Accounting Career Paths: from Accounting Student to CEO

by Sarah Clark
Career Training Directory Columnist

If you thought accounting careers could only lead to bean counting, you may be surprised to learn that some accountants reach the highest, most desirable positions in business, even chief executive officer.

The Washington Post recently reported on the accounting career path of Kathleen M. Moore, who recently assumed the helm of Razorsight, a D.C. area business intelligence firm. What makes Moore’s career success so remarkable is her education and what it eventually led to. She graduated with a bachelor of science accounting degree. And after years of hard work, she’s gone on to assume top positions at a couple of startup companies.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’re thinking of becoming an accounting student, it shows that you may not have to settle for a long career of number crunching. Accounting degrees provide a solid foundation for a career in business. You might get your foot in the door of a large company through your knowledge of assets and revenue streams, but your options could very well expand from there in many directions.

Accounting Programs: What You’ll Learn

If you want a career in business that offers options, you might do well by choosing an accounting program within a business school that allows you to take a variety of business courses. Don’t limit yourself to accounting classes alone—take courses in other areas of business in which you’re interested. If you could see yourself in marketing, enroll in a marketing class. If you’re interested in making deals, take a class on mergers and acquisitions or negotiation.

The bottom line is that an accounting degree prepares students for much more than an accounting career keeping the books. You can go as far as you want in the business world—others have done it, and so can you.

About the Author

S. J. Clark is a freelance writer specializing in postsecondary education and career development.

Source(s)

The Washington Post (July 23, 2007)