Accounting
Accounting
Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. The accounting process includes summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators, and tax collection entities.
Career Expectations
Students who attain a Bookkeeping Certificate and/or Applied Associate of Science degree (AAS) in accounting are likely to attain various entry-level accounting positions such as bookkeeper, accounting assistant, accounting clerk, and/or working with accounts receivable, accounts payable, or payroll.
Students who attain a transfer degree (AA/AS) and continue on to attain a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in accounting are likely to attain various higher entry-level accounting positions such as staff accountant or financial analyst. Furthermore, with added work experience staff accountants often become senior accountants, accounting managers, CFOs, and CEOs.
Some positions may require additional education such as a Master’s degree, certification, or license. The most common one is the CPA (certified public accountant) license. Currently, 150 total credit hours are required. This can be reached in various ways. See the ILBOE (Illinois Board of Examiners) website for more details - https://www.ilboe.org/education-requirements/.
Necessary Skills and Attitudes
Accountants need to be able to work carefully and accurately. They also need to be able to analyze and interpret figures, be able to work with numbers, follow directions well, be dependable and honest, neat and orderly, and display mathematical aptitude. Students also need to possess appropriate professional communication skills, problem-solving skills, and business acumen.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students interpret and analyze information to create journal entries.
- Students create, interpret, and analyze financial statements and reports as a tool for decision making.
- Students apply relevant legal and ethical standards in professional accounting contexts.
- Students demonstrate the ability to prepare individual tax returns in accordance with U.S. tax law.
- In an internship setting, students demonstrate appropriate professional communication skills, problem-solving skills, and business acumen.
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Geoffrey Lemay, CPA, MBAMr. Geoffrey Lemay is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for Illinois. He has been teaching accounting courses at SVCC since Fall 2019 and has earned the following degrees.
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