Accounting

Accounting is at the core of nearly every institution and organization—from your favorite sports teams and bands to nonprofit groups and Fortune 500 companies. If you want the financial expertise and big-picture business perspective to help organizations make smarter decisions and make a difference, even in uncertain times, this is the program for you. And if you like giving back and being at the center of it all—and you want a flexible, highly respected career that can take you virtually anywhere—then accounting might be the perfect fit.

What will I learn?

As an accounting major, you'll learn about accounting concepts and theories and gain the technical skills and competencies you'll need to deliver reliable information as a professional accountant. Most of your classes will cover such subjects as financial reporting, auditing, taxation and data analysis, and you'll have time for some electives, too. Because your professional success often depends on navigating complex situations and working with people (often at the same time), you'll also learn how to think critically, mitigate risk, share actionable insights and communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.

What can I do outside of class?

Put your talent and skills to work as you learn more about the accounting field—and get ready for whatever comes next.

  • Student groups. Choose from a variety of clubs, including groups just for accounting students. Our clubs have won national and international awards and offer tons of opportunities for networking with current members of the accounting and business community, as well as community service options like our free tax preparation services.
  • Internships and experiential learning. Whether you want an internship at a top accounting firm (and maybe even a job offer before graduation) or you're looking for other ways to get real-world experience, we're here to help you.
  • Events. Hear from professionals and distinguished speakers who come to campus to discuss emerging topics and trends in the field.
Student Clubs
Internships
Events

What can I do with an accounting degree?

UB accounting grads are often recruited before graduation and have held some incredible jobs through the years, including:

  • CFO of what is now SiriusXM Radio.
  • Partner at a firm managing budgets and accounting for Broadway and touring productions.
  • Leadership positions at Big Four accounting firms, top investment companies and local accounting firms.
  • CFO of Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute.
  • Vice president of finance for a National Hockey League team.
  • Executive leader of the event and emerging risk examination team at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Senior vice president of finance for the Madison Square Garden company.
  • Strategic deals and risk management at Apple.
  • Executive director and co-founder of the National Museum of Mathematics.
  • Vice president of finance for public TV and radio stations.

The accounting program will prepare you for positions in a variety of organizations, including accounting firms, consulting firms, startup companies, nonprofit institutions, large public companies and government agencies. Most students also go on to become licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), thanks in part to our very high pass rate, or earn an advanced degree in accounting and other fields.

Who will I learn from?

Through the years, our faculty members and their work have been featured and referenced in "The Wall Street Journal," "Forbes," "Financial Times," Congressional testimony, SEC rules, the U.S. Treasury and more.

In the UB School of Management, you will find top researchers and thought-leaders, as well as professional CPAs and other experts in the field of accounting, giving you a strong foundation of theory as well as practical examples from the business world.

Perhaps most importantly, our faculty members are exceptional teachers and mentors. Many have been lauded for their expertise in the classroom, and several have received prestigious recognition like the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professorship. Throughout your time at UB, you’ll find that our faculty take pride in mentoring and coaching you, and often share contacts and connections that can help you get internships and jobs.