A Career in Accounting Can Really Add Up

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

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.

About DeVry University

DeVry University's mission is to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education integrating technology, business, science and the arts. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs onsite and online covering 34 different career fields within its five distinguished colleges of study: Business & Management, Engineering & Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Media Arts & Technology. The university is institutionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, www.ncahlc.org. DeVry University provides an education that prepares its students for a lifetime of success with dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to their students' academic success. Its highly credentialed faculty members work in the fields that they teach, providing real-world experiences that prepare students for in-demand careers.

With more than 75 locations in the U.S., DeVry University is one of the largest private-sector universities in North America. The university is a part of DeVry Education Group DV, a global provider of educational services. Find DeVry University on Twitter @DeVryUniv and Facebook at /DEVRYUNIVERSITY, or visit newsroom.devry.edu.

About the Survey

The DeVry University Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18+, between Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 2015, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of U.S. adults ages 18 and over.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

¹ http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm

² https://www.experience.com/alumnus/article?channel_id=accounting&source_page=editors_picks&article_id=article_1173384870224

³ http://ww2.cfo.com/risk-management/2014/07/cfos-can-move-needle-cyber-security/

⁴ http://www.accountingweb.com/sites/default/files/How_Globalization_is_Affecting_US_Accountants--by_Bruce_Pounder_of_CPEanywhere.pdf

⁵ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/fight-fraud-as-a-forensic-accountant/article.aspx

⁶ http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/the-25-best-jobs-of-2015/ss-AA8aFW3#image=9

⁷ http://ww2.cfo.com/risk-management/2014/07/cfos-can-move-needle-cyber-security/

⁸ http://www.accountingweb.com/sites/default/files/How_Globalization_is_Affecting_US_Accountants--by_Bruce_Pounder_of_CPEanywhere.pdf

⁹ http://blog.aicpa.org/management-accounting/