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Career Information for Accounting Majors

General career guide

Introduction:

Accounting involves the examination, organization, management and design of accurate recording and reporting procedures of financial and business transactions. The study of accounting helps you learn the various ways of maintaining accurate, up-to-date financial and business records.

from: College Majors and Careers: A Resource Guide for Effective Life Planning. 5th ed. by Paul Phifer. p. 11 BUSCAREER REF: HF5382.5.U5 P445 2003

Careers include:

•
  • Accountant
 •
  • Internal Auditor
• Auditor • Investment Banker
• Controller • Public Accountant
• Financial Planner • Tax Preparer
• Insurance Agent • Treasurer
• Internal Revenue Agent • Underwriter

Occupational Outlook Handbook:

Search for reports on Accounting or any of the above occupations. OOH provides

• Hundreds of types of jobs, accessible by job title or general occupational areas • Expected job growth
• Job descriptions
• Training & educational requirements • Working conditions
• Salaries • Link to Career Guide for Industries

Vault Online Career Library:

•
  • Career articles
 • Industry guides
• Descriptions of occupations • Vault print guides to individual companies, specific majors and career resources
• Occupational surveys
• Company profiles    

WetFeet Career Guides:

•
  • University Park students may contact Career Services for electronic access to Wetfeet Guides
 •
  • Career requirements
• Geographic search capability
• [For print resources in the Library, Check the CAT. In the Advanced Search, combine "WetFeet" as a keyword with a subject (like Accounting or Resumes) to narrow your search.] • Interviews with recruiters
• Articles
• Job search strategies
   

Associations:

Associations provide not only helpful information for practitioners, but wonderful career resources as well. Association web sites often have two levels of access: public information (free) and also information for members only (fee-based). Associations usually publish newsletters, journals and other resources to help their membership stay on top of issues in the profession. Links to related associations are usually posted.

National Associations:

AICPA (The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants)

•
  • Career advice
• Job search tools
• Mentoring
• Women in the profession
• Work/life balance
• Young CPA network

American Accounting Association

•
  • Career Fair at the Annual Meeting
• Student super link pages
• Regional information
• Information by section (ex: Management accounting)

NSA (National Society of Accountants)

•
  • Student membership
• Scholarship Foundation
•
  • Affiliated state organizations
State Associations:

PICPA (Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants)

•
  • Student membership
• cpazone.org
• Partners with CareerBank
• Entry Level Job Positions

 

 

Additional associations may be found in each report in the Occupation Outlook Handbook

Find books, videos and other resources in the CAT:

  • Titles with numerous majors and occupations:
  • Suggested search term combinations:
  Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance
BUSCARREF HF5381.E52 2005
  Accounting AND Careers
  Accounting AND Employment
  Accounting AND Vocational Guidance
     
   
  Best Jobs for the 21st Century
BUSCARREF HF5381.15.F37 2006		    

 

Find Articles in Proquest:

Proquest provides access to over 5000 titles. Suggested searches:

•
  • Specific companies
 •
  • Browse publications such as The Wall Street Journal
• Corporate culture
• Employee satisfaction • Narrow search to trade publications
• Accounting AND employment
• Accounting AND careers    

 

Find company information in Hoovers:

•
  • Proprietary company and industry information
 •
  • Career development
• News • Industry trends

 

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©2003 The Pennsylvania State University
last updated 09/04/07
U.Ed.LIB 04-67