Accountants communicate financial information about a business to shareholders, managers, and others. More than half of America’s accounting students are female, partly because technology enables many accountants to maintain a flexible schedule while working from home. It is a future-focused, family-friendly, and financially rewarding career choice.

There are many specialty areas within accounting:

• Public accounting involves providing audit, tax, and consulting services to the public. Public accounting generally requires one to be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The CPA license in Utah requires a master’s degree. USU’s School of Accountancy has consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally for students who pass the CPA exam on their first try.
• Many accountants are privately employed by businesses or not-for-profit agencies, such as hospitals, universities, or charitable groups and work in product costing and pricing, budgeting, and the examination of investment alternatives.
• Internal auditors look at controls and procedures used by their employer.

• Accountants can also serve as in-house tax accountants, financial managers, etc.

 With a degree in accounting, students may pursue the following careers:

•     Public accountant - auditing, taxes, consulting (with graduate degree)
•     Finance officer
•     IRS agent
•     Assurance services
•     Forensic accounting
•     Auditor
•     Consulting services
•     Information technology services
•     Environmental accounting
•     International accounting
•     Tax and financial planning