2027 How to Become an Accountant with a Finance Degree: Education, Salary, and Job Outlook

Imed Bouchrika, PhD

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

What credentials do you need to become an accountant with a finance degree?

A finance degree can qualify you for many entry-level accounting jobs, especially in corporate finance departments, bookkeeping, fund accounting, budget support, and financial reporting support. However, it may not satisfy all educational requirements for licensed accounting roles. The credential you need depends on whether you want to work in general accounting, public accounting, tax, audit, management accounting, or a licensed CPA role.

The most important distinction is this: a finance degree may help you enter the field, but CPA licensure usually requires accounting-specific coursework, exam completion, and supervised experience.

  • Bachelor’s degree in finance: A bachelor's degree in finance typically covers business fundamentals, financial analysis, economics, investments, and quantitative methods. That background is useful for accounting roles that involve budgeting, reporting, reconciliations, and financial planning. Employers may still prefer candidates who have completed accounting courses beyond introductory accounting.
  • Accounting coursework: Finance graduates often need additional classes in intermediate accounting, auditing, taxation, cost accounting, accounting information systems, or governmental accounting. These courses help close the gap between finance theory and accounting practice.
  • CPA license requirements for accountants: Most states require 150 semester hours for CPA licensure, which is more than the standard 120-hour bachelor's degree. Many candidates meet this requirement through a master's degree or supplemental coursework. State rules vary: Arizona requires 36 accounting hours, while Virginia mandates 24 upper-level accounting credits.
  • State-by-state differences: CPA requirements are not uniform. Some states, including Minnesota and Ohio, have modified requirements. Minnesota allows a 120-hour requirement under specific conditions, and Ohio has removed the additional post-bachelor's credits. Before choosing classes, check your state board of accountancy rules rather than relying only on general guidance.
  • CPA exam and supervised experience: Education alone is not enough for CPA licensure. Candidates must pass the four-part CPA Exam and complete one to two years of supervised accounting work under a licensed CPA.
  • Alternative certifications: The Certified Management Accountant credential may be a better fit if your goal is corporate accounting, budgeting, cost analysis, performance management, or internal decision support rather than public accounting.
  • Shorter training options: If you need targeted skills before applying for accounting roles, high-paying 6 month certificate programs may help you build practical knowledge in areas such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, or accounting software.

Before investing in a graduate program or certification, compare job postings in your target location. If most postings require “CPA eligible,” plan your coursework around state CPA requirements. If they emphasize Excel, ERP systems, reconciliations, and reporting, a finance degree plus practical accounting experience may be enough to start.

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What skills do you need to have as an accountant with a finance degree?

An accountant with a finance degree needs more than comfort with numbers. Employers look for accuracy, judgment, software fluency, regulatory awareness, and the ability to explain financial information clearly. Your finance background can be an advantage because it helps you understand how accounting results affect cash flow, capital decisions, budgets, and business strategy.

The strongest candidates combine technical accounting ability with business interpretation skills.

  • Financial analysis and planning: Finance graduates often bring strong forecasting and trend-analysis skills. In accounting roles, this helps with variance analysis, budget tracking, management reports, and performance review.
  • Accounting fundamentals: You need a working command of debits and credits, journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, financial statements, and closing processes. These are the daily mechanics of many accounting jobs.
  • GAAP and regulatory compliance: Accountants must understand how rules affect recognition, measurement, disclosures, documentation, and audit readiness. Knowledge of U.S. GAAP and related compliance requirements is especially important in corporate and public accounting roles.
  • Accounting software proficiency: Excel and QuickBooks are common starting points, but many employers also value experience with ERP systems, reporting tools, and workflow platforms. Advanced Excel skills remain highly useful for reconciliations, modeling, and analysis.
  • Data analytics: Accounting teams increasingly use data to identify exceptions, test transactions, monitor controls, and improve reporting. The ability to clean, organize, and interpret financial data can separate you from applicants with only classroom knowledge.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving: Accountants must investigate discrepancies, trace errors, evaluate unusual transactions, and decide when an issue needs escalation.
  • Communication skills: You may need to explain a variance to a department head, summarize audit findings, or translate technical accounting issues for non-accountants. Clear communication reduces mistakes and builds trust.
  • Ethics and professional skepticism: Accountants are responsible for reliable reporting. You must be willing to question inconsistent data, document your work, and follow standards even when deadlines are tight.
  • Adaptability and lifelong learning: Tax rules, software tools, reporting expectations, and regulatory guidance change. Accountants who keep learning are better positioned for advancement.
There are 7,200,000 people unemployed in the U.S. in 2025.

