Welcome to the accounting page!
Whether you are just beginning to explore a career in accounting or looking to deepen your understanding of the field, you are in the right place. On this page you will find the tools and resources to explore Accounting deeply, reflect on your interests, and connect your strengths to real-world career possibilities.
Your journey starts here—let’s explore what’s possible!
What is accounting?
Accounting is the systematic process of measuring, processing, and communicating financial information to help organizations make informed business decisions. It plays a foundational role in every organization, ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance, and strategic insight.
Accounting professionals work across various specialties, including financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax, audit, forensic accounting, and advisory services. Their work supports sound financial management, investor confidence, and long-term business sustainability.
Check out the Private accounting career map and the Public accounting career map to explore this function visually. After you have explored this function, we encourage you to visit other function pages within the W. P. Carey career website to compare and gain a clearer picture of where you might thrive professionally.
Core skills needed for accounting careers
A successful career in accounting requires technical precision, ethical judgment, and a strong grasp of business principles. Core competencies include:
- Financial literacy: Understand and interpret financial statements, ledgers, and reports.
- Analytical thinking: Evaluate financial data to identify trends, assess risks, and support decision-making.
- Attention to detail: Ensure accuracy in financial reporting and compliance with regulations.
- Technical proficiency: Use accounting software, spreadsheets, and ERP systems to manage and analyze data.
- Ethics and integrity: Uphold high standards of professional conduct, confidentiality, and responsibility.
- Communication skills: Present financial information clearly to stakeholders, both technical and non-technical.
Whether your interests lie in corporate finance, public accounting, government, or nonprofit work, the field of accounting offers diverse opportunities to make a measurable impact.
Related clubs and organizations
Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honorary Association
Finance and Accounting Career Club
Explore all student organizations at ASU here
Learn more about networking via professional chapters here
10-Year demand forecast
The BLS forecasts consistent growth in accounting-related occupations. Roles like public accountant, private accountant, and auditor are expected to grow by 6.45% from 2022 to 2032.
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How you can expect to engage in your job search
There are three primary ways business school students find jobs. Understanding which of these is part of your job search will help you build an efficient plan. Although each of these types of job searches requires a different plan, they all require the same core capabilities for success: Personal narrative, market research, networking, applications, and interviewing. Let us help you figure it out!
The majority of on-campus recruiting happens in the fall semester with a smaller set of firms doing campus recruiting in the spring. This requires you to be prepped and ready to interview soon after school starts. If the firms you are focused on do not visit ASU’s campus, then you will need to supplement your On-campus strategy with a Networked or Just-in-time job search.
All job searches require networking skills. If you are targeting firms that do not recruit on-campus at ASU then a Networked job search is your avenue. This requires a proactive approach to research, as well as developing relationships with the goal of building advocates within a firm. You’ll need to ensure your personal narrative and job search skills are well developed to convince these firms to consider you.
A majority of firms, whether they participate in on-campus recruiting or not, will have a need for immediate hires throughout the year. Although applications are submitted at the time of need, your preparation and networking should be ongoing in order to be ready when these opportunities arise. These opportunities can be limited and are not predictable, so you’ll want to view this as a back-up strategy, rather than an excuse to delay your job search.
