Accounting and Finance Professionals are in high demand in nearly every corner of the business world, from manufacturing and real estate to construction and healthcare. The opportunities are numerous for students who want to pursue an accounting career, both at the clerical level and professional levels.

This program prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. This includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards, and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.

Accounting is the language of business. Accountants measure business activities, process that data into reports, and use the results to make business decisions. The Accounting Program prepares students for several goals, including transfer to a four-year institution, career advancement for those already employed, self-employment, and completion of many courses needed to take the CPA or CMA exam. Areas of study include accounting for decision making, internal and external use, financial statement preparation and analysis, review of financial accounting standards, individual taxation, payroll and business taxes, computerized accounting software, financial auditing, and ethics in accounting.

The Associate of Science degree program prepares you for employment as a Junior Accountant.

An Associate of Science in Accounting gives students the foundation they need for entry-level employment in the accounting department of any business or to become a Certified Public Accountant(CPA). It prepares students to pursue a career in finance or corporate management, to work in government, or to become business owners. It also fulfills some of the requirements for the AS-T in Business Administration degree designed to transfer to accounting programs at California State University (CSU) campuses.

Career options in the Accounting Technology field may include, but are not limited to, bill and account collectors; bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks; customer service representatives; financial clerks; general office clerks; administrative assistants; office managers; accounting assistant; analysts; and/or auditors.

Students who complete an Associate in Science Degree in Accounting are prepared for employment as accounting paraprofessionals in professional accounting occupations that require analysis, theory and design of accounting procedures and applications.

Opportunities await graduates of NIACC’s Accounting Associate in Applied Science Degree. This program is designed to prepare students for an exciting career in the accounting/bookkeeping job market–a field offering students many dynamic and challenging career opportunities.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree prepares students for employment directly into the workforce of their chosen degree. A degree in business leads to careers in Accounting, Consulting, Commerce, Business Administration, e-Business or e-Commerce, Finance, Marketing, and Management.

The Accounting Associate in Science in Business Administration degree program is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of accounting support positions. The degree provides students with a strong accounting foundation, including expertise in accounting-computer applications found in most accounting firms and accounting departments of businesses. The coursework also exposes students to a variety of general education courses designed to strengthen the overall educational experience of the accounting student.

This curriculum is designed to provide a thorough knowledge of accounting theory and practice to prepare students for positions as accountants in industry, governmental service, or public accounting.

Students completing accounting courses will demonstrate an understanding of basic accounting principles and procedures and the role of accounting and bookkeeping within various business organizations. They will also analyze, process, and report financial information within established normal and computerized protocols.

The documentation of business activities is accomplished through accounting. Without accurate and timely accounting information businesses do not know their financial position, who owes them money, who they owe money to, what assets they have available for business processes, etc.

The Accounting Transfer Pathway AS offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated accounting bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities.

Accounting and Finance graduates may be involved in recording business transactions, constructing financial statements, preparing budgets and tax returns, auditing financial records, advising businesses, and working for the government and not-for-profit agencies, to name just a few opportunities.