What Can I Do with my Accounting Diploma?

Do you have a passion for crunching numbers? Do you consider yourself a math whiz?

Sure, you have the educational backing to answer yes to the questions above, but you can’t help but wonder what exactly it is that you want to do with your diploma.

You wonder if you be chained at your desk with a calculator constantly adding, subtracting, diving and multiplying to ensure your employer isn’t over budget? I highly doubt your career will be that mundane. While working with numbers will certainly be part in your role, it won’t be the sole part.

The Career Hunt

When you’re on the hunt and searching for your perfect career, find an employer that you like and a work culture you feel comfortable with, this is most important.

The beauty about accounting is that every company requires or will require a financial specialist. Whether the company is highly established or a small start up, your knowledge with accounting and money management will prove to be beneficial.

Where to Work

So you got a diploma in Business Accounting , but you don't want to get a certification. Your career options are not limited. There are plenty of options out there to choose from:

• Analysis
• Real estate
• Management
• Statistics
• Corporate training
• Purchasing
• Media
• Hospitality

Accounting grads have numerous skills, no pun intended. Beside the obvious financial skills, you as graduates also have great communications, software and analytical skills that are essential for career success.

Good luck on the job hunt!

About the School of Business

Centennial’s School of Business offers over 30 different dynamic programs to build your business skills and develop innovative thinking. Whether you want to study for one semester or three years, we can offer co-op placements, work-integrated learning placements, and multiple Degree partnerships. We offer opportunities that will get you the hands on skills and accreditation that you need to build a successful career in an ever-changing world of business.

The School of Business prides itself on providing employers with graduates who have relevant and cutting edge skills. To continue to stay ahead of the competition, Centennial maintains close ties with the community, business organizations and alumni.

Business Accounting Program Opens Doors To Career or Further Education

Since accounting is all about money, it’s important to consider the possible earning outcomes for those who attend accounting programs such as Centennial College’s Business Administration – Accounting. In 2006, most accountants made between $42,520 and $71,960 a year. The lowest-paid accountants earned around $34,470, while the highest-paid earned $94,050 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By attending Centennial College's business accounting program, it is possible to be in the highest-paid echelon as students are trained to work in areas like: manufacturing organizations, merchandising organizations, service organizations, and the public, private and/or non-profit sectors of the economy. Additionally, students who attend this program may pursue even more education and enter high-paying positions right away instead of working their way up in the field. Substantial transfer credits may be granted to those students of the Business Accounting program who pursue the Certified General Accountants (CGA) professional qualification. Qualified graduates may also be eligible to participate in an articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study. The business accounting program's partners are Athabasca University, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario and Hawaii Pacific University.

The Centennial College Business Accounting program mixes traditional teaching with a co-op option that allows students to experience the field through a career placement. "Revenue Canada is a big employer for co-op students," says accounting programs instructor John Harris. "Not only do they apply their work and what they learned at school [during co-op], they also gain valuable work experience, which means these students are in high demand."

In addition to this co-op experience, students attend a combination of business courses and accounting courses that lay a strong foundation for those pursuing a professional accounting designation. These courses include: Financial Accounting, Quantitative Methods, Accounting Systems, Corporate Finance, Management Accounting and more. Through such a range, the business accounting program helps students to develop fundamental skills in problem solving, communications, mathematics, analysis and other business functions.

Many business accounting program classes are taught in a lab environment that is fully equipped with an integrated network of computer systems. As such, the use of suite software to advanced accounting software and systems design is covered.

To apply for this business accounting program, applicants are required to posses an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older during the application process. They must also possess the compulsory English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11C, M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Crunch Numbers to Ensure the Success of a Company as an Accountant

A large part of the success of any company comes from the job done by its accounting department. This financial sector of the industry analyzes financial information and prepares financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization. In other words, accountants crunch numbers to ensure that the financial aspect of a company is at its best.

While we often associate accounting with tax time, accountants are responsible for much more than just filling out your tax forms at the end of the year. These professionals have a multitude of tasks within small businesses, large companies or in the personal finances of individuals. At the base of their jobs, accountants keep records that document every financial aspect of the company so that problem areas can be pinpointed and corrected. They also handle payrolls and sales, perform audits, analyze a business’s ledger and operations, develop budgets, prepare forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel, advise in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting and data processing systems and more; investigate bankruptcies, and much more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most accountants made between $42,520 and $71,960 a year in 2006. The lowest-paid accountants earned less than $34,470, while the highest-paid earned $94,050 a year.

There are a few qualities that will help to make a person a successful accountant. Of course, mathematical aptitude and strong analytical skills top the list of must-have attributes. Second, as accounting is an exceptionally time-sensitive job (especially when it comes to employee compensation), these professionals should also possess organizational and multitasking skills. Another attribute of a successful accountant is being detail-oriented. In this profession, small errors such as the incorrect placement of a decimal point can result in big financial losses. Lastly, accountants should be comfortable with their ability to use spreadsheets and database programs. They should also have familiarity with common accounting software.

Luckily, there is a program that teaches all those skills and more. Centennial College’s three-year Business Administration – Accounting program provides the rigorous training that students need to be successful. By offering courses in financial accounting, management accounting, taxation auditing, corporate finance and computers, students are guaranteed to have well-rounded knowledge by the end of the program. The topics that are covered serve to help students develop a strong foundation in problem solving, communications, math, analysis and other business functions. Classes are taught in lab environments that are fully equipped with an integrated network of computer systems so any computer courses are hands-on, allowing students to develop proficiencies with industry standard accounting software such as Simply Accounting and ACCPAC for Windows and SAP. Another aspect of the Business Administration – Accounting program that ensures student success is flexibility in curriculum design. For more important features, check out the Accounting program’s benefits page, which also has information on its educational partners.

To enjoy all that the Business Administration - Accounting program has to offer, students must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older during the application process. They must also possess the compulsory English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11C, M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.