How to make the most of all the opportunities a career in the profession brings.

One thing that everyone in today’s world can agree on is that having many options, and opportunities, is a good thing. This is especially true when it comes to you and the career you’ve chosen.

There are many professions that you’ll find having much deeper and broader opportunities—both in terms of the types of positions available, and the types of organizations in which to work—than others. One such field is accounting.

To succeed in accounting, it takes a number of skill sets and characteristics. Some of these include:

• Organization
• Time management
• Communication
• Leadership
• Adaptability

Clearly, in addition to these, it would help if you have a natural interest and abilities when it comes to math and numbers. For those who meet all of these criteria, there are no limits to where—and how high—they may go in the profession.

And now is a great time to be thinking about it.

Accounting is one of those fields that is experiencing significant growth both in Ohio and across the country, a trend that isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in accounting are projected to grow by 10 percent between 2016 and 2026.

And in the state of Ohio, O*NET OnLine reports that the growth will be eight percent through 2024, with approximately 1,440 openings in the state annually.

So let’s take a quick look at some of those opportunities that you’re likely to encounter in the field of accounting.

First, there are the types of positions and job titles common in the profession.

Entry-level positions in accounting include roles such as accounting assistant, accounting clerk, bookkeeper, clerical staff, budget analyst, and auditing clerk, among others.

For those who commit themselves to the education and training, and pay their dues working their way up in the profession, it can lead in many different directions. Many take the path toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Others who have different interests may pursue positions in forensic accounting, while others may envision a career as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or even an entrepreneur.

The bottom line is that with a background in accounting, you’ll have a lot of freedom with regard to what direction your future career takes.

Then, there is the broad range of organizations that actively seek out talented accounting professionals.

This is where it gets really fun. Because as an accounting professional, you’ll find that virtually every type of organization, business, company, and corporation needs someone with your background, skills, and abilities.

You might find yourself at one of the Big Four accounting firms—Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers—or a small local agency. Or maybe you’ll land a position in an in-house accounting department of a multinational corporation, small business, tech start-up, nonprofit organization, or governmental agency.

And then there’s always the option of starting your own accounting agency and turning the Big Four into the Big Five.

The main point here is simple—with a background in accounting, there will be no limits to where you may find the profession taking you.

So how do you make all this happen?

The first step is finding an education and training program that is designed to deliver the necessary skills, abilities, and knowledge it takes to succeed in the field.

Make no mistake. As great as all the opportunities we’ve talked about here sound, you’re going to have to work to get there. Fortunately, there are excellent, proven programs for committed individuals in Ohio that are as focused on quality as they are on flexibility and convenience.

One of them is the Accounting Program at Ohio Business College.

We’ve crafted this program with you—the student—in mind. Our associate degree career training program offers a curriculum designed to instill necessary to perform an array of professional accounting functions, including:

• Payroll
• Auditing
• Taxes
• Receivables
• Payables

The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level accounting positions at a wide range of companies, corporations, and organizations—from small businesses, to Fortune 500 companies, to nonprofits and governmental agencies.

We’ve been helping learners from all walks of life throughout Ohio meet their educational and career goals since 1903.

As a student here, you’ll find a learning environment dedicated to providing the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ll need to land that entry-level accounting position you’ve been looking for, as well as a high level of support from experienced, caring instructors.

There really isn’t a better place for you to begin your journey ahead to a career in accounting, and taking advantage of all the options and opportunities the profession has to offer.