Careers by Major - Accounting

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Careers for graduates

There are many different career options available for Accounting graduates.  Below is a sample of types of positions that are available to Accounting graduates (italicized positions are ones our graduates are known to have attained).

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

  • Account Manager*
  • Auditor*
  • Bank Manager*
  • Budget Analyst
  • Chartered Accountant (CA)*
  • Certified General Accountant (CGA)*
  • Cert. Management Accountant (CMA)*
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Corporate Controller
  • Corporate/Commercial Lawyer*
  • Cost Accountant/Manager
  • Credit Counsellor*
  • Entrepreneur*
  • Financial Analyst
  • Forensic Accountant*
  • Government Relations Specialist
  • Info and Control Systems Specialist
  • Internal Auditor
  • Investment Advisor*
  • Investment Banker*
  • Money Manager*
  • Personal Financial Planner*
  • Tax Accountant
  • Teacher/Professor
  • Trader*
  • Venture Capitalist*

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre

Who employs accounting graduates?

  • Accounting Firms
  • Banks and Financial Institutions
  • Insurance Companies
  • Educational Institutions
  • Federal, Provincial and Municipal
  • Governments
  • Self-employment
  • Organizations in a wide range of industries in virtually every sector of the economy

Also, large corporations such as RBC, Loblaw, Telus and RIM now have non-traditional CA training programs for recent grads!

Skills developed by accounting students

  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Conveying Complex Information
  • Writing and Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Organizational Skills
  • Management Skills
  • Problem Analysis and Reasoning
  • Judgment and Synthesis Skills
  • Negotiation/People Management Skills
  • Ethical Behaviour and Professionalism
  • Accountability

Sample job listings for graduating students/recent graduates

Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates. Please note that the big CA firms usually post their opportunities in September. To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend an orientation.  Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information.

  • Staff Accountant - Ernst & Young LLP
  • Tax Consultant New Grad - Deloitte & Touche
  • Junior Financial Accounting Analyst - Accenture
  • Accounting and Reporting Analyst - TD Securities
  • Accounting Analyst - Cadillac Fairview Corporation
  • Business Analyst - ADP Canada
  • Cost Accounting Clerk - IDMD Manufacturing Inc.
  • Financial Analyst - Bender Consulting Services
  • Underwriting Trainee - Aviva Canada Inc.
  • Forensic Accountant - A Neuman Associates Inc.
  • Accounts Payable Specialist - Lafarge Canada Inc.
  • Junior Accounting Clerk – Everest & Blanc Corporation
  • Accountant/Bookkeeper – AV Communications
  • Junior Accounting Analyst (Student) – Barrett Xplore Inc.
  • Financial Analyst – Just Energy Group
  • Junior Accountant – Tyndale university College & Seminary
  • Office Administrator – Personal Fitness Consulting
  • Accounting Course Developer – AME Learning Inc.
  • Junior Bookkeeper – A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services Inc.
  • Settlements Administrator – NRT Technology Corp.
  • Bookkeeper – SO! Financial Renovation

How to get experience

Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want.  Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online.

Summer Positions 

  • Accounting Intern, Bell Canada
  • Summer Staff Accountant/Analyst, Deloitte & Touche
  • Accounting Summer Student, Parmalat
  • Summer Student, Accounting, CIBC
  • Staff Accountant, Summer Intern, KPMG LLP

Part-Time/Work-Study Positions

  • Accounting Clerk, Jet-Share Aviation
  • Financial Advisor Apprentice, Edward Jones
  • Bookkeeping Assistant, Wal-Mart Canada
  • Junior Accounting Clerk, Oakville Mazda
  • Internal Assistant Auditor, TVOntario

Extern Job Shadowing Program - previous placements include:

  • Staff Accountant, Deloitte & Touche
  • Account Coordinator, Health Care Division Public Relations, Cohn & Wolfe
  • Relationship Account Manager, Business Banking, RBC

Volunteer Positions

  • Student Accountant, Trowbridge Professional Corporation
  • Accountant and Business Planner, Sustainable Living Network and Sustainable Living
  • Accounting Intern, RK Global Consultants, Inc.
  • Accounting Clerk, Highrise Magazine

Did you know... The big 4 accounting firms hold information sessions for graduating students and summer positions in September and October. Watch for notices on our web site in early September!

Volunteer experience counts too!  Whether you're volunteering on campus, coaching a sports team, donating your time with a local charity or helping run a student club on campus (such as the Undergraduate Commerce Society), you'll be developing and demonstrating skills all employers want: communication, organizational, leadership, etc.

The Big Four Accounting firms often organize events such as Summer Institutes and Leadership conferences for students. Please check their websites and the Career Centre webpage for further information on timing, venue and registration instructions.

Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!

Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.

Resources

Career Centre Library Resources:

  • Career Cruising
  • Great Jobs for Business Majors
  • Careers for Number Crunchers
  • Careers for Self-Starters & Other
  • Entrepreneurial Types
  • Career Information Binders (Accounting, Finance...)

Career Centre Library Books:

  • Careers for Born Leaders and Other Decisive Types, Camenson 1998
  • Careers for Self-Starters and Other Entrepreneurial Types, Camenson 1997
  • Great Jobs for Business Majors, Lambert 1996
  • Careers in International Business, Second Edition

Web Links:

The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca

What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).