Is accounting a good major for someone who likes math, but not the very hard stuff?

Question

Just wondering your opinions.

Answer 1

An accountant has to manage the finances of a company, and do stuff like reports and see where the money is escaping out of. They have to try and limit liabilities and increase the companies profits. It involves allot of numbers, so if you are good at math and if you love numbers then I think accounting is for you. The decision is up to you.

Answer 2

Well, I have a business degree (majored in Finance) and I teach math & business for a living. I like math, but hated financial accounting with a passion. Math is an branch of abstract logic involving the manipulation of symbols representing quantities (ex: calculus, statistics, etc). Accounting is record keeping and the calculation of costs and revenues. In financial accounting there is very little real math, but a lot of calculations. Cost accounting is more analytical, and the math gets a bit more complicated.

Best bet: take a couple of accounting courses, and see how much you like it. If you like it, and are good at it, then yes, you can make a good living doing it. Certified accountants make the most, but even if you don't go all the way, you can still open your own accounting business and do well.

Answer 3

Luckily, the hard stuff about accounting is not the math. The math is pretty basic, and what few tricky parts, (like compounding interest, and amortizing loan payments) have straight forward formulas that you will learn once, and practice many times.

The difficult part of accounting is in learning the complex legal mazes that finance operates in. This is only marginaly related to math. But, the law is also usually pretty straight forward, once you know the basics and shortcuts.

Read up, some more. You may decide that there is enough math in it that you will enjoy doing what you like. Or, you may find that there is too much that is NOT math, and maybe you don't want to spend your education on it.

Answer 4

The math in accounting really isn't that hard. For the complex stuff, you've got Excel! Accounting has a lot to do with analysis of accounts, trends, ratios, etc. so while the actual math isn't too complicated, you should be good at analyzing

Answer 5

Some accounting stuff is hard. A person who likes math but not hard stuff may want to consider becoming a middle school or high school math teacher.

Answer 6

Yes, it is. I work in Accounting and I love it very much. I have been doing it for over 10 yrs. It isn't that difficult once you learn the different types of accounts and how to increase and decrease them. I find it challenging without being overwhelming.

Answer 7

Absolutely. It's one of the most financially rewarding carreers. And it's all about logical decisions. Just make sure you can get into to one of the top business schools, otherwise you'll wind up as a bookeeper rather than an accountant.

Answer 8

If you like sitting in front of a computer, paying the bills, reporting to the bosses about profit/loss, job costs and cash flow, open payables and receivables, bank recs, and TONS of paperwork, it's OK I guess. Tax forms suck.

SAVE YOURSELF WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!

No little kid wants to grow up to be an accountant.

Answer 9

I'd say yes. In the company I work for, accountants are always coming up with different numbers.

"According to these calculations, you need 0 people in your busy department. I don't know how you're going to do it!" - Actual quote

Answer 10

there is hardly any REAL math in accounting. if you go the accounting route, you will see that accounting is more concept based than applying math. i'd say it's a good choice.