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What type of computer technology degree pair well with an accounting degree?

I am seriously considering double-majoring in accounting and some sort of computer technology degree when I get my bachelor's. The problem for me is that there are SO MANY different types of computer technology degrees. I don't really know which ones would complement with an accounting degree.

technology computer accounting tech information-technology majors-and-minors eoy22
Thank you comment icon Agree with all of the answers above, there is a lot of wonderful information in there. I cannot stress how amazing it is that you are thinking of getting a technology degree to complement your Accounting degree. I got my 150 hours to sit for the CPA exam with a Computer Information Systems major from the business school. I was in financial statement auditing for 1.5 years, then on to tech consulting, and now a solution engineer where I use no Accounting. Best of luck to you! Olivia Tomoff
Thank you comment icon Thank you for sharing your journey Olivia! Genevieve
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Erin’s Answer

If you are set on the accounting field, it may be helpful to check out technology-related majors at the schools you are looking at attending. In some cases they may have majors that have shared foundational or college degree requirements like the Management Information Systems (MIS), so you are able to complete both degree programs in a shorter amount of time. They may also offer a dual degree program that is designed to have this type of pairing. Computer science, MIS, and data analytics are very popular fields that pair well with accounting and provide good foundational knowledge that you can build off of while working in the tech industry. Because the technology field is changing very rapidly. If you are serious about getting into technology, building your professional network may be even more helpful for getting the job that you want in that industry. You might also consider looking into micro credentialing from tech providers like Google where you can get a lot of that same information that is more tailored to the specific area of technology you are interested without the cost of a full 2nd degree from a 4-year university. The accounting field has been slowly shifting towards placing more emphasis on data analytics and data management, which is why starting in January 2024 the CPA exam will be changing to include more technology-based questions. (https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2021/jun/aicpa-nasba-launch-cpa-evolution-model-curriculum.html#:~:text=Under%20the%20CPA%20Evolution%20model%2C%20CPA%20Exam%20candidates,the%20ways%20technology%20has%20impacted%20these%20three%20areas.) Larger accounting companies, when they are hiring entry level accountants, are looking for candidates who know accounting but more importantly have the data management skills because they have computers that do alot of the accounting work already. They are looking for people who can interpret the data versus someone to enter it in, so having those technology skills will be very helpful when you are looking for a job.
Thank you comment icon Great answer, THANK YOU Erin!! :) Genevieve
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Alan’s Answer

What a GREAT question... one I wished I had asked more when I was getting my accounting degree! You are already hearing some good advice here, supplementing your accounting degree with computer and data analytical skills is what will set you above the rest when competing for jobs.

Accountants use data analytics to help businesses uncover valuable insights within their financials, identify process improvements that can increase efficiency, and better manage risk. While accountants may be financially-focused, their skills in analyzing large sets of data and numbers are applicable to their daily duties. Not only can you work with similar skill sets as a data analyst, but you can also broaden your potential career paths as analytics professionals often have a wide variety of job possibilities to choose from, especially within accounting. From an educational standpoint, being able to work with large sets of data requires extensive knowledge and understanding of the field of management information systems (MIS) or if offered data analytics (DA).

Best of luck to you!
Thank you comment icon Thanks Alan! That was really helpful! Genevieve
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Marie’s Answer

Hi, as someone who recently graduate as an MIS (Management Information Systems) major with a Business Analytics minor, I can tell you that both of those paths pair really well with accounting. The majority of students in my classes were major/minoring in either accounting or finance as well. Pairing accounting with a computer technology degree such as computer science will be really impressive but also harder to complete as there is less concept overlap. Ultimately, I would recommend going with a computer technology degree that is also based in the business school.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Genevieve
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Ashley’s Answer

Hi Genevieve! Great question, I know how difficult it can be to be to pick the perfect field of study to match your specific interests and strengths. Business Analytics is a very in-demand major that pairs really nicely with a lot of other business degrees. It takes compute science concepts and incorporates applicable business situations to apply the technical skills. Personally, I majored in Finance and Business Analytics and when I was applying for different jobs and internships found that this was a big differentiator when comparing to other applicants. It shows that you are tech-savvy and able to digest large datasets then synthesize the big picture from them.
Thank you comment icon Cool, thanks Ashley! Genevieve
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Wiktoria’s Answer

