Careers: accountant, bookkeeper, financial analyst, tax preparer, and loan officer. Majors: Accounting, Finance, Economics, Insurance and Risk Management, and Business Analytics.
College majors for finance and accounting
Accounting
Teaches you to record, analyze, report and audit financial information.
Finance
Studies how individuals and organizations raise, invest and manage money.
Economics
Studies how people, businesses and governments make choices about scarce resources.
Insurance and Risk Management
Studies how risks are measured, priced and covered by insurance.
Business Analytics
Teaches you to use data and statistics to answer business questions.
Mathematics
Studies numbers, structures, patterns and logical reasoning.
Careers in finance and accounting
Accountant
Prepare and examine financial records, taxes and reports that guide business decisions.
- Typical training: 4+ years
Bookkeeper
Record transactions, reconcile accounts and keep a business’s books accurate.
- Typical training: 3–12 months
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial data to guide business and investment decisions.
- Typical training: 4 years
Tax Preparer
Prepare income tax returns and help clients understand what they owe or get back.
- Typical training: 1–3 months of tax training
Loan Officer
Help people and businesses get mortgages and loans, from application to closing.
- Typical training: 3–6 months for mortgage licensing
Budget Analyst
Help organizations plan spending and stick to their budgets.
- Typical training: Entry-level with a degree
Financial Advisor
Help people plan for retirement, college and other financial goals.
- Typical training: Long-term on-the-job training
Payroll Clerk
Make sure employees are paid correctly and on time.
- Typical training: A few months on the job
Skills these careers use
- Excel
- GAAP and financial reporting
- Tax preparation
- Auditing and internal controls
- Excel and financial modeling
- Double-entry bookkeeping
Minors that fit this interest
- Accounting: Adds the ability to read, prepare and analyze financial records.
- Economics: Adds an understanding of markets, incentives and economic policy.
- Finance: Adds knowledge of investments, financial markets and corporate finance.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what accountants do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: GAAP and financial reporting, tax preparation, and auditing and internal controls
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Finance and Accounting
A self-paced online course on what bookkeepers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: double-entry bookkeeping, quickBooks or Xero, and bank reconciliation
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Finance and Accounting
A self-paced online course on what financial analysts do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: financial modeling, excel, and accounting fundamentals
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Finance and Accounting
Finance and Accounting: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in finance and accounting?
Careers connected to finance and accounting include accountant, bookkeeper, financial analyst, tax preparer, loan officer, budget analyst, financial advisor, and payroll clerk.
What should I major in if I am interested in finance and accounting?
Majors connected to finance and accounting include Accounting, Finance, Economics, Insurance and Risk Management, Business Analytics, and Mathematics. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What finance and accounting careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include bookkeeper, tax preparer, and payroll clerk. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which finance and accounting careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include accountant, financial analyst, loan officer, budget analyst, and financial advisor. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in finance and accounting?
Skills that come up often in these careers include excel, GAAP and financial reporting, tax preparation, auditing and internal controls, excel and financial modeling, and double-entry bookkeeping, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in finance and accounting?
Minors connected to finance and accounting include Accounting, Economics, and Finance.
How do I start a career in finance and accounting?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore finance and accounting careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in finance and accounting involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to finance and accounting?
Yes. Related online trainings include Accountant Training, Bookkeeper Training, and Financial Analyst Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to finance and accounting?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.