What Can I Do With a Major In Accounting?
UGA Specific Information for Accounting
The J. M. Tull School of Accounting prepares students for careers as professional accountants, whether as tax experts, members of management, computer systems specialists, or as certified public accountants. The curriculum acknowledges that accountants also need to be competent business people. Thus, the academic program includes a significant exposure to courses in business, economics, and management and is designed to give the student an understanding of the theory of accounting as it is used in our society. An accounting education provides an excellent background for non-business professions, such as law, and is helpful for advancement to top-level management positions. Because of the various areas within accounting, BBA students are given a broad background of accounting classes to provide the basic tools to enter an accounting position. Should a student wish to specialize in a specific area, he or she would need to pursue the Master of Accountancy that allows specializations in Audit, Taxation, or Systems.
Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Accounting*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
Accounting Student Organizations
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Beta Alpha Psi - a national scholastic and professional fraternity whose purpose is advancing the study and practice of accounting by providing opportunities for self development and by promoting association among members and professional accountants, as well as encouraging a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility.
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National Association of Black Accountants - seeks to unite professionals and students who have similar interests and ideals, are committed to professional and academic excellence, possess a sense of professional and civic responsibility, and are concerned with enhancing opportunities for minorities in the accounting, finance and business related professions
Other Terry Student Organizations
- Atlas Business Society* - open to 1st & 2nd year students, focused on developing business skills & professional etiquette
- Magellan Program* - open to 1st year students, semester-long program focused on developing business skills & professional etiquette
- Alpha Kappa Psi - co-ed professional business fraternity
- Delta Sigma Pi - co-ed professional business fraternity
- Multicultural Business Student Association - open to all students, caters to and develops the professional needs of business students from diverse backgrounds
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Society of Entrepreneurs - connects students to resources of the Entrepreneurship Program and the Athens entrepreneurial community
* Appication required
Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations
POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS
- Auditor: Examine and analyze accounting records to determine financial status of establishment and prepare financial reports concerning operating procedures.
- Budget Analyst: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
- Staff Accountant: Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
- Tax Consultant: Prepare tax returns for individuals or businesses.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- Maintain a competitive overall and major GPA, ideally a 3.4 GPA or higher. Your ability to excel in the classroom is an indication that you have an understanding of accounting principles and rules that must be applied when performing your job as an accountant.
- Participate in leadership development programs sponsored by larger public accounting firms. Many students are offered internships as a result of participating in the leadership development programs
- Attend “socials” hosted by employers. Many “socials” are invitation only events.
- Develop strong leadership, communication, and team work skills by getting involved in clubs and student organizations.
- Participate in an internship to gain real experience as an accountant.
- When eligible, join Beta Alpha Psi, an honor society for accounting majors.
- Accept constructive criticism on how to improve your skills and abilities.
- The accounting recruiting season occurs in the fall semester; therefore, conducting your job or internship search in the fall semester is crucial.
COMPANY & SALARY RESEARCH
- Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests. To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords.
- Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well.
- To login, visit the LinkedIn main page.
Supplemental Career Research Dashboard
Additional Career Research Resources
- O*NET The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledges, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations (Login using your 810/811)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations
- Firsthand - Explore a library of guides, articles, and other resources to help you explore careers, plan your job search, and learn about different work environments. Create a free account with your UGA email
- Candid Career Whether you are just beginning to explore career options, preparing for a job interview, or looking to change careers, CandidCareer.com can help by providing you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy to use website. We can all learn from the experiences of others and the Career Center makes this valuable resource available to UGA students so they may be informed and ready for what lies ahead. (Login using your 810/811)
- GoinGlobal - View jobs/internship in other countries and country career guides (Login using your 810/811)
- Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers the world an inside look at jobs and companies. What sets us apart is our "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees, job seekers, and sometimes the companies themselves. Now with nearly 3 million salaries and reviews, you have all the information you might need to make your next career decision.
- Big Interview - Online practice interview platform. Practice basic interview questions or questions based on your industry interests or competencies! Also provides practice interview questions for graduate/professional schools. Just sign-up using your uga email address!
- Terry Connect - Terry's online mentorship platform. By creating an online profile during the active enrollment period (mid-late August) students will be matched with a mentor in their prospective industry for advice on job/internship searches, interview skills, and professional development. Students are also able to engage with alumni and each other on discussion boards and in special interest groups.