In my country there is a major like: IT in business. It is a perfect combination of programming basics, programming languages, business tools and accounting. In my experience, modern enterprises put a lot of emphasis on digitalization and automation, regardless of whether it will be handled by an employee. Also, any studies that will teach you the basics of SQL, Java, PowerAutomate, etc. will be a great complement.
Thank you comment icon Thank you Wiktoria!! Genevieve
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Jimil’s Answer

Pairing a degree in accounting with a degree in computer technology can be a great combination, as it can open up many opportunities in fields such as information technology (IT) auditing, financial analysis, and management consulting. Here are a few computer technology degrees that may complement an accounting degree:

Information Systems: An information systems degree focuses on the use of technology to support business operations and decision-making. This field of study can be great complement to an accounting degree as it will equip you with the technical skills necessary to analyze, design and implement systems that are used to store, process, and report financial data.

Computer Science: A computer science degree focuses on the principles and techniques of computer programming, software development and the design of computer systems. This degree can be complementary to an accounting degree as it will provide you with the technical skills necessary to develop software applications that support accounting and financial systems.

Data Science: A data science degree focuses on the collection, analysis, and interpretation of large data sets. This field of study can be great complement to an accounting degree as it will equip you with the technical skills necessary to process and analyze large amounts of financial data.

Artificial Intelligence: A degree in Artificial intelligence can equip you with the technical skills necessary to design and implement systems that can support accounting and financial analysis by automating tasks such as fraud detection, financial forecasting, and financial statement analysis.

Cybersecurity: With the increasing dependence on technology in accounting and finance, cybersecurity is becoming an important aspect to protect and secure financial data, having a cybersecurity degree can help you to understand how to protect financial data and how to detect and prevent cyber threats.

Ultimately, the type of computer technology degree that pairs well with an accounting degree will depend on your interests and career goals. Consider what you enjoy doing and what you want to achieve, then research the degrees and careers that align with those interests and goals.
Thank you comment icon Great answer! Thank you so much!!! Genevieve
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Victor’s Answer

CS and CPA and you are marketable as ever.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Genevieve
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you are interested in both technology and accounting.
It is true that there are many different types of computer science degree.
I would suggest you can consider taking Management Information System (MIS) as your major and accounting as the minor.
MIS is focusing on analysis on the date (sometimes people call it Big Data) and presenting it in meaningful way for management purpose and predict the future trend. It will be very useful to combine with the accounting knowledge for Business Planning.
Many CEO, COO, etc. would have a Business Planning professional to assist them on data analysis.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you!! Genevieve
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Genevieve.

Since you are considering majoring in accounting, it will be to your advantage to stay within the business department rather than cross over to Computer Science or Computer Technology. Business and Computer Science are two different concentration of studies. As a business major, there are various avenues to double major in or minor in, especially since you will be dealing with numbers, ledgers and data sets in accounting. These avenues can be in Business Intelligence, Business Analytics, Data Analytics, Data Science and Management Information Systems.

If you are interested in data analytics, I would recommend taking supplemental courses like Teradata SQL on how to pull data and Tableau on how to visualize the data. One will need to know how to utilize other tools like Qlik (Visualization); Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word and Powerpoint) and/or Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Meet and Sheets).

Are there specific colleges or universities that you are considering to apply to?

Here is a US News link for top Accounting Programs:

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting

Here is a US News link for top Data Science Programs:

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/computer-science/data-analytics-science

Another recommendation is to seek out professionals in accounting to learn more about their career paths, backgrounds and industry experience. Do they incorporate Business Analytics, Data Analytics, etc. into their daily work tasks? What tools do they use to analyze the accounting data and to visualize the findings and recommendations into presentations?

Job Shadowing is a great way to learn more about an area of interest and to see how the professionals function day to day. Also, one can check with the college's accounting and/or data analytics departments to gain a better insight on the education pathway and future career opportunities. The college campus career center can be beneficial with additional resources to help guide you.

Best wishes in your future endeavors and career goals!
Thank you comment icon Michael, thank you so much for you detailed answer! It was extremely helpful!!! Genevieve
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Wilson’s Answer

I would say based on the popularity and recommendation from the accounting department in my university is either Computer Information Systems or Management Information Systems.
Thank you comment icon Thank you Wilson!! Genevieve
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