About the CareerASSOCIATE DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING
About the CareerAccountants, bookkeepers, and auditors prepare, analyze and verify financial reports that help decision-makers maintain the financial health of their organization. Accounting is divided into four major fields: public, management, government and internal auditing. Specific job duties vary widely.
Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax and consulting activities for their clients, who may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. Some specialize in forensic accounting—investigating and interpreting bankruptcies and other complex financial transactions. Still others audit clients’ financial statements and report to investors and authorities that the statements have been correctly prepared and reported. Management accountants, also called industrial, corporate, or private accountants – record and analyze the financial information of the companies for which they work. Within accounting departments, they may work in various areas including financial analysis, planning and budgeting, and cost accounting. Public sector employment is also an option for a person with an accounting background. Accountants employed by Federal, State, and local governments guarantee that revenues are received and expenditures are made in accordance with laws and regulations. Internal auditing is an increasingly important area of accounting and auditing. Internal auditors verify the accuracy of their organization’s records and check for mismanagement, waste or fraud. There are many types of highly specialized auditors, such as electronic data processing, environmental, engineering, legal, insurance premium, bank and healthcare auditors.
Employment opportunities for accountants and auditors are expected to grow faster than the average for all other occupations due to the importance and complexity of financial management for all types of businesses.
The Accounting curriculum at Midlands Technical College is designed to prepare students for entry level accounting positions. The degree program is intended to help students develop the skills necessary for them to compete in the highly technical and rapidly changing business environment. New students will learn basic accounting theory along with hands-on application of accounting skills. Advance students will develop more technical expertise in the area of computerized accounting applications as well as exposure to cost and tax accounting. In addition, a variety of accounting electives, such as payroll accounting and auditing, are available to students to allow them to tailor their education to meet their individual career goals.
The Accounting program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
