Graduates with accounting qualifications face a booming job market with the potential for high starting salaries, according to a new survey. In its report, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) found that total hires in the public and private accounting sector hit 36,110 in the summer of 2007 - up 83% on the figure for 2004, CFO.com states. And according to figures from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, people entering the accounting profession can look forward to some of the biggest pay packets of any new graduates, with average offers for starting salaries clocking in at $49,085 a year. AICPA's analysis showed that the employment and salary prospects offered by accounting has led to an increase in the number of people studying for related qualifications, with over 203,000 people signing up for undergraduate and graduate accounting programs between 2004 and 2007, a 19% rise on the last survey. The trend is set to continue in 2008-09, with some colleges reporting a 60% rise in enrolments on their bachelor's programs and 63% expecting a rise in postgraduate students. According to the Department of Labor, most positions in the field of accounting require a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification. Specific duties vary greatly depending on which of the four main fields - public, management, government accounting and internal auditing - a graduate enters.  |