Accounting

The accounting program at Mizzou is composed of 150 hours of coursework and awards a master's degree upon completion. Accountants are an integral part of business success as they help track financial data such as income and assets over time. Accountants engage in a wide variety of activities including preparing financial statements and recording business transactions as well as computing operational costs and efficiency gains from new technologies, participating in strategies for mergers and acquisitions, monitoring quality management, and developing and using information systems to track financial performance and strategy.

General tasks (from O*Net):

  • Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
  • Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting or other tax requirements.
  • Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations, to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
  • Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
  • Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
  • Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
  • Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
  • Prepare forms and manuals for accounting and bookkeeping personnel, and direct their work activities.
  • Survey operations to ascertain accounting needs and to recommend, develop, or maintain solutions to business and financial problems.
  • Advise management about issues such as resource utilization, tax strategies, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts.
  • ...search for more job descriptions on O*Net 

Sample Career Paths:

  • Accountant
  • Actuary
  • Auditor
  • Bank Examiner
  • Bank Officer
  • Budget Control Analyst
  • Commercial Banker
  • Commodities Trader
  • Controller
  • Cost Accountant
  • Credit Manager
  • Educator
  • Financial Analyst
  • Financial Planner
  • Governmental Accountant
  • Insurance Agent
  • Internal Auditor
  • International Accountant
  • Investment Banker
  • Loan Administrator
  • Managerial Consultant
  • Public Accountant
  • Purchasing Agent
  • Research Analyst
  • Statistician
  • Stockbroker
  • Tax Accountant
  • Tax Specialist
  • Treasurer
  • Treasury Management Specialist
  • Trust Accountant
  • Underwriter

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Last Edited: 1/24/2008