"There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting"
~ David Letterman

What is accounting?

Referred to as "the language of business", accounting is the business function of tracking the monetary activities of an organization, government, or an individual. Accounting is essential to all organizations because it allows managers to evaluate organizational performance and pinpoint which areas are successful financially and which need to be altered. It is a way of summarizing the past, for the purpose of determining future goals. Within the accounting field, jobs are grouped in various areas including traditional accounting, auditing, taxation, management policy, information systems, computer operations, and other areas. Many accounting firms require accountants to become a CPA (certified public accountant) to advance beyond entry level positions.

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at William Paterson University consists of 68 credit hours beyond the general GE requirements. Students complete a common 33 credit business core required of all business majors, with an additional 21 credits in the accounting discipline. Accounting majors also are required to take specialized quantitative math courses and 6 credits of directed electives reflecting trends in the field. Classes within the accounting include, but are not limited to, Intermediate Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, and Business Law. For those wishing to pursue the CPA in the future, students may want to consider the 150 credit combined undergraduate program. All business majors must accumulate enrichment points through internship, practicum, and/or job shadowing alternatives.

To learn more about the degree requirements, please visit this link: http://www.wpunj.edu/cob/COB_new/undergraduate/ugacct.htm

Admissions information on Accounting is located here: http://www.wpunj.edu/admissions/undergraduate/academic-programs/programs_detail.dot?id=120088

What interests and skills do potential employers value in this career?

• Problem solving skills
• Ability to organize information
• Work well with numerical data
• Ability to analyze and interpret data
• Critical thinking skills
• Computer literacy
• Efficiency
• Ability to work both independently and in teams
• Communication skills, both oral and written

What types of jobs can accounting majors get?

Work Environment :
Careers in accounting are located in a variety of industries and environments. Generally, employment is divided into two sectors: public accounting and private accounting. Professionals may choose to work directly for individuals as personal accountants, in government agencies, business environments, and non-profit organizations.

Possible Job Titles

In what locations and capacities have William Paterson University business alumni worked?

Auditor Arthur Andersen
Staff Accountant Price Waterhouse Coopers
Accountant New York Life
Accountant Panasonic
Revenue Auditor Illinois Department of Revenue
Tax Accountant CYTEC Industries
Field Auditor Blue Cross Blue Shield
Accountant/Auditor NJ Division of Taxation
Junior Accountant Barneys New York
Junior Accountant Hunter Douglas
Staff Accountant Coca Cola Enterprises
Auditor/Bookkeeper Home Depot
Financial Analyst Ernst & Young
Assistant Comptroller of the Currency National Bank
Financial Analyst Prudential Insurance, Co.
Operations Administrator Deutsche Bank
Staff Accountant Weichert Relocation

Aside from majoring in accounting, what else can I do that may enhance my qualifications?

Successful students tend to seek out opportunities to enhance their qualifications through a variety of means. Within accounting, some suggestions may include joining or becoming a leader in career-related campus organizations, including the Accounting Society; joining a national professional accounting association; gaining practical experience through an internship/practicum/job shadowing; attending networking functions; attending accounting symposiums on campus.

Where else can I read about accounting ?

Related Web Sites :

CPAdirectory.com www.cpadirectory.com

Accounting.com www.accounting.com

Accounting Info www.careers-in-accounting.com

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants www.aicpa.org

Association of Government Accountants www.agacgfm.org

Occupational Outlook www.bls.gov/oco/

Industry Information http://www.thevault.com/hubs/501/channelhome_501.jsp?ch_id=253

Job Search and Salary information www.rileyguide.com

MBA information www.mba.com

Other sources of information :

Please drop by the Career Development and Advisement Center to learn more about careers in accounting. The career library carries career-specific books and counselors are available to answer any further questions you may have. Visiting the Accounting and Law department on campus may also prove valuable in addressing questions.

The Career Development and Gloria S. Williams Advisement Center
Student Center 301, 300 Pompton Road Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone 973.720.2281/2282 Fax 973.720.2074

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