Due to new corporate accounting laws being passed in the U.S., there is a popular demand for accounting degrees. Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) & Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), are the three types of accountants.

A career in accounting is promising and secure and the best part is that it keeps improving every day. A major chunk of the accounting professionals present believe that they have better job opportunities than what they currently hold. That is definitely a big plus sign for this field. Studies by the bureau of labor statistics show that job opportunities and fillings for accountants worldwide will grow to around 16 percent by the year 2016. Choosing a career in accounting would prove to be a rewarding one.

There is always a demand for accountants and auditors, especially after the recent number of scams that have rocked accounting firms. The U.S. government passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2003 with a view to put off all other scandals. This ensures that all companies prepare accurate financial reports and thus strengthen the control over their assets. This has only spurred a greater demand for accountants. Because of businesses venturing into international market and their need to deal with a greater employee number, accountants are hired in numbers to take care of all aspects of international economy and growing retirement policies.

CPA’s are accountants that offer an extensive list of services to the public which include accounting, tax planning, and financial advisory services. CIAs work in an auditing capacity for employers, while CMAs generally work for companies but might also serve the public in a more limited way than CPAs.

If you plan on becoming a CPA, you would have your bachelor’s degree in accounting at least. This degree will involve courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing. If you want to be at a better post in your career then it is recommended that you complete your master’s degree in accounting and obtain a certificate or a license. You would need to be a CPA to file reports at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The strongest skill that an accountant should possess is to deal with math problems effectively. Accounting schools coach you on how you can garner better jobs and how you can climb up the professional ladder. For any entry level jobs, a bachelor’s degree in accounting is sufficient, but if you want to be at the top then you would need to earn a master’s degree as well. Jobs like accounting clerks or book-keepers would need a minimum of a two year associate’s degree.

A bachelor’s accounting degree takes about four years but you would have better job opportunities compared to an associate’s degree. The degree involves around 36 credits of complicated accounting courses, not to forget another 20 credits in business courses.