<p>Why do some people pursue accounting when it is considered to be a boring job and doesn't make you a good sum of money. Apparently to my surprise, accounting is a hard major, but if its pretty much basic math, what part of accounting makes it very difficult at schools like ucla for example? If its hard and boring how can you survive majoring in it without burning out? Is majoring in accounting fun or something because why would people do it...maybe its fun to major in, but boring to get a job in it....</p>
<p>i was under the impression that accounting makes relatively good money and is good for people who are good at math/econ. it does sound boring, however.</p>
<p>Accounting can be boring or quite interesting, depending on your point of view. You are a major advisor to businesses and people. You can really impact people's lives more than many other folks. You get to see what goes on in the inside of many companies. Also, accounting has many facits such as computer consulting, tax, auditing, management consulting , forensic work etc. </p>
<p>In addition, the money can be quite good and even fantastic. Many partners at mid size firms make $250,000 per year and UP! Partners at large firms can earn $1,000,000++ per year. I don't think that this sounds like "your not making a good sum of money." The key is that you really need to be a partner or own your own accounting business to be able to make the big bucks.</p>
<p>Even federal accounting jobs usually pay $60,000-$100,000 per year with 5 years of experience with the government and managers make more. Moreover, accounting is in BIG demand. You don't have the layoffs and downsizing that can apply to engineers, artists, and other vocations. </p>
<p>Finally, there are lots of folks who make big money in managment, where their accounting background got them the skills needed for the job. Many of the upper level manages were accountants or had accouting backgrounds.Accounting is a great background for finance too and is usually preferred for for financial jobs over finance majors because accounting tends to be more rigorous. In addition, accounting specializes in understanding and preparing financial statements,which is very important for finance.</p>
<p>The only drawback to it is that it is a VERY hard major. Make no mistake about it. I don't care if you got 750s on your SATs, and all "As" in math, you will still find it challenging because it is a combination of problem solving and law. In fact, it is more akin to law than math because you need to understand large volumes of information. Just check out any accounting or tax book in the university bookstores. They are usually thicker than Organic Chemistry.</p>
<p>It is not a VERY HARD major, it is more difficult than most majors though. I am speaking from experience I'm from a top 20 US News rated Accounting schools with a 3.7 GPA in Accounting. I'm going to tell it how it is. It's not as hard as high level math classes of course, but it's certainly not as easy as sociology, or some economics class. I had to study a good amount atleast 35 hours per accounting test. Accounting is very conceptual, so the better and quicker you are at learning things, the more succesful you will be at with Accounting. Even in the work world where Accounting procedures always change, being able to adapt and understand it will serve you well.</p>
<p>There's decent $$$ in Accounting in the long run no doubt and the demand is always there. I made 10k before taxes at Big Four doing a spring internship for 10 weeks, I have no idea where you heard theres no money in Accounting. I received an offer of mid 50s + 5k signing bonus which is not too shabby when I start working next year being 22 years old.</p>
<p>As far as why I signed the offer is because employers in the future know what it means to have Big Four on your resume. It shows you are hard working, and motivated. Working at Big Four or public accounting in the audit area means you have good team work skills and communication skills. There's a lot of marketable skills you can get from a few years of accounting. </p>
<p>I believe working in audit is probably one of the more enjoyable jobs for the younger generation. Not the work itself, but the nature of the job. Typically you work with atleast 4-12 people on different engagements, where you get to travel to many large corporations like microsoft. Almost all the expenses are paid. Free dinners and lunches, the only downside to the job is the long hours, ranging from 50-70. I still doubt myself whether or not this is the right career path to take, but no matter what a few years will do a lot for my career.</p>
<p>Would accounting be very very useful if you were to major in that and go into business management, finance, and other areas of business?</p>
<p>Go into, as in apply for different positions as a career? Many people Major in accounting and minor in finance or another business field or vice versa, so definitely you would be qualified for other career paths. Having a solid understanding of financial statements is a valuable skill no matter what area of business you go into.</p>
<p>IMO, accounting is boring but it obviously depends on the person. Many accountants genuinely enjoy there work (And they aren't all boring people either).</p>
<p>As previously stated in this thread, accountants can make a lot of money. Generally, they don't need an MBA to do it either (just a CPA).</p>
<p>Where would you rank accounting between majors like in chemistry, biochem, bio, engineering and the social sciences? Also, is it "simple" enough to double major in something else without killing yourself? Would you prefer accounting over the business admin or management major?</p>
<p>I'm not sure about all of those majors, but accounting is certainly much easier than majors such as Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineer, and Computer Science. In terms of business majors I'd guess it's a bit easier than MIS and finance but more difficult than management and marketing.</p>
<p>As for the double major, it probably depends on what you want to double major in. A double major in finance/accounting would not be easy but would be possible. However, if you truly want to get into accounting, I think you would be better served by taking Masters courses in accounting so that you can pursue your CPA (many states require more accounting hours than you get in undergrad).</p>
<p>While there is certainly more money in careers like ibanking, consulting, financial analysts etc, many choose accounting because of the work/life balance (your hours arent as insane as those other jobs), job stability, not as high-stressed, and a very decent salary (even though its not AS much as others, it's still pretty good).</p>
<p>Yup and besides that stress and crazy hours, 98.23% of people on this board don't stand a chance at getting a job in ibanking or consulting.</p>
<p>I thought it was 98%...what happened!?</p>
<p>I got corrected in the engineerings forum, someone told me it was 98.23%!</p>
<p>Actually, that percent would be pretty accurate for a lot of non-targets.</p>
<p>Accouting is a very boring major and it is hard. It's not the math that's hard since it's just multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, but you have to know how to categorize and group different journal entries. It's a safe major in that you're almost guaranteed a job and people are always looking for accountants. Most accountants make good money.</p>
<p>I would consider it easy compared to other business-related jobs.</p>
<p>Accounting is more than just Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable data entry. A LOT more.</p>
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I would consider it easy compared to other business-related jobs.
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</p>
<p>Please elaborate.</p>
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You don't have the layoffs and downsizing that can apply to engineers, artists, and other vocations.
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How do artists ever get "laid off"?</p>
<p>why is everyone saying accountants make good money? According to salary.com, here's how much they make:</p>
<p>level 1: ~40k average</p>
<p>level 2: ~48k average</p>
<p>level 3: ~59k average</p>
<p>level 4: ~83k average</p>
<p>given how long it takes to reach that level 4, and how even then its not a ton of money, why are people saying that you make like 150k or something out of this job??</p>