Penn State University Libraries - Accounting Majors

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

Careers include:

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

Search for reports about Accounting or any of the careers listed above. The Occupational Outlook Handbook website maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor provides:

• Hundreds of types of jobs, accessible by job title or general occupational areas
• Training and educational requirements
• Salaries
• Expected job growth
• Job descriptions
• Working conditions

Vault Online Career Library:

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

WetFeet Career Guides:

• University Park students may contact Career Services for electronic access to Wetfeet Guides
• [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.]
• Career requirements
• Geographic search capability
• Interviews with recruiters
• Articles
• Job search strategies

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:

• Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance
  BUSCARREF HF5381.E52 2008
• Best Jobs for the 21st Century
  BUSCARREF HF5381.15.F37
• Salary Facts Handbook
  BUSCARREF HD4975.S253 2008

Suggested search term combinations:

• Accounting AND Careers
• Accounting AND Employment
• Accounting AND Vocational Guidance

Find Articles in ProQuest

Proquest provides access to over 5000 titles. Suggested searches:

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

Find Company Information in Hoovers

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