Employment Websites
GENERAL:
- Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)
- Idealist (nonprofit jobs)
- USAJobs (federal jobs)
MAJOR/CAREER SPECIFIC:
Professional Associations/Resources
- American Accounting Association
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Georgia Society of CPAs
- Institute of Internal Auditors
- Association of Government Accountants
- National Association of Black Accountants
- Becker
Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Need help finding groups? Check out the Groups You May Like link under the Interests/Groups tab. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Accounting majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
| Employer | Position Title(s) |
|---|---|
| Aprio, LLP | Tax Associate | Aston Woods Homes | Centralist Accounts Payable Coordinator | BDO USA, LLP | Risk Advisory Associate | BDO USA, LLP | Tax Associate | BDO USA, LLP | Risk Advisory Associate | BDO USA, LLP | Risk Advisory Associate | BDO USA, LLP | Risk Advisory Associate | Bennett Thrasher | Audit and Assurance Staff | Bridge Investment Group | Fund & Joint Venture Accounting Analyst I | Carr, Riggs & Ingram | Tax Intern | Caterpillar Inc. | Corporate Accounting Intern | Cherry Bekaert LLP | Staff Accountant | Citi | Investment Banking Analyst | CohnReznick LLP | Audit Associate | CohnReznick LLP | Intern | Cortland | Property Accountant | Credit Suisse | Investment Banking Analyst | Deloitte | Multistate Tax Consultant | Deloitte | Audit Staff | Deloitte | Audit Intern | Deloitte | Tax Consultant | Deloitte | Analyst | Deloitte | Audit Associate | Delta Air Lines | Financial Risk Management Associate Analyst | Dixon Hughes Goodman | Audit Associate | DLC Management Corp. | Junior Property Accountant | Duff & Phelps | Valuation Advisory Services Analyst | Elemaster Group Electronic Technologies | Staff Accountant | EY | FSO Assurance Staff | EY | FSO Tax Intern | EY | Audit Staff | EY | FSO Assurance Staff | EY | Assurance Staff | EY | Audit Intern | EY | FSO Assurance Staff | EY | FSO Assurance Staff | EY | FSO Assurance Staff | EY | Audit Intern | Hancock Askew & Co. LLP | Tax Accountant | Hansen Technologies, Inc. | Accounting Intern | Houlihan Lokey | Financial Analyst | Jones Petroleum | Accountant | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Commercial Banking Analyst | KPMG | Audit Associate | KPMG | Audit Associate | KPMG | Deal Advisory Intern | KPMG | Audit Associate | KPMG | Audit Associate | Lending Point | Staff Accountant | Mauldin & Jenkins | Accountant | NCR Cooperation | Financial Analyst | Nichols, Cauley & Associates, LLC | Accountant | Northpoint Commercial Finance | Underwriter | nThrive | Staff Accountant | NTT Data | Consultant | OTR Capital | Accounts Receivable Analyst | PwC | Assurance Associate | PwC | Associate | RSM US LLP | Assurance Associate | Textron | Finance LDP | Textron Specialized Vehicles | Accounting Analyst | The Home Depot | Project Analyst | Topgolf | Event Ambassador | UCL, INC | Accountant | UPS | Financial Specialist | US Air Force | Cyber Officer | W2 Accounting | Tax Accountant | W2 Accounting | Tax Accountant | WAGcpa | Tax Accountant |
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Accounting majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
| Graduate School | Program(s) |
|---|---|
| Boston College | Applied Economics, MS | Colorado State University | Accountancy, MAcc | Colorado State University | Accountancy, MAcc | Colorado State University | Accountancy, MAcc | Colorado State University | Accountancy, MAcc | Devry University | CPA Exam Prep Certificate Program, Graduate Certificate | Devry University | Not Specified | Devry University | CPA Exam Prep Certificate Program, Graduate Certificate | Emory University | Law, JD | Georgia Institute of Technology | Data Analytics, MS | Georgia State University | Public Adminstration, MPA | Kennesaw State University | Accounting and Data Analytics, MS | Kennesaw State University | Accountancy, MAcc | Kennesaw State University | Accountancy and Taxation, MS | Southern Methodist University | Accounting, MS | Stanford University | Business Administration, MBA | University of Florida | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Public Health, MPH | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Middle Grades Education, BSEd | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MBA | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Law, JD | University of Georgia | Accounting, BBA | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Graduate Certificate | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accounting and Tax Specialization, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Law, JD | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MBA | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Georgia | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Houston | Accountancy, MAcc | University of Missisippi | KPMG MADA with Emphasis in Taxation, MAcc | University of Mississippi | Taxation and Data Analytics, MS | University of Texas at Austin | Public Adminstration, MPA | University of Virginia | Commerce, MS | University of Virginia | Law, JD | Wake Forest University | Accountancy, MAcc |
* denotes no responses received.