Accounting

Accounting

Accounting

Accounting is the creation, management, analysis, and reporting of financial information to stakeholders. Accounting can involve direct oversight of annual reports and quarterly financial statements, or the creation of recordkeeping controls within companies. The industry is heavily regulated by the federal and state governments and almost always requires specific education and technical knowledge.  

Accountants work for public accounting firms of all sizes. Many work in corporate accounting (from Fortune 500 companies to small community enterprises), in government accounting, and for nonprofit organizations.

Job Title Examples:

  • Accounting Manager
  • Accounting Officer
  • Business Analyst
  • CPA
  • Accounting Supervisor
  • Project Accounting
  • Nonprofit Accounting
  • Public Accounting
  • Government Accounting

Skills Needed:

  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Analytical skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Math
  • Financial

Further Education/Training:

  • Bachelor's degree required for entry-level position 
  • MBA may be required for upper-level position
  • CPA certification is required for audit and tax work

Find Opportunities

Using IrishCompass, LinkedIn, and ND’s alumni association directory called myND is the best way to start on the networking front.

Job Databases:
Please note, it’s common for companies in this industry to post directly to their own website’s employment pages - it’s recommended to also check these for opportunities.

Industry Timeline

During the Spring of your sophomore year, you will be applying and interviewing for internships for the following summer (that is, after your junior year). A very high percentage (80%+) of full-time offers come from internships. A small number of full-time opportunities may be available during the Fall of your senior year. This assumes you are CPA eligible after your senior year; if you will be enrolling in an MSA program, the timeline is delayed a year.

Applying and Interviewing

Resumes

Your resume will often be the first impression for a potential employer.  You want to make sure that your resume is concise, direct, and specific. Ensure that your resume is tailored for the position and for the industry. Highlighting relevant coursework can demonstrate your fit for a particular position. Review our guide on resumes for more information on how to construct one.

Cover Letters

A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer. Use the position description to make specific connections between your skills and experience and what the organization is looking for in a candidate. The cover letter should be concise and well-written—if a potential employer reads your cover letter and is intrigued, they will then read your resume. Your cover letter should not repeat your resume verbatim, but enhance it. Together the cover letter and resume can help land you an interview. Review our guide on cover letters for more information on how to construct one.

Interviewing

The hiring process generally consists of two steps. The first round is typically on-campus; you will present your resume to hiring officials and answer a variety of questions (including questions about your educational background as well as personal, community, and work-related information) as they would relate to your performance at the firm/company. 

Firms tend to look for candidates who fit their corporate culture. In order to gain knowledge of different companies’ culture and services, you are encouraged to meet and build connections with employees through networking events and other opportunities. 

Most interviews will contain a mixture of resume based questions (questions about your past experience) and behavioral based questions (your ability to handle prospective situations at work).  Most positions will begin with an interview that has a mix of these questions. Review our guide on common interview questions. 

Preparation is extremely important for interviews. Research the company/organization, current and previous projects they’ve worked on, and even the people that you’re interviewing with. This will not only help provide talking points but will show your knowledge and genuine interest in the position. Utilize our resources on how to best prepare yourself to excel in your interview.

 

Online Resources

Campus Resources

Ray

Career Counselor:
Ray Vander Heyden
Assistant Director, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Corporate Finance, Insurance, Real Estate
Schedule an Appointment

Student Clubs:

Employer Examples:

  • Deloitte
  • EY
  • KPMG
  • PwC
  • BDO
  • Grant Thornton
  • Baxter Healthcare
  • General Motors
  • Textron

Join Handshake:

Personalize your feed, explore your curiosities, and get updates that matter to you. Handshake is a dynamic system that works to match students with the most relevant resources and opportunities offered by our office including:

  • Access to personalized job recommendations – This is based on major, career interests, and profile information such as skills and experiences. When students fill out their profile, they’ll be able to see jobs and internships that match their interests and skills.
  • Ability to schedule one–on-one counseling appointments  – Counseling appointments are able to be scheduled through Handshake and held virtually via Zoom. 
  • Ability to Interact with employers – Students can research contact information for local and national employers. Employers can also message students with opportunities and information.
  • Connect with students across the country -  Students can interact with their peers through messaging, get tips and advice, as well as network. 
  • Search for and apply to open positions -  On Handshake, students can see jobs and internships posted specifically for them as well as employers actively recruiting from Notre Dame.