What is the typical career progression for an accountant with a finance degree?

The career path for a finance graduate entering accounting is often flexible. Some professionals move through a traditional accounting ladder, while others use accounting experience to transition into financial analysis, risk, advisory, consulting, or management roles. Your progression depends on credentials, industry, employer size, and whether you pursue CPA or CMA certification.

  • Entry-level positions: Common starting roles include fund accountant, revenue agent, bookkeeper, accounting assistant, staff accountant, or accounts payable/accounts receivable specialist. Work may include maintaining records, processing transactions, preparing reconciliations, assisting with month-end close, supporting audits, or helping with tax preparation. This stage generally lasts two to three years. Earning or working toward certifications such as the CPA can improve advancement potential.
  • Mid-level roles: After building technical competence, professionals may move into corporate accountant, public accountant, senior staff accountant, tax manager, or financial reporting roles. Responsibilities often expand to compliance monitoring, analysis, reporting, client communication, process improvement, and coordination with auditors or internal teams. An additional two to three years of experience is typical before moving into more senior responsibilities.
  • Senior or leadership roles: With deeper experience, accountants may become auditors, controllers, accounting managers, financial reporting managers, or department leaders. These roles involve reviewing work, managing deadlines, strengthening controls, ensuring regulatory adherence, and guiding teams or projects. Attaining these jobs usually follows three to four years in managerial or senior capacities, though individual progress varies.
  • Alternative paths: A finance background can make it easier to move into forensic accounting, financial analysis, risk management, budget management, finance manager roles, FinTech, real estate finance, or financial planning. These paths may be attractive if you enjoy analysis and business decision support more than recurring compliance tasks.

A practical strategy is to use the first role to identify what you like: close processes, tax work, audit testing, budgeting, systems, or advisory work. Then choose certifications and job changes that align with that preference rather than pursuing every possible credential at once.

What Professionals Who Work as an Accountant with a Finance Degree Say About Their Careers

  • : "Accounting with a finance degree has given me outstanding job stability and competitive salary potential. The demand for professionals who understand both numbers and markets is consistently high, making this career path very secure. It's reassuring to know my skill set is always relevant in various industries. — Corbin"
  • : "The unique challenge of navigating complex financial regulations and advising clients on strategic investments keeps my work engaging as an accountant with a finance background. This combination has opened doors to specialized roles in corporate finance and consulting that I never anticipated. It's a dynamic field that rewards both analytical precision and innovative thinking. — Hayasaki"
  • : "Holding a finance degree while pursuing accounting has significantly accelerated my professional growth. I've benefited from advanced training programs and leadership opportunities that polished my expertise and management skills. This career truly offers a clear ladder for advancement and continuous development. — Leila"

Other Things You Should Know About Becoming an Accountant with a Finance Degree

Is additional certification necessary for accountants with finance degrees?

While a finance degree is valuable, many accounting positions, especially those with higher responsibility or specialization, require professional certifications like CPA (Certified Public Accountant). These certifications often demand passing exams and meeting experience requirements beyond what a finance degree alone offers.

Nonetheless, some entry-level accounting roles may be accessible without certification, depending on the employer's expectations.

What job opportunities are available for accountants with finance degrees in 2027?

In 2027, accountants with finance degrees can pursue roles in public accounting, corporate finance, and financial analysis. Opportunities include positions like auditors, tax advisors, and forensic accountants, reflecting a varied job market influenced by technological advancements and regulatory changes.