DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., April 07, 2015 - The digital age and a growing global economy have created a need for new types of accounting career paths than most people realize, according to a survey commissioned by DeVry University. The survey sheds light on the evolving, dynamic world of accounting and the need to attract the right talent to the field.
“Many people think the finance or tax industries are the only career options for an accountant,” explained Joyce Barden, CPA, CGMA, CBM, accounting program chair and senior professor at DeVry University. “An accounting degree actually opens the door for students to enter diverse fields, especially those related to technology and security. Many job seekers would be surprised to learn that their perceptions are far from reality.”
According to the survey results, nearly half of respondents do not believe accounting is an in-demand field, though the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects it will grow 13 percent between 2012 and 2022, with select specializations projected to grow even faster.1
Hot Career Tracks for Accountants Today
Forensic accounting, IT consulting and global business management have emerged as growing opportunities for accounting graduates in almost every industry. 2 3 4
- Forensic accounting and fraud investigation: Global companies now employ forensic accountants to protect them from fraud and white-collar crime. Nearly 40 percent of the top 100 accounting firms in the United States now have forensic accounting departments, and U.S. News and World Report ranked a career in information security analysis eighth on its list of best jobs in 2015. 5 6
- IT consulting: Cyber security threats have become a chief concern for many business owners, and accountants are tasked with auditing security systems. In a 2014 survey by AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 55 percent of senior accounting executives described themselves as highly focused on IT development and cyber security.7
- Global business management: As companies become increasingly global, accountants are being tapped for strategic analysis and organizational oversight. Managerial accounting, a career that often leads accountants to the C-suite, holistically analyzes company financial and non-financial information to enhance business performance in a global market. 8 9
“Today’s accountants do much more than crunch numbers; they help companies make important business decisions, impart technologically driven insight and even solve white-collar crime,” said Barden. “Accounting degrees are proving to be a great ramp into the business experience necessary to lead an organization in today’s global, digital and transparent environment.”
DeVry University’s degree programs are designed to teach students today’s relevant skills so they can succeed in the accounting careers they want. To learn more about DeVry University’s accounting degree programs, including graduate studies at its Keller Graduate School of Management, visit www.devry.edu/accounting.
