Auditing Degree Concentration

The field of financial reporting and accounting encompasses many areas, and auditing serves as one of the more integral concentrations. Notably, most accounting and auditing programs emphasize financial reporting.

With an auditing degree, graduates can analyze and verify the financial records of companies, organizations, and governments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that accounting and auditing professions will experience a growth rate of 6% from 2018 to 2028.

Growth in accounting jobs often mirrors the overall health of the economy. This page will further explore how to earn an auditing degree and its uses in finance.

Accounting generally focuses on the overall scope of financial reporting, but what is auditing, and what role does it play within accounting? An auditing concentration explicitly targets the process of examining business data and documents to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

For students interested in a career in auditing, a bachelor’s degree in accounting is the minimum requirement. However, those striving for a bachelor’s in auditing can take specific auditing courses to delve deeper into the discipline.

While accounting and auditing share many elements, it’s essential to consider how an auditing degree can focus more on specific areas that prospective students seek, such as investigative skills. An accounting degree can feature one or more auditing courses, but tailoring degrees for auditing allows learners access to a specialized curriculum covering both the foundations of accounting and specific auditing practices.

In pursuing an auditing degree, students can prepare for careers in financial analysis across many industries. Undergraduate courses teach the internal processes for audits at both the corporate and individual levels.

Careers relating to the auditing field include:

Students interested in pursuing auditing degrees can earn a bachelor’s, a master’s, or a doctoral degree. According to the BLS, entry-level positions for accountants and auditors typically require at least a bachelor’s degree.

The need for auditors to ensure compliance with new laws and regulations continues to grow. Auditing jobs feature increasing benefits and are not only in demand but also at a low risk of elimination due to developing technologies.

Students searching for specific auditing jobs can look beyond general accounting degrees to gain the skills they need. While a standard accounting degree can help land you an auditing position, those interested in specific auditing jobs like IT auditor are better served by earning a degree with an auditing concentration.

If you’re uncertain about the type of auditing you’re interested in or want broader career options, a general accounting degree is a good option. A general accounting degree allows you to dabble in auditing while honing vast financial skills.

In particular, a general accounting degree can expose you to the basics of auditing and help you decide whether it’s a career path you want to pursue.

Auditing is just one of the various concentrations available to accounting majors. By learning what each concentration offers and the career paths involved, you can better understand how your unique skills and passions align with each discipline.

Choosing an auditing concentration means you can anticipate an intense foray into the core principles of the discipline. With technology and new legislation impacting auditing practices, auditing courses cover a wide array of subjects to help students navigate the ever-changing field.

Curriculums for general accounting degrees and those with auditing concentrations often feature similar core courses. Subjects typically common to the two programs include business law, financial statement analysis, financial accounting, and managerial economics. Available electives can include government auditing, management theory, and commercial operations.

Typical auditing courses you might encounter include:

After achieving an auditing degree online or through traditional classes, graduates can begin preparing for work in the public, private, or government sector.

Government auditor and internal auditor are two of the more common career paths within the field. Auditors can work in a specific industry or branch off into different accounting positions.

Because they gain a variety of financial skills while earning their degree, auditing graduates can also work as financial advisors, forensic accountants, taxation accountants, or sports accountants.

With the median annual wage for auditors at $71,550, earning financial certifications such as certified internal auditor can help increase your salary demands when looking for a position. More education in the field can open your career prospects to more rewarding financial positions like chief financial officer.

Before choosing an accounting program, it’s vital to first assess your educational and career objectives. Key factors in your decision-making process should include cost, location, online versus in-person formats, and school size.

Accounting and auditing are major fields for business schools, so look to those institutions for curriculums catering to prospective auditors. Choosing a business-focused university can also offer access to more specific concentrations than might be available at a comprehensive state university.

It’s crucial not to settle for just any school. Many accounting firms won’t accept degrees from unaccredited schools, which makes graduating from an accredited university essential.

With college becoming more expensive, make sure to research financial aid and scholarship opportunities available at your prospective schools. A university’s career services and educational resources are other factors to consider to help ensure you’ll have the guidance you need throughout your educational journey.

Learners preferring smaller class sizes and a lower student-to-teacher ratio can enroll in a university with a more modest enrollment to help facilitate more one-on-one learning. Additionally, an online auditing degree can offer the flexibility and convenience some prospective students seek.

After schooling and internships, you may find yourself needing a more robust network in the industry. You don’t want your auditing skills to waste away as the profession evolves, and networking with other professionals and companies can serve as a crucial part of your career. Check out the list below to explore some professional associations aiming to expand the auditing industry to educate and empower professionals.