Top 10 Best Accounting Schools in the World

What are the best accounting schools in the world? We looked at the top accounting programs in the world based on their admission requirements, teaching methods, placements, job prospects, and more to bring you this list of the 10 best accounting schools in the world.

These are some of the best accounting schools you can get into to become an accountant and make your mark on this world!

Who is an Accountant?

An accountant is someone who keeps track of money and deals with financial transactions. In other words, it’s not simply a matter of keeping track of ledgers or balancing books.

According to most professionals, an accountant should have an eye for detail and analytical skills that go beyond numerical data. The best accountants are also good communicators, as they will be tasked with presenting data to investors and business owners regularly.

How much does an Accountant make?

Accountants and auditors are looking at a pretty good year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for accountants and auditors will grow by 10 percent between 2016 and 2026, faster than most other occupations. Accountants make an average of $75,230 per year according to data from 2017.

How much a specific accountant makes can vary widely depending on factors such as where they work, their level of experience, their skill set, and whether they are self-employed or work for an accounting firm.

The best accountants can make significantly more than average – anywhere from $90,000 to well over $100,000 per year depending on where they live and how much business they bring in.

How can I become an Accountant?

The best way to become an accountant is by earning a degree from an accredited school. While there are different accounting degrees available, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in accounting typically takes about four years to complete.

You may find it helpful to attend classes during evenings or on weekends so you can maintain your current job while you finish your education. Since accounting involves math, many schools require proficiency with numbers and that’s why a bachelor’s degree is considered sufficient for entry-level accountants. Other programs offer a Master of Science (MS) and/or Doctorate (Ph.D.) in accounting, but these typically aren’t required for work as an accountant.

1) University of California Berkeley

The University of California Berkeley is one of the 10 best accounting schools in the United States. This prestigious public research university enrolls more than 40,000 students and receives more than $800 million from federal funding every year. This institution has 12 colleges and schools, and it consistently ranks as one of the top 20 universities in the world.

Among its alumni are numerous prominent figures like George Shultz, internet pioneer Vint Cerf, and many others.

Due to its location in San Francisco Bay Area, this school benefits from an amazing geographic location: students can easily access Silicon Valley’s technology industry while enjoying peaceful surroundings within a short drive or ferry ride to their classes on campus in Berkeley.

RECOMMENDED: Read Breaking News Across The World

2) University of Oxford

For centuries, Oxford has been a leader in liberal arts and sciences education. Founded by England’s famed King Alfred over 1,000 years ago, Oxford is consistently ranked among the best universities in Europe and the world (Times Higher Education Rankings).

One of its greatest strengths is its unrivaled global network of highly ranked schools, including four constituent colleges (St. Edmund Hall, Trinity College, University College, and Somerville College), Green Templeton College at Oxford, and 42 independent colleges within proximity to Oxford city center.

Undergraduates enrolling at Oxford are required to take an initial foundation curriculum that includes six philosophy or religious studies classes (depending on their area of study) before choosing a major.

3) London School of Economics

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is ranked among the top 10 accounting schools in terms of student diversity, faculty quality, alumni employment, resources, and international influence.

The LSE is at No. 7 on our list of 10 best accounting schools for recent accounting graduates. Its Master of Finance (MSc Finance) program boasts a curriculum that includes quantitative techniques with an emphasis on mathematical foundations of finance as well as corporate financial management and financial econometrics courses to give students a solid understanding of advanced theories and models used in finance today.

This MSc Finance program will equip you with some outstanding career opportunities including working as a fund manager or bank analyst; it’s no wonder LSE’s MSc Finance was ranked 2nd by Financial News.

4) University of Pennsylvania

The Wharton School at UPenn is one of America’s most prestigious business schools, and it has a reputation for sending graduates into some of the most elite careers. Not only that but UPenn is considered by many to be one of the best accounting schools in terms of marketability.

The school offers numerous opportunities for students to gain experience in real-world projects through its Office of Corporate Engagement (OCE). OCE connects students with industry professionals and corporate partners through several programs, including consulting projects and research collaborations.

And if you have your eye on a career in Big 4 accounting, UPenn can help with that too—several top firms recruit directly from its undergraduate accounting program.

5) New York University

Not only does NYU have one of the top accounting programs in America, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find another business school that offers as much experiential learning. It’s a culture of doing more than just taking classes—students go through 30 internships over three years and work on student-run start-ups on campus.

One of their most recent start-ups is Task Rabbit, which itself was incubated at NYU.

If you want to learn how to manage finances while also working on real projects with businesses and start-ups, there are a few better places to do it than New York University.

6) Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private research university with an undergraduate enrollment of 6,626. While accounting isn’t a major offered through its Fuqua School of Business, an advanced management program allows undergraduates to specialize and pursue a master’s degree in accountancy or taxation.

Notable alumni include Joe Gebbia—co-founder of Airbnb—and Kenneth Chenault—chairman of American Express Company and former chief executive officer.

The school has been ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top 25 graduate business schools for nearly 20 years straight (No. 24). It also ranks No. 13 on Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Top Colleges for Business and No.

7) Columbia University

The School of Professional Studies at Columbia University offers an online Master of Science in Accounting, which meets all 150 contact hour requirements set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

This program is suited for individuals with an undergraduate degree who are looking to pursue a career as an accountant. Coursework includes financial accounting, taxation, auditing, and computer applications. Students also complete a final capstone project that addresses issues related to corporate restructuring. To be eligible for graduation, students must pass all courses with a C or better.

A total of 30 credits are required for completion and applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their previous coursework.

8) University of Toronto

The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management holds an international reputation for its programs, most notably its highly regarded MBA. The school has also been ranked as one of Canada’s Top 50 Employers by Mediacorp Canada. Although it may be known for its strong business program, Rotman is also recognized for excellence in other areas such as politics and public policy, communications and media studies, and law and economic history.

It is consistently among the top universities ranked by QS world university rankings. Considering all these features of the University of Toronto makes it number 1 on our list of 10 best accounting schools in 2018.

9) Hong Kong University of Science & Technology study of Accounting

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) has ranked No. 5 in QS accounting and finance ranking, followed by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), No. 6; City University of Hong Kong (CityU), No. 7; The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), No. 8; Macau University of Science and Technology, No. 9; and Tsinghua University, China’s top institution and home to 12 Nobel Prize winners, at 10th place.

Of course, CUHK also ranks second worldwide for management studies – just behind HKUST — while HKU takes fourth place for accounting and fifth for finance.

10) University of Sydney

The School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing (SEFM) at The University of Sydney is considered by some as Australia’s leading center for research into financial markets. In addition to its strong commitment to teaching, SEFM boasts a thriving research culture where new ideas are explored and developed through projects that generate new knowledge and insights for both business and academia. Research findings are being transformed into real-world outcomes through new collaborations with practitioners including regulators, start-ups, major banks, large corporates, and investment banks.

Faculty members are respected for their academic achievements, their professional engagement across many continents as well as their practical industry experience.

What jobs can I get with an accounting degree?

An accounting degree can lead to a wide variety of jobs, from auditing to taxation. Accountants work at all levels of government and private companies. There are also many opportunities for part-time or temporary accounting jobs. Most accountants have a college degree and either a CPA (certified public accountant) or CMA (certified management accountant) credential.

Accountants have high job satisfaction as they find real meaning in balancing a company’s books while protecting shareholder interests. According to BusinessInsider, 68% of accountants said they were satisfied with their job, compared with an average score across all other jobs of 54%. You may want to consider majoring in accounting if you’re interested in budgeting, forecasting, debt collection, and dealing with financial regulations.

What is the highest accounting qualification?

To obtain a license to practice accounting, candidates must first get certified as an accountant. There are three different types of certification you can get: Certified General Accountant (CGA), Chartered Accountant (CA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). To be eligible for any type of certification, you must complete 150 hours of relevant work experience.

You also need a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Canada. Once you’ve passed those tests, you can write the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s Uniform Evaluation Exams for CGAs and CAs; CMAs have their own set of qualifying exams.

What skills do I need to become an Accountant?

To become an accountant, you need to have excellent math skills and enjoy research. Accountants analyze financial information for businesses, individuals, and other organizations.

They are responsible for keeping records, preparing tax returns, and carrying out audits. Although you don’t need a college degree to become an accountant, employers do prefer candidates with an accounting degree and relevant work experience.

A high school diploma is usually required for these jobs as well as significant work experience and some previous job-related training. However, some accountants only have an associate’s degree or a certificate of completion from a business or accounting program at a community college or vocational school after having completed a bachelor’s degree in another subject like business administration.

What is the highest degree in Accounting?

Currently, there are only two doctoral degrees awarded by colleges and universities accredited by CPA: a Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) or a DBA (doctor of business administration). Both can qualify graduates to sit for an exam to become certified public accountants. If your goal is to sit for a CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant, you need at least one college degree in accounting and most likely you will need an advanced degree such as one of these 2 doctorate degrees.

Most states have reciprocity agreements that allow CPAs licensed in one state to be able to practice accountancy in other states too, so long as they meet certain educational and other requirements set by that state’s regulatory board.