Accountant Courses

An accountant has a pivotal role in the financial management of an organization. It would be quite difficult for a company to survive without a professional who can analyze profits and losses, manage funds and ensure optimum utilization of monetary resources. For those with a knack for doing mathematical calculations, a career in Accounting is an ideal path to follow. There are a plethora of Accountant courses offered around the world for those aspiring to pursue the field of Accountancy and financial accounting. These courses deal with accounting concepts, and principles as well as management fundamentals. In this blog, you will get to know what these courses entail and where to pursue them from.

Overview of Accountant Courses

Accountant courses tend to be extremely intense and rigorous. Students are asked to undertake a comprehensive list of subjects that contain heavy amounts of information and theoretical concepts. Along with that, students need to be well-versed in the core concepts of Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics to understand their interconnected subjects in Accountancy. Some of the important subjects of Accountant courses are mentioned below:

• Mathematics
• Accounting Principles
• Economics
• Business Communication
• Ethics of Business
• Principles of Management
• Cost Accounting
• Corporate Accounting
• Tax
• Organisational Development
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Marketing
• Finance

Why Pursue Accounting Courses?

• Accounting courses educate people on how to make their accounting functions more efficient and effective.
• Students can study subjects including financial report analysis, investing, international finance, and banking in the accounting course. A variety of programs are also employed.
• You’ll concentrate on the connection between accounting and other company activities, giving students a holistic view of accounting.
• Accounting as a discipline of study encompasses a wide range of topics. Accounting classes are available in both academic and professional formats.
• There are both long-term and short-term courses available. If you want to pursue a profession in accounting, you should begin in high school, namely in the business department (grades 11-12)

Accounting Branches

When someone claims he or she works as an accountant in a business organization, it doesn’t indicate that’s all they do. At the professional educational level, students can choose from a variety of accounting fields and specializations. The following are some of the most important accounting branches:

• Financial Accounting
• Cost Accounting
• Auditing
• Managerial Accounting
• Accounting Information Systems
• Tax Accounting
• Forensic Accounting
• Fiduciary Accounting
• Fund Accounting
• Government Accounting

Accounting Courses vs Finance Courses

Finance differs from accounting in that accounting focuses on the daily movement of cash within and outside of an organization or institution, whereas finance is a broader word covering asset and liability management as well as future growth planning. Finance may be for you if you need to exert high-level management over a company’s strategy. You’re probably more interested in accounting if you need to analyze an organization’s records in detail.

Parameters	Accounting	Finance
Objective	Check on the state of affairs, Shareholder or creditor confidence.	Profit and wealth maximization, Reducing the cost of capital
Job growth rate	6%	6%
Top job profile	Cost estimator, Enroll agent, forensic accountant, budget analyst, payroll accountant, bookkeeping, etc.	Financial planning, corporate finance, commercial banking, hedge funds, private equity, insurance, investment banking, etc.
Average salary	2,50,000	3,00,000
Education level	Bachelor’s degree, CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Bachelor’s degree, CMA (certified management Accountant)

Types of Accountant Courses

Depending on your preference of sub-fields, duration, and expectations, you can choose from a diverse range of accountant courses offered around the world. Some courses are full-time while a few others have the option to be undertaken alongside any other course. Moreover, working professionals can also make use of executive courses where classes are convened on weekends.

Bachelor’s Degree Courses

An undergraduate degree in Accounting is one of the most popular accounting courses among students looking to begin their higher education. During the course, core subjects like Accounting Principles, Bookkeeping, Corporate Accounting, Cost Accounting, etc are extensively discussed. Additionally, an elaborated overview of Marketing, Human Resources, Corporate Law, Business Management, Communication, etc is also provided. The curriculum of some universities also includes industry experience and exam certifications like CPA, CFA, etc.

Related Read: How to Pursue CA After Graduation

Master’s Degree Courses

For those aiming to gain specialized knowledge in the field of Accounting and its related concepts, a master’s degree course is the foremost choice. Postgraduate accountant courses can be undertaken through an MSc in Accounting or an MBA with an Accounting specialization. These courses delve into advanced topics like Risk Management, Activity-based Management, Capital Investment decisions, Pricing, and Revenue Analysis, Balanced Scorecard, and International Accounting Standards, among others. Working professionals have the option to pursue a master’s degree while working in which case it is called an executive course.

Also Read: MBA in Accounting – Course Structure, Eligibility, Admission & More

Ph.D. and Research Opportunities 

A select few postgraduates who have the drive and motivation for conducting research into accounting concepts and processes pursue a Ph.D. or M. Phil in their field of interest. Though the number of students going for it is low, there isn’t any absence of opportunities. Universities always encourage students to pursue research. Many organizations provide research grants/fellowships to interested students.

Short term (Diploma/Certificate) Accountant courses

An increasing number of students who have recently graduated in other fields but have an interest in Accounting can go for a diploma or a certificate course. These are typically topic-based courses taken as a bridge course or for gaining knowledge. Further, a diploma in Accounting Software (Tally) is also gaining popularity as companies require individuals with advanced skills in managing accounting transactions.

