Department of Accounting and Law

Jumpstart your
accounting career

The Department of Accounting and Law, in our AACSB-accredited Cotsakos College of Business, prepares students to excel in a wide range of career paths, including auditing and other assurance services, budgeting, tax accounting, systems consulting, internal auditing, and cost accounting, among others. Here are some key national statistics for accounting careers from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Salary.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Starting Salary
$49,179-$65,843

Average Starting Salaries in Accounting Fields (NACE)

Noteworthy Accounting Jobs and Regional Mid-Career Salaries (Salary.com and Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Finance Director $119,000 Accounting Director $113,000 Accounting Partner $190,093 Tax Manager $104,000 Financial Controller $225,000 Financial Advisor $88,100
Six months out of graduation
90%

Alumni in business employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation

Get Prepared to Succeed

The accounting curriculum prepares students for professional examinations including the CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CMA (Certified Management Accountant), and CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), and other certifications. It also prepares students to pursue advanced degrees such as the master of science in accounting, master of business administration (MBA), or master of taxation. Our students gain real-world experience through internships, mentoring, and other professional enrichment activities.

What You'll Learn

In accounting, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including the ability to:

  • Communicate effectively in a business context
  • Demonstrate awareness of issues of ethics and social responsibility
  • Apply quantitative measures and analytical skills to business decisions
  • Work in groups, among others

Key Skills for
Careers in
Accounting

as indicated by Employers
and Alumni on LinkedIn

Auditing

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Data Analysis

Digital Fluency

Excel

Financial Reporting

QuickBooks

*LinkedIn Workplace
Learning Report 2021