Career Resources in Accountancy

A Bachelors of Science in Business-Accountancy from Eastern Illinois University offers the recipient a wide range of career options. Generically, these options include public accounting, private sector (or corporate) accounting, and governmental and not-for-profit accounting.

Public Accounting
Many EIU Accountancy graduates go to work for public accounting (C.P.A.) firms as entry level auditors, tax professionals, or consultants. Over time, public accountants progress to supervisory and management roles and finally to partnership within the firm.

Corporate Accounting
Many EIU Accountancy graduates go to work in private industry at organizations such as ADM, Caterpillar, State Farm Insurance, or many others. These graduates will assume important roles in organizational accounting, internal audit, and cost management. Over time, private accountants progress to supervisory and controllership roles within the organization and finally to Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, or Senior Vice President for Finance.

Governmental and Not-for-Profit
Some EIU Accountancy graduates go to work for Federal, state, and local governmental agencies or not-for-profit organizations such as hospitals. As with their private sector colleagues, these graduates typically begin their career work in organizational accounting, internal audit, or cost management.

Certification and Licensing

Accounting graduates may earn certifications such as:

Each certification has differing requirements, most if not all of which are fulfilled by a fundamental knowledge of and coursework in Accountancy. In the State of Illinois, a student who wishes to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination must have earned or be in the last semester of coursework toward earning 150 hours of college credit, including an undergraduate degree. Of the 150 hours, at least, at least 24 hours must be in accounting.