Every company runs on numbers, and someone has to make sense of them. Accountants do far more than keep records. They turn financial information into decisions about where an organization invests, saves and grows.
If that sounds like work you’d enjoy, the next question is how to get there. Among all the university degrees that can prepare you for accounting, no single one is the only path into the profession.
There are several academic routes, and the requirements change depending on the country and the role you’re aiming for.
In this article, we walk you through how to build a career in accounting, what education to look for, which degrees are worth considering, and what career paths open up afterward.
How to Build a Career in Accounting
An accounting career path rarely follows a straight line, but it usually has three stages:
- Build a foundation in accounting and finance. A degree gives you the core knowledge: how financial statements work, how costs are tracked, and how financial information supports decisions.
- Gain practical experience. Internships and entry-level roles turn theory into skill. Employers want to see that you can apply what you’ve learned, not just explain it.
- Specialize. Over time, you can focus on areas such as auditing, tax, financial analysis, or management accounting and, where the role requires it, earn a professional qualification.
The earlier you start combining these three stages, the more options you’ll have when it’s time to choose a direction.
What Education Do You Need to Become an Accountant?
There isn’t one degree that every accountant in every country must hold. So the best way to choose is to look at what a program actually teaches.
A strong program for future accountants usually includes:
- Financial and managerial accounting, the core of the profession.
- Finance and economics, to understand how organizations make financial decisions.
- Quantitative skills, such as statistics, data analysis, and spreadsheet work.
- Business context and communication, because accountants often explain numbers to people who don’t speak accounting.
- Real-world experience, through internships or projects.
One more thing to check early: if you’re aiming for a regulated role, such as a regulated accounting or auditing role, look up the requirements of the professional body in the country where you plan to work. Some set specific education or coursework conditions.
What Degree Should You Study to Become an Accountant?
There is more than one academic route into accounting and related financial careers. The best choice depends on how specialized you want your studies to be and the kind of work that interests you.
| Degree | What you study | When it may be a good choice |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Accounting principles, financial reporting, and other subjects closely related to accounting practice. | You already know that you want to focus specifically on accounting. |
| Accounting and Finance | Accounting alongside financial analysis, planning, and decision-making. | You are interested in accounting but also want to explore finance roles. |
| Business Management | How organizations work, including business operations, management, and financial decision-making. | You want to build a foundation relevant to accounting while keeping broader business career options open. |
| Economics | How markets, organizations, and economic decisions work, often with a strong quantitative component. | You are interested in economic and financial analysis and are willing to build more specific accounting knowledge if your chosen role requires it. |
None of these routes is the right one for everyone.
If you’re sure about accounting, a specialized degree takes you there directly. If you’d rather keep your options open, a broader business degree lets you build accounting knowledge while you explore other areas and decide later.
What Career Paths Can You Pursue in Accounting and Finance?
Accounting can be the starting point for many different careers. These are some of the most common:
| Role | What the work involves |
|---|---|
| Accountant | Preparing and interpreting financial information, maintaining records, and supporting an organization’s accounting work. |
| Auditor | Reviewing financial information and controls to assess whether records and processes meet the applicable standards. This is a distinct professional path that may have additional qualification requirements. |
| Financial analyst | Using financial data to assess performance, prepare forecasts, and support business decisions. |
| Financial advisor | Helping individuals or organizations make financial plans and decisions. The activities permitted and qualifications needed depend on the type of advice and the country. |
| Finance manager | Overseeing budgets, financial planning, and performance. Usually a path to consider as you gain professional experience. |
Many professionals start as accountants or analysts and move into management as they gain experience. That’s why the foundation you choose matters: it should open doors, not close them.
Why Study Business Management If You Are Interested in Accounting?
If you want to build accounting knowledge without closing the door on other business careers, Business Management deserves a close look.
At CIS University, the Bachelor of Science in Business Management is a four-year program taught 100% in English in Madrid, under the American higher education system. It lists accountant among its potential career paths, alongside financial analyst, CFO, and business consultant. And our business course catalog includes Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting, along with Finance, Business Analytics, Risk Management, and Applied Statistics.
What this means in practice:
- A broad base, not a narrow one. Accounting sits next to finance, management, marketing, and operations, so you understand the business behind the numbers. That’s a useful foundation for moving into broader finance and management roles over time.
- Real experience built in. The program includes two compulsory internships and 600 internship hours, so you graduate with professional experience on your résumé.
- English and an international environment. You study alongside classmates from more than 45 nationalities, which prepares you for multinational teams.
- Small classes. You get closer contact with professors and a more personalized learning experience.
One honest note: if your goal is to work as a licensed accountant or auditor in a specific country, check that country’s professional requirements first. Some bodies ask for particular accounting coursework or for recognition of foreign degrees. Our admissions team can help you compare options.
Discover the Business Management degree at CIS University
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Accountant
Before you choose your path, here are the questions we hear most often from students interested in this career:
Not always. An **accounting degree** is the most direct route, but degrees in **accounting and finance, business management or economics** can also lead to accounting roles, especially if you build accounting knowledge along the way.
Keep in mind that some employers and professional bodies look for specific accounting coursework, so it’s worth checking the requirements for the role you want.
It depends on the country and the role. Many **entry-level accounting positions** don’t require one, but becoming a **licensed or chartered accountant**, or working as an **auditor**, often does. The **CPA license** in the United States is one example.
Always check the rules of the country where you plan to work.
A bachelor’s degree usually takes **three to four years**, depending on the country. At CIS University, the **Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management** lasts **four years**.
After that, professional qualifications, where required, add more time depending on the country and the route you choose. Internships along the way can help you get there with more hands-on experience. You can see the full program details on the degree page.
Yes, but expect some adjustment. Accounting standards differ (the United States uses **GAAP**, while many other countries follow **IFRS**), and professional requirements vary by country, so you may need to pass local exams or have your qualifications recognized.
Studying **in English in an international environment** can be a real advantage, especially if you’re aiming for multinational companies. If you’d like guidance, the admissions team can help you explore your options.
Behind every company that makes confident decisions, there’s someone who understood its numbers before anyone else did. That could be you a few years from now: the person who spots a risk early, explains a complicated report in plain words, and helps a business choose where to go next.
That career doesn’t start with a perfect plan. It starts with a solid base, real experience, and a program that keeps your options open. If that sounds like the path you want, this is the moment to take the first step.
Want to see the full curriculum and internship opportunities for the Business Management program?
Explore the Business Management program at CIS University