Many working business professionals want to broaden their accounting expertise in order to take on financial leadership roles. They want to develop versatile accounting skill sets that are in demand and suitable for diverse roles across industries and become stronger players in all areas of business strategy. They are also interested in closing the communication gaps between finance and other areas of leadership within organizations.
A Curriculum Designed to Develop Accounting Leaders
Students in the Pittsburg State University Master of Business Administration in Accounting online program take classes in which they accumulate the required credits to sit for the CPA exam and develop stronger accounting proficiencies than they could in a general MBA program.
The core courses in this program provide a well-rounded business education, developed for aspiring executives and corporate leaders. These include:
- Leadership and Behavioral Management, the study of leadership and organization design
- Strategic Management, in which students assume decision-making roles
- Quantitative Business Analysis, which provides the tools of managerial economics
- Financial Strategy, which covers financial management of a firm, including planning and budgeting.
Core courses also include Management Control Systems, Marketing Strategy, and Business, Government and Society.
The emphasis courses include Quality: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statement Auditing/Seminar in Auditing, and Tax Research/Seminar in Tax. Each of these courses provides the expertise today’s employers seek when hiring accounting and financial leaders.
Career Paths and Roles for Graduates
Pittsburg State’s online MBA in Accounting curriculum provides the training necessary to pursue four distinct career paths: public accounting, corporate management accounting, internal and external auditing, and government accounting. The field of accounting and auditing includes a wide variety of positions, with a 6% projected level of growth adding 90,700 jobs in the United States between 2018 and 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The following is a representation of challenging and lucrative positions within each of the four career paths, with salary data as of January 2020:
Public Accounting
Certified Public Accountant: The average base salary of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is $265,624, with a range between $70,235 and $461,014. An accountant with the CPA designation is qualified to provide accounting services to the public, including audits, taxation advising, fraud investigation, and business valuations.
Personal Financial Advisor: These professionals work with private clients, and the average median salary range for this role with a master’s degree is $81,512 – $89,678 per year. Personal financial advisors educate clients about their finances and investment strategy, while providing investment guidance, helping them meet their financial goals, including education and retirement planning.
Corporate Management Accounting
Finance Manager: The median salary range for this role with an MBA is $117,597 – $126,327 per year. Finance managers oversee corporate financial departments and monitor financial analysts and accountants. They provide strategies for increasing profits and revenues as well as insights into improving financial practices.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The median salary range for this role is $296,700 – $470,800 per year. The CFO is responsible for assessing the state of an organization’s finances, ensuring that it makes sound financial decisions. The CFO drives financial strategies and works closely with the CEO and C-suite to forecast financial needs and manage the company’s budget.
Internal and External Auditing
Auditing Manager: The average yearly salary for this role is $125,425. The person in this position is in charge of auditing financial and accounting data within a business. The auditing manager plays a vital role in the development and administration of audit policies and procedures and writes reports on improving related processes and systems.
Government Accounting
Government Financial Manager: The average annual salary for this role is $88,000. This position can be found in a variety of governmental organizations at the local, state and federal levels. Government financial managers oversee employees in the finance department, review reporting systems, and respond to questions and concerns from elected officials regarding financial matters.
Few fields provide equal parts stability and variety of opportunities like accounting. Graduates of a high-quality MBA in Accounting program have the option to pursue a single career path in accounting or shift between focus areas as opportunities arise. If you are interested in devoting your career to this field, earning a Pittsburg State University MBA in Accounting can open many doors for you.
Learn more about Pittsburg State University’s online MBA in Accounting program.
Sources:
Salary.com: Personal Financial Advisor with a Master’s Degree or MBA
Salary.com: Finance Manager with a Master’s Degree or MBA
