Get Career Ready!

The accounting department works closely with the Porter Family Professional Development Center to help students find both internships and employment after graduation.聽 Our accounting curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of most 鈥 we have graduates that work in states across the US as well as overseas!

Internships

One benefit of the accounting field is that public accounting firms have a business model that requires many interns and new hires, which results in a structured internship and recruiting process.

Typically, a 鈥淢eet the Firms鈥 event is held early in the fall semester that gives students a chance to meet with many accounting firms throughout a 2-hour period.聽 久久热 then submit applications online and accounting firms perform interviews and/or office visits during the fall semester.聽 Internships are available year-round, but the winter (January鈥揂pril) and summer months (May鈥揓uly) are the most popular. 聽Generally, successful completion of an internship leads to a full-time job offer after graduation.

Miss the fall interview process? Don鈥檛 worry! The demand for accounting majors is very high. Reach out to the Porter Center to let career advisors know you鈥檙e “in the market” for an internship.

Accounting majors are required to complete at least one internship for academic credit through either ACC 4985 or BUS 3985. Some of the areas students have interned in are audit, tax, risk advisory, operations with companies like PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and Credit Suisse.

Graduation Outcomes

Elon Accounting alumni work for employers such as PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, RSM, Grant Thornton, BDO, Crowe, Moss Adams, Baker Tilly, CohnReznick, Dixon Hughes Goodman, Cherry Bekaert, Elliott Davis, Cobb Ezekiel Loy & Company, and Gilliam Bell Moser.

Career Paths

Another benefit of the accounting major is the hiring process and early career development.

The typical path for accounting majors after graduation is to start their careers at a public accounting firm. Public accounting firms provide audit, tax, and consulting services to all types of for-profit businesses (small, medium and large companies; sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations) as well as not-for-profit and governmental entities.

Public accounting firms offer graduates an accelerated path in which they gain knowledge and experience faster than they might in a typical 鈥渋ndustry鈥 job.聽 The typical career progression is to spend years 1-3 as a staff, years 3-5 as a senior, years 5-15 as a manager/senior manager, and then moving into a partner or director role.聽 While the career progression in public accounting can be intense, most accounting majors work a few years in public accounting before finding a slower-paced job at a company in a field they have an interest in.

What career paths are available in public accounting?

 

AUDIT TAX ADVISORY
External audit Personal tax ESG and Sustainability
Internal audit Partnership tax Risk advisory (i.e. cyber, regulatory, strategic, internal controls)
Compliance audit Corporate tax Mergers and acquisitions
Digital assurance International tax Personal financial planning
Climate and sustainability assurance State and local tax Business valuation
Fraud and Forensics
Tax strategy

    What Can I Do With a Career in Accounting?

    A degree in accounting can lead you to these types of careers:

    • Chief Accounting Officer
    • Chief Financial Officer
    • Partner
    • Consulting Managing Director
    • Corporate Controller
    • Director of Risk Management
    • Director of Internal Audit
    • Director of Compliance
    • Budget Director
    • VP of Finance
    • VP of Internal Audit
    • VP of IT Audit
    • Fraud Examiner
    • Technology Risk Consultant
    • Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst
    • Senior Cost Accountant
    • Business Analyst
    • Audit Consultant
    • Tax Consultant

    What Certifications Are Useful for a Career in Accounting?

    • CPA:
    • CMA:
    • CFA:
    • CFP:
    • CGMA:
    • CIA:
    • CFE:
    • CISA:
    • CRISC:
    • CGEIT:
    • CRFAC:
    • EA:

    Why Become a CPA?

    • for college students considering a major in accounting or declared accounting majors

    Ready to Sit for the CPA Exam?

    For more information on CPA Exam and licensure issues, please contact Patty Cox at coxpat@elon.edu