Accounting

What is Accounting?

Accounting, or the real language of business, is all about information and providing the information to those who need it. Primarily it involves the recording, interpreting and reporting of economic data of an organization. The data that accountants provide is essential to users such as managers, investors, and other groups. It tells them how well a company is doing, how it is allocating its resources, and what the effects of different courses of action may be. The data also gives a reliable indication of how well a company may do in the future, and provides a level of assurance to investors. Reliability is the key to making sound decisions, and thus accounting is immensely important for keeping the world in proper economic order.

Accountants prepare financial statements, perform internal audits, record business transactions, compute costs and efficiency gains from new technologies, develop strategies for mergers and acquisitions, participate in quality management, develop and use information systems to track financial performance, prepare tax strategies, and manage health care benefits.

What Can You Be With a BBA in Accounting?

Your BBA will prepare you for high demand, high-paying careers in the business world. In New Brunswick, for example, there is a high demand for construction supervisors, project managers and financial estimators. There are also many high-salary management positions available within the province’s energy sector. Opportunities exist in virtually every sector around the world.

  • Staff Accountant
  • Cost Accountant
  • Financial Accountant
  • Financial Estimator
  • Accounting Analyst
  • Business Analyst
  • Business Planner
  • Project Manager
  • Internal Auditor

Search for Careers for more career possibilities.

With additional education/training or experience…

  • Chartered Accountant (CA)
  • Certified General Accountant (CGA)
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Controller
  • Forensic Accountant
  • Management Accountant
  • Tax Accountant/Consultant
  • Teacher
  • Professor

Where Can You Work?

Our graduates have found exciting, satisfying jobs around the world:

  • Financial Planner, Anderson Financial Services
  • Director of Finance, Coast Tire
  • Chartered Accountant, Grant Thornton
  • CA and Manager of Assurance and Business Advisory Services, Grant Thornton
  • Financial System Analyst, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
  • Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche
  • Lead Corporate Analyst, Syncrude Canada Ltd.
  • Senior Accountant, KPMG

You will be prepared to work in your own entrepreneurial venture or for companies and organizations in a wide range of industries in virtually every sector of the economy, including:

  • Accounting Firms
  • Banks and Financial Institutions
  • Corporate Financial Departments
  • Financial Consultants and Advisors
  • Insurance Companies
  • Investment Firms
  • Government (CCRA and Office of the Auditor General, for example)
  • Universities and Colleges
  • Research Institutes

What Skills Can You Develop?

You will learn all the business skills you need to meet the challenges of the fast- paced world of business. Focusing your studies in accounting allows you to gain key subject-specific skills. You can also offer employers valuable transferable skills that will help you in whatever career you choose.

Specific Knowledge Skills

  • Ability to apply accounting, finance and management practices and principles
  • Ability to analyze financial components of business solutions, global and local resources, market trends, business requirements and new opportunities
  • Knowledge of key components of financial statements and how they are produced
  • Knowledge of financial planning, assessment and decision making
  • Ability to describe and explain financial information and decisions
  • Skills to assess data and determine risk and reward for decision making and planning
  • Skills to determine the appropriate allocation of resources
  • Ability to understand and interpret the budgeting process
  • Quantitative/qualitative analysis and forecasting skills

Valuable Transferable Skills

  • Communication skills: Identify, access, compile and organize data; interpret data and prepare presentations and reports using current technology
  • Teamwork skills: Work effectively with others, identify your role and contribute to meetings and the goals of a project
  • Interpersonal skills: Understand group dynamics, human relations and effective negotiation
  • Management skills: Oversee a project and determine goals, make decisions, assign roles and ensure completion of tasks
  • Organizational skills – Set priorities, manage workloads and project deadlines
  • Professional skills: Demonstrate ethical behaviour and professionalism, exercise accountability and sound judgment
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Critical and creative thinking

Professional Associations & Resources

Professional associations can be a great way to meet, learn from and network with professionals in your field of interest. Some associations offer student memberships, often at a reduced rate. Below is a sample of professional associations and industry- related websites you can explore.

Contact the Faculty

UNB Faculty of Business Administration
University of New Brunswick
PO Box 4400
255 Singer Hall
7 Macauley Lane
Fredericton NB E3B 5A3

Contact Information
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