Accounting

It is important to understand that employers hire people, not degrees. The skills and knowledge you develop as a result of your education, as well as in your work and community activities, have the greatest impact on hiring decisions. Listed below are some key skills and knowledge you will acquire as a result of your university education and your focus on Accounting.                                  

Specific Knowledge Skills

• Ability to apply accounting, finance and management practices and principles to a variety of situations
• Ability to synthesize and analyze whole business solutions including financial components, global and local resources, market trends, business requirements and new opportunities
• Awareness of the key components of and the interconnections among financial statements including how business transactions are processed to produce financial statements
• Knowledge of strategic financial planning, assessment and decision making and the ability to describe and explain financial information and decisions to the public
• Skills to verify and assess information and data and determine risk and reward probabilities
• Ability to make assessments of risk and reward (cost and benefit) for decision making and planning
• Skills to determine the appropriate allocation and distribution of resources, finances, materials and personnel based on an analysis of resources and calculation of probability
• Knowledge of the budgeting process and the ability to understand and interpret financial information
• Skills to conduct quantitative/qualitative analysis of information/data to forecast trends and make plans

Valuable Transferable Skills

• The skills required to identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources
• The ability to compile and organize facts and information and to comprehend and apply new and/or unfamiliar information to different situations and settings
• Skills in preparing interesting, creative and informative presentations which target diverse audiences
• The ability to develop attractive/effective reports, presentations, and materials using current technology

Thinking, Planning and Organizational Skills

• The ability to learn, understand and interpret information and apply knowledge to new situations
• The ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and effectively plan/manage time, data and resources
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to make well-reasoned decisions, think creatively and search for, identify, and consider all sides of an issue
• Skills to effectively analyze and interpret a wide range of information and data to discuss, support and/or reject ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals

Teamwork and Management Skills

• Skills enabling you to work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, through leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others, to the success of the team
• An understanding of how to successfully identify, plan and contribute to the goals of a project
• The ability to oversee, supervise and/or contribute to a project from beginning to end including determining outcomes, planning details, making decisions, assigning roles and completing tasks

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Some Career Options for Accounting Majors

 
(Additional education, training or experience may be required)  

Designations

Certified Management Accountants (CMA)
Chartered Accountants (CA)
Certified General Accountants (CGA)

Examples of jobs directly related to Accounting (also see Business Administration Handout)

Cost Accountant	Controller	Auditor
Accounts Receivable Manager	Forensic Accountant	Treasurer
Public Accountant	Tax Accountant	Payable Manager
Mergers and Acquisitions	Financial Analyst	Financial Planner
Inventory/Operations Manager	Accounts Payable Manager	Treasury Officer
Financial Advisor	Portfolio Manager	Actuary
Corporate Banker

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Additional Jobs                          

Labour Relations Advisor	Management Consultant	Market  Research Analyst
Media Representative	Client Representative	Underwriter
Talent Administrator	Portfolio Strategist	Project Analyst
Benefits/Compensation Analyst	International Analyst	Materials Manager
Cash Management Officer	Loan/Mortgage Officer	Bank Examiner
Community Agency Director	Pension Fund Manager	Credit Analyst
Development Fund Manager	Media Buyer	Branch Manager
Efficiency Expert/Analyst	Purchasing Agent	Estate Planner
Property Developer/Manager	Health Administrator	Insurance Agent Broker
Distribution Manager	Claims Adjuster	Merchandiser
Consumer Credit Analyst	Urban Planner	Job/Wage Analyst
Seniors Home Administrator	Professional Agent	Securities Analyst
Event Planner	Opinion Researcher	Trader
Consumer Advocate	Restaurant/Motel  Manager	Account Manager
Convention/Meeting Planner	Logistics Manager	Export Manager
Public Policy Analyst	Quality Assurance	Researcher
Statistician	Corporate Trainer	Relator
Merchandiser	Training and Development
Travel Agent	Underwriter
Logistics Manager	Mediator
Professional Agent	Job Analyst

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