Accounting is cool and versatile?!

Accounting is cooler - and more versatile - than you think.

You work at bank. You're around money, one way and or another, pretty much all day. Whether you realize it or not, you might already be an accountant.

There's a lot more to accounting than financial statements, audits and taxes.

With deep accounting knowledge, you'll have technical finance skills, a broad business background, and a versatile toolbox that unlocks lots of different career paths - including many outside of accounting. You'll build your business IQ.

>> VIDEO: "Why an MBA added a Master of Accounting degree to her resume." (4:17). Dominique was working at a bank in Fayetteville, N.C. She already had an MBA. What did she do next? She added the power of deep accounting knowledge to her resume and watched new career options open up right before her eyes. Watch Dominique's story.

>> Test yourself: Calculate your Business IQ.

A technical foundation

In any career, you'll be expected to be a good steward of your organization's financial resources. That means understanding your sources of revenue and costs, keeping track of financial information and making good decisions based on that information.

To someone with a Master of Accounting degree, those things become second nature. No matter what industry you're in, accounting know-how instantly makes you one of the smartest people in the room.

There's a lot you can do with deep accounting knowledge

In the C-suite: Senior management must understand their organization's complete financial picture and make sound financial decisions. They need experience in budgeting, profit and loss management and setting financial strategy, among other things.

When managing projects: Before a new project is approved, many companies require that its potential return on investment be calculated. Once it is kicked off, project managers - no matter what their industry or functional area in the company - are expected to manage costs and other financial aspects of their projects.

While doing business abroad: Global business is increasingly a reality. Analysts and managers must understand the differences in doing business in different countries, from tax liabilities to currency fluctuations.

When dealing with the law: All organizations need to understand how contracts, taxes and other legal matters affect their finances. And that requires the expertise of a trained accountant. Law firms and law enforcement agencies frequently need accountants to help them analyze and interpret financial information of all kinds.

In serving the public good: Government agencies and nonprofits may be mission-driven rather than profit-focused, but they still need professionals to ensure they're managing their money according to the constraints set down by legislators, donors and the law.

Whenever trust is important: Leaders must make decisions based on the information they have. They need to be confident that the numbers are right and that there are no hidden nuances that might steer their decisions down a different path. Accountants are frequently the guardians of this trust, making their role critical at the highest levels of any organization.

Many choices

An accounting degree doesn't lock you into a single career path. Instead, it gives you access to lots of potential jobs in lots of different organizations and industries.

Want to go higher on the corporate ladder? Want to move to another company? Want to start your own venture? A Master of Accounting degree may be exactly what you need to make the jump.

Your Business IQ

Learn more about how accounting makes you smarter. And, find out where do you stand now? Test your Business IQ and find out.

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Vendor: University of North Carolina’s Master of Accounting Program
The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School offers the nation's #1 ranked only Master of Accounting degree, with live evening classes, a flexible pace, and world-class faculty. Earn valuable skills and work toward the powerful CPA credential. Classes start every three months. For more information, visit us at onlinemac.unc.edu. Or, contact us directly at mac_info@unc.edu or 919-962-3209.