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Accounting is the language of business. Students explore branches of the discipline, including tax, audit and analytics, on the way to such careers as financial analyst, controller, tax manager and auditor. Many graduates pursue certification as a CPA, CFE, CMA or CIA.
Jobs in Accounting
- Data analyst
- Forensic accountant
- Tax preparer
- FBI agent
- Forensic accountant
Related Programs
Accounting Turns Out to Be More Than Just Numbers
Accounting, as Andrew Hii discovered, requires a lot of decision-making. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about just the numbers. There are judgment calls, and some things are just not clear.鈥�
At the Mitchell College of Business, Hii (pronounced 鈥渉e鈥�) learned a lot about his major that surprised him. For example, take auditing 鈥� the process of examining financial records for accuracy and adherence to accepted rules.
鈥淎gain, it鈥檚 not just about the numbers. It is about creating relationships with other people and finding out correlations between things. So there is lots of data analytics, which I didn鈥檛 really know until I started taking the auditing class.鈥�
Also, Hii said, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize how much the field of finance plays a part in accounting. It鈥檚 almost like a dual major with accounting.鈥�
鈥淚t is about creating relationships with other people and finding out correlations between things.鈥�
Hii is a Mobile native who used to live almost across the street from South. Before college, he cultivated several businesspeople as mentors. 鈥淚 asked, 鈥榃hat are you looking for in your business? What鈥檚 valuable to you?鈥� They said accounting.鈥�
He liked its possibilities. 鈥淢any of the accountants that I鈥檝e talked to have started off in accounting but then transferred into management, marketing, entrepreneurship or other fields of business. If you want to make a pivot in your career, you can.鈥�
At South, the enthusiasm of his professors inspired him, especially when they shared real-life stories from their own professional careers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just something they do because it earns money. They do it because they love it.鈥�
And what would he love? At first, probably staying near his family in Mobile, maybe working in personal tax preparation. Then, perhaps a pivot to his favorite sport. 鈥淟ater in my life,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 would like to move to Europe and do accounting for a soccer club.鈥�
Did You Know?
- U.S. Treasury Department forensic accountant Frank Wilson brought down infamous American gangster Al Capone.
- Without auditors, stock markets wouldn鈥檛 exist as we know them, nor would investors be comfortable investing in public companies.
- The Mitchell College of Business Department of Accounting Advisory Council, composed of representatives from local accounting firms, industry and government, provides curriculum input and access to career advice and opportunities.
Contact:
Dr. James R. Hardin
Professor, Interim Chair
Department of Accounting
(251) 460-7410