Accounting Courses Online

Accounting classes online can help you with both free and paid online resources. They are appropriate for all levels: beginners, intermediates, and professionals, and will assist you in learning to account from the ground up.

Accounting Courses Online on Coursera

Courses	Duration
Introduction to finance and accounting	5 months
Fundamental of accounting	6 months
Financial accounting fundamentals	14 hours
Introduction to financial accounting	13 hours
Accounting for decision making	29 hours

Accounting Courses Online on Udemy

Courses	Duration
introduction to finance, accounting, modeling, and valuation	4.5 hours
Accounting & financing statements analysis: complete training	3.5 hours
Accounting in 60 minutes- a brief introduction	1.1 hours
Accounting: from beginner to advance	5.5 hours
Accounting basics	39.5 hours

Also Read: 

• List of Banking Courses
• Diploma in Banking and Finance

Accounting Courses: Syllabus

The four key disciplines of finance, accounting, administration, and economics, commonly referred to as FAME, are included in accounting subjects. These disciplines are examined in depth in degree, diploma, and certificate programs, with a focus on specific components and unique regions. The following are the core accounting topics covered in any accounting course:

Business law	Financial accounting	Corporate finance
Auditing	Taxation	Financial markets
Management accounting	Microeconomics	Tax accounting
Cost accounting	Banking & investment	Regulatory accounting

Top Accounting Exams

• Candidates must take university-level entrance tests to be admitted to BCom/MCom programs with accounting specializations. Check out this list of India’s top Accounting and Commerce Entrance Exams.
• Candidates can pursue ICAI, ICSI, CMA, or CFA certifications at the professional level.

Accounting Courses: Eligibility Criteria  

Dealing with statistics and figures is a part of any job in the accounting profession. Thus, whether you pursue an accounting degree, accounting certificate, or accounting certification, you must have a strong grasp of mathematics. Academic qualifying standards for accounting courses include Mathematics up to Class 12 by the field’s requirements.

• The BCom in Accounting program requires a Class 12 pass in Commerce with a Maths track.
• To apply for the Foundation course in Cost Management Accounting, the candidate must have completed Class 10. (which includes fundamentals of mathematics and statistics).

Top Global Universities For Accounting Courses

There are a lot of destinations one can choose from for studying accountant courses. One major advantage of studying accounting courses abroad is that the course structure is defined in a facilitating way. It focuses on imparting essential knowledge related to accounting along with providing opportunities for the development of personal interests. Below we have listed the major programs offered by leading universities across the globe.

• SC Johnson School of Business Cornell University, USA

Program: MPS in Management-Accounting Specialization

• University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Program: MA in Accounting and Finance

• University of Melbourne, Australia

Programs: Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting; Master of Management (Accounting)

• King’s College, London

Programs: BSc(Hons) Accounting and Finance; MSc Accounting, Accountability, and Financial Management

• Australian National University, Australia

Programs: Bachelors of Accounting (Hons); Masters of Accounting; Master of Professional Accounting

• University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Programs: BA(Hons) Accounting; MSc Accounting; MPhil Accounting and Finance; Ph.D. Accounting and Finance

Scope After Accounting Courses

• The accounting department offers a diverse set of professional options. You can apply to become an accountant, tax agent, financial manager, financial analyst, tax politician, tax lawyer, labor law, and personnel tax lawyer after finishing the required accounting courses. Because it is a tough functional field, financial advisors, especially accountants, are largely profitable and satisfying financially.
• Because accounting is so important to a company’s financial health, well-trained accountants have a lot of chances to show themselves and advance swiftly.
• You can start as a junior accountant and work your way up to chief financial officer (CFO).

Accounting Courses Jobs and Salary

Top Recruiters

• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Deloitte
• Ernst & Young
• KPMG
• Grant Thorton
• Quatrro
• Mindspace
• Outsourcing Services Pvt Ltd
• Maxim Liberty
• Top Source Global Solutions

Salary

Job Profile	Salary
Accountant	Rs 3.00 lakh per annum
Senior Accountant	Rs 8.00 lakh per annum
Revenue Agent	Rs 6.00 lakh per annum
Chief Revenue Officer	Rs 27.00 lakh per annum
Finance Manager	Rs 9.00 lakh per annum
Financial Analyst	Rs 4.12 lakh per annum
Tax Policy Analyst	Rs 3.50 lakh per annum
Tax Consultant Specialist	Rs 5.17 lakh per annum
Tax Specialist	Rs 6.87 lakh per annum
Personal Finance Consultant	Rs 6.27 lakh per annum

A degree in Accounting can make you stand in good stead for a career in the management or consulting industry. You can choose from the above-mentioned accountant courses and pursue the one that you are more interested in. Let Leverage Edu experts guide you throughout the application process of your chosen course to help you land in a leading university abroad and kick-start a great career in Accounting.