in accounting. It is a minimum of 4 years of education after completing post-secondary education. On the other hand, instead of going to a college, one may opt for an online accounting degree program. A student aiming to become a certified public accountant, should go for this degree.

Master of Accountancy

If the bachelor degree opens the door to high positions in accounting, then this degree helps you in becoming a specialist in one of fields of accounting. It requires a bachelors degree and then takes another year at the college or university to become a master.

Master of Business Administration

The career education imparted to the student also prepare him for a career in finance such as a financial analyst.

Doctoral Degree

To get a doctoral degree, or Ph.D. in accounting, an individual has to do a lot of hard work. He or she may have to spend several years, engrossed in intense study of this field, to achieve this degree. However, it is worth it, as the Ph.D. in accounting opens all of its fields to him or her.

An Accounting Degree and Job Openings

A person, after getting a bachelor degree in accountancy and well supported by number of years of experience, can expect to hold the following jobs. However, higher education in this field is necessary to improve the chances, and shortens the time in order to achieve goal.
  • Audit Accountant
  • Budget Analyst
  • Financial Accountant
  • Management Accountant
  • Tax Accountant
You may opt to go to a college for an accounting degree or you may, for your own reasons, opt to acquire it online. After completing, you can improve your chances by testing for a certification from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). There is no lack of job opportunities in the field of accounting.
Every kind of private or government organization and individuals have to maintain financial records. They hire people with different degrees as per their needs. A self motivated individual can start his own firm.