Every successful organization needs accounting and good accountants. If you are interested in a career in business and want a major that will provide you with a wide variety of opportunities, consider accounting.

Entry-level accountants can begin their careers in a number of different accounting and business positions. You may choose a career in public accounting and work for a Big Four firm or a local or regional accounting firm. You might also work in the managerial/cost accounting area which is concerned with internal reporting and decision-making or the financial reporting area which involves the preparation of financial information for use by investors, creditors and others or in internal audit which is concerned with the operational and financial efficiency of the company. If you like adventure, a career with the FBI might be of interest. The FBI is always interested in hiring good accountants. If you enjoy tax work, you might want to consider the IRS or a state or local taxing authority. And, of course, there are many opportunities available in government agencies and non-profit organizations. A growing area is internal auditing and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act(SOX). All public companies must have internal audit departments and these companies must comply with SOX. Thus, there are many employment opportunities in these areas.

Starting Your Career

The George W. Daverio School of Accountancy offers qualifying students the opportunity to gain practical experience prior to graduation through participation in the accounting internship program. The internship program is offered in both the spring and summer semesters, and internships are available in public accounting firms and industry. Interns work full-time for a minimum of ten weeks, are paid a very reasonable salary and most importantly gain valuable practical experience. Also, upon graduation, interns are frequently offered full-time employment by their internship firm.

In addition to offering internship opportunities, the School maintains a listing of part-time accounting positions available with local companies. Students wishing to gain some practical experience and supplement their college savings can take advantage of these opportunities.

As a service to its graduating seniors, the College of Business Administration has an excellent Career Center. Numerous firms interested in hiring accounting majors contact the Career Center each semester. A few firms which have participated recently in the internship program or recruited full-time employees from the School include: Babcock & Wilcox; Bober, Markey & Co.; Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co.; Deloitte & Touche; Delphi Packard Electric; Ernst & Young; Hausser & Taylor; KPMG Peat Marwick; Packer, Thomas & Co.; Price Waterhouse Coopers; Sterling, Inc.; Sherwin-Williams; State of Ohio Auditor's Office; The Akron Beacon Journal; The J.M. Smucker Co. and many other prominent firms.