Undergraduate
What is Accounting?
Accounting is the “language of business.” Accountants turn numbers and financial transactions into words and financial statements that enable stakeholders to understand value, make informed decisions, and drive innovation. In addition, accountants and auditors ensure that firms are run efficiently and records are kept accurately. Accountants use cutting edge technology, such as data analytics to analyze and communicate financial information for their clients. They serve private and public companies, individuals, and federal, state, and local governments. Those who study accounting receive a solid understanding of business and have options to explore rules in not only accounting-related careers, but also careers in other fields such as finance, management, entrepreneurship, and technology.
Haslam has one of the leading accounting programs in the nation. The program emphasizes the conceptual and applied understanding of business information and provides students a solid understanding of how to analyze and account for business activities. Many who earn their bachelor’s in accounting also pursue a master of accountancy (MAcc) degree through Haslam.
Accounting & Information Management
Career Opportunities
Accounting graduates have a wide range of career options open to them. Many begin in public accounting firms, where they build experience in tax services, financial planning, auditing, and consultation. Others work within a particular sector of the labor market. Business and industry accountants manage budgets and financial assets, identify risks, and advise decision-makers on maximizing profits. Government accountants maintain revenue and tax records , conduct audits, and ensure departments adhere to regulation. Not-for-profit accountants help those organizations track revenues and comply with tax-exemption laws.
In addition to being in demand across multiple sectors, accounting graduates have great potential for advancement and promotion after graduating. Accounting graduates take jobs either in accounting-specific fields or in other business fields, such as finance. Many of our graduates have become partners at public accounting firms, chief financial officers, and chief executive officers. These alumni regularly point to their background in accounting as foundational to their successful careers.
96%
Graduates employed or pursuing higher education
$65,061
Average starting salary
Haslam Undergraduate Outcomes Report, 2022–2023
Job Examples
Associate Auditor (public accounting)
Associate auditors conduct audits in the field, analyze financial records, and work with their test to ensure that their clients’ accounting is performed according to professional standards. They should have one or more years of public accounting experience and demonstrate strong accounting, time-management, and communication skills.
Average salary (25th percentile): $51,250
Average salary (50th percentile): $62,750
Average salary (75th percentile): $72,500
Senior Tax Associate (public accounting)
Senior tax associates help their clients with their tax strategy by researching opportunities for tax savings allowed under laws and regulations. They work with a team to help their clients understand the tax implications of various business decisions. Senior associates also supervise entry-level staff, have at least three years of experience in tax accounting, and demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Average salary (25th percentile): $82,750
Average salary (50th percentile): $101,000
Average salary (75th percentile): $117,00
Director of Finance (corporate accounting)
Directors of finance oversees a company’s financial operations. They play an important role in managing budgets, forecasting, and financial planning. They analyze financial data to help guide strategic decision making. Many who work in these roles have a bachelors in accounting or finance, and at least 10 years of work experience in one of those fields.
Average salary (25th percentile): $126,500
Average salary (50th percentile): $167,000
Average salary (75th percentile): $180,750
Chief Financial Officer (corporate accounting)
Chief financial officers are part of a company’s executive leadership. They play an important role in strategic management at a company and oversee all activities related to accounting and finance, from identifying business risks and recommending improvements, to maintaining relationships with investors and auditors. The position requires strong interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills, at least 10 years in accounting or finance, plus management experience.
Average salary (25th percentile): $194,250
Average salary (50th percentile): $268,250
Average salary (75th percentile): $321,750
2025 Robert Half Salary Guide. Average salaries.
Majoring in Accounting
The undergraduate accounting curriculum not only provides students with a solid understanding of how businesses operate, but also equips them with a framework for deciphering the complexities of business transactions. The curriculum covers key major functional areas – from financial and managerial to taxation and auditing. Accounting majors have the choice of an integrated business and engineering program, an international business concentration, or a collateral option focused on business analytics, finance, information management, international business, or real estate.
Accounting courses:
- ACCT 203: Introduction to Financial Accounting
- ACCT 311: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
- ACCT 411: Introduction to Auditing
- ACCT 412: Principles of Internal Auditing and Forensic Accounting
- ACCT 414: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
- ACCT 421: Managerial Accounting
- ACCT 431: Federal Income Taxation
Information Management courses:
- INMT 242: Business Software Applications
- INMT 341: Business Process Analysis
- INMT 342: Introduction to Database Systems
- INMT 442: e-Enterprise
- INMT 443: Business Applications and Tools
Accounting Alumni
Spotlights
Megan Turner
Partner | Financial Services Consulting | EY
“Accounting gives you a sense of credibility in business. Full stop. For me, I had done cost accounting, financial reporting, accounting policy, external audit, and business risk consulting internship, so I had a sense for where I wanted to go. Having those experiences and having an understanding of accounting means the world is your oyster.”
T.C. Whittaker
CEO | AuditSight, Inc
“The foundation of my entire business career, especially my entrepreneurial journey, is all built on top of accounting. As the CEO of a company, we can still think about journal entries and T accounts — things I learned at the beginning of my accounting career.”
Jordan Mollenhour
Co-CEO | Mollenhour Gross
“An accounting degree gives you a language for business that allows you to perceive and understand things about other businesses that are completely unrelated to your own that can be incredibly beneficial. If you don’t understand how the mechanics of business work, its a lot harder to translate lessons from one industry or profession to another. The accounting program gives you that common link.”
Scholarship Opportunities
The Haslam College of Business awards more than $5 million annually in scholarships to students. Awards include college and departmental scholarships. Each year, students should apply to be considered for college and departmental scholarships through the university’s Continuing Undergraduate Student Scholarship application.
Scholarship criteria is varied and may be based on a student’s need, academic merit, engagement in student organizations and research, and overall profile.