MBA细分专业的概述-Accounting

MBA 细分专业的概述 -Accounting 1. Accounting What do accountants do? Accountants offer a wide array of business and accounting services including public, management, and government accounting, as well as internal auditing. In each of these major fie

MBA细分专业的概述-Accounting

1.    Accounting

What do accountants do?

Accountants offer a wide array of business and accounting services including public, management, and government accounting, as well as internal auditing. In each of these major fields, accountants and auditors prepare, analyze, and verify financial documents in order to provide information to clients.

Public Accountants: Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, who may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals.

Consultants: Consultants offer advice in areas such as compensation or employee health care benefits; the design of accounting and data processing systems; and the selection of controls to safeguard assets.

Forensic Accountants: Forensic accountants investigate and interpret bankruptcies and other complex financial transactions.

Management Accountants: Management accountants record and analyze a corporation's financial information in addition to budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management, and asset management.

Public Sector Accountants: Government accountants and auditors maintain and examine the records of government agencies and audit private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation.

What degree options are available in accounting?

Undergraduates can earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting or take accounting classes as part of a business degree. MBA students can choose concentrations in accounting, and some schools offer master¹s degree in accountancy (MAcc).

What's the difference between a master's in accounting and an MBA with an accounting concentration?

While both an MBA with a focus on accounting and a Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree will prepare you to assume managerial positions within the field of accounting, the MBA degree will provide you with more general skills that are transferable to other areas. The MAcc will provide you with greater accounting expertise and will prepare candidates for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, but fewer transferable skills. Some MBA programs provide candidates with sufficient credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam. The MBA degree's broad curriculum also helps accountants with client management and other strategic issues in performing their jobs, especially in management advisory services.

What will I study?

The MAcc curriculum generally includes preparation for the CPA exam, and the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination, in addition to courses in financial and managerial accounting, research, business valuation, cost management, information systems, auditing, policy, taxation, and consulting services. MBA curriculum with an accounting concentration emphasizes general management and business coursework as well as in depth accounting applications and concepts.

What skills are necessary to work in the field of accounting?

Certification and licensure in accounting and auditing are standard requirements for employment in this field. Successful accountants and auditors are generally detail-oriented, highly motivated researchers, and knowledgeable about U.S. and international tax laws, economics and money markets. In addition to self-confidence, maturity, and the ability to work independently, candidates for accounting positions need a broad range of skills including:

Excellent mathematical and computer skills

Excellent analytic and problem solving skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills

What career paths do MBA or MAcc graduates follow?

Many graduates enter into the profession as financial analysts or internal auditors in such areas as financial planning, resource allocation, and management information systems. Beginning public accountants usually start by assisting with work for several clients. Those who excel may become supervisors, managers, and partners, open their own public accounting firms, or transfer to executive positions in management accounting or internal auditing in private firms. Management accountants often start as cost accountants, junior internal auditors, or as trainees for other accounting positions. As they rise through the organization, they may advance to accounting manager, chief cost accountant, budget director, or manager of internal auditing. Some become controllers, treasurers, financial vice presidents, chief financial officers, or corporation presidents. In general, there is a large degree of mobility among public accountants, management accountants, and internal auditors. Practitioners often shift into management accounting or internal auditing from public accounting, or between internal auditing and management accounting.

What certification or training is necessary for a career in accounting?

Professional recognition through certification or licensure provides a distinct advantage in the job market. All CPAs must have a certificate and the partners in their firm must have licenses issued by a State Board of Accountancy. The vast majority of States require CPA candidates to be college graduates, but a few States substitute a number of years of public accounting experience for the college degree. Nearly all States require CPAs and other public accountants to complete a certain number of hours of continuing professional education before their licenses can be renewed. Voluntary certification can attest to professional competence in a specialized field of accounting and auditing. Graduates from accredited colleges and universities who have worked for 2 years as internal auditors and have passed a four-part examination may earn the designation Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) from the Institute of Internal Auditors.

What's the overall career outlook for accountants?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow about 10 to 20 percent through the year 2008. As the economy grows, more accountants and auditors will be needed to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice. In response to market demand, these accounting professionals will offer more management and consulting services as they take on a greater advisory role and develop more sophisticated and flexible accounting systems. Also, internal auditors will increasingly be needed to discover and eliminate waste and fraud. Competition is keen for the most prestigious jobs in major accounting and business firms, but graduates with a master's degree in accounting or a master's in business administration will have a distinct advantage in the job market.