Financial Accounting Degrees and Programs

Are you good at math? Can you accurately analyze and interpret information and communicate what you find? Then you could be a wonderful accountant. Financial accountants focus on collecting, monitoring, and reporting financial information to interested parties like individual clients, stockholders, tax authorities, or corporations. Accountants with advanced credentials may hold the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA)--a required certification if you want to be able to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

What You Should Know About a Financial Accounting Degree

Financial accountants typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the field, and some employers may require a master's degree as well. You can earn a master's in either accounting or business administration with a concentration in accounting. In most states, you need a college degree before you can become a CPA candidate. In fact, every state except for California, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Vermont requires you to complete 150 hours of college coursework, which is 30 more hours than the traditional four-year bachelor's degree. Because of those extra hours, you can often find financial accounting schools that offer a five-year combined bachelor's and master's degree.