Seven Unexpected Career Paths To Use an Accounting Degree

When many people think of an accountant, a popular image that comes to mind is a math genius behind a desk wearing a suit and glasses, a calculator within arm's reach, doing taxes all day. And while that certainly can be part of working in the industry, this caricature couldn’t be further from the reality for most accounting professionals. “There's a myth that accountants are only doing taxes,” says Mandy Look, CPA, senior manager, climate change and sustainability services at professional services firm EY, tells Teen Vogue. “That's not the case whatsoever. No day is the same.”

A career in accounting can mean travel, creativity, and community–of course, there are numbers too. We spoke to Look, Greta Smith, assurance senior manager at PwC, Ash Golzio, advisory senior associate at KPMG and Shenique Gray, audit and assurance partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP to understand the endless possibilities with an accounting career, which are growing at a rapid rate. “Where you have money, people, organizations, industries, and purpose showing up in the world, accountants can make an impact,” says Smith.

As you look toward college and long-term job stability, a degree in accounting is definitely one to consider. It can be a gateway to different career paths across dozens of different industries. We broke down seven unexpected career paths you can take as an accountant, with expert insight from accountants at the top of their fields.

Climate Accounting

More than ever, companies around the globe are taking stock of their environmental impact. Whether it’s complying with government regulations on greenhouse gases (think: car companies and manufacturers) or staying accountable to customers and investors who care about the climate, companies require an accurate picture of what they impact. Take carbon emissions, where a climate accountant can fact-check what companies are saying about their emissions, and report the findings, building an understanding of companies’ impact on the planet. According to Look, it’s an exciting path because not only can you learn and grow as an accountant, but you can also be part of positive changes. “I feel like I'm making some change in the world. I help companies accurately report their climate-related activities,” says Look.. “My group helps validate that companies are being transparent and are doing what they say.” What’s more, this is the kind of career path that highlights the depth of accounting because it allows you to combine multiple passions. Look even calls herself the “hippie accountant” because her love of the planet is the bedrock of her role.

Cybersecurity

Golzio got her start as a recruiter while she was working her way through college. Although accounting wasn’t her first choice, she slowly learned how expansive the career was, and that it could intersect with what she loved, so she changed her major. “If you think about all of the public companies that people invest in and that our economies and our world run on, the information they are releasing and reporting on must be accurate and reliable,” Golzio explains. “Many people think about accounting fraud, [in the sense that] people are doing things wrong, that they are bad actors or have malicious intent. A lot of what I do is more about providing an opinion on the fairness of what companies report.”

In an era where privacy and data breaches are a constant threat, accountants are more integral than ever, and are often tasked with identifying vulnerabilities for customer privacy. Hiring managers are also looking for accountants that have cybersecurity skills. “Technology can't have all these processes we're talking about without serious accounting consideration,” says Golzio. “Much of that has to do with the general public being able to rely upon the information you're getting.”

Compliance in Fashion, Food and More

When we say that an accounting degree can open your world into dozens of industries, we mean it, dream big and don’t let go of your creative side. The skillset that comes with an accounting background is critical when starting a business or even working with one in your community. Take for example, opening a bakery, or starting a clothing line. Precision with financial decisions and being analytical about the bottom line are crucial to long lasting success.

From fashion, to food and agriculture, as global trade is shifting and supply chains become more complicated, roles in accounting — both in-house and at accounting firms — are more critical than ever. Industries are in constant need of accurate data and accounting that meets this ever-changing business environment. “Companies should know how to make smart decisions,” says Smith. For example, in fashion, some countries are regulating the number of unsold garments a company can make. Accountants are the ones who help ensure those numbers add up and that companies are following the rules.

Corporate Accounting

You might assume corporate accounting means a life in suits, but that’s not always the case. Corporate accounting can look different across industries and can be an excellent option for creative thinkers. Businesses are often looking to expand and shift with new technology and markets. Accountants working within a corporation are often the ones who find new and exciting opportunities across industries. “You should keep yourself open to the possibilities and also bring those fresh perspectives,” Smith says. “That's where that critical thinking and creative thinking can come together and tell a story — a story to build trust with our clients and show up in society.”

Smith, who describes herself as a creative person, says her path into accounting wasn’t typical, and she wasn’t drawn to the field because she loves math. She’s a creative person who was inspired by a chic TV character to be an accountant, and ended up with a career where she could use her natural storytelling abilities to help lead her teams.

Public Accounting

Accounting is not all about numbers (are you sensing a theme yet?); relationship building is actually a huge part of the job. This means bringing in new clients, building the best team, and making sure you are communicating clearly. This is especially true at public accounting firms that serve many different businesses, big and small, in multiple different capacities. “Much of our work as public accountants is serving clients. So, our ability to build relationships, to listen to our clients, to not presume what they need before we've actually heard them out, and to articulate a point of view is critical,” Gray says. Public accountants operate independently from their clients in order to provide an objective point of view that can serve the clients’ goals in the long run. “There is a strong need for clear, confident, and concise communication,” says Gray, who has been an accountant for over 19 years and understands how to sustain and grow a career in accounting. Her advice: Communicate early and often and be a team player.

AI Governance and Usage

AI (artificial intelligence) is top of mind in many industries around the world. As it grows, so do the concerns about the jobs it’s going to replace. Most accountants we spoke to agree that, yes, it’s going to bring changes, but it’s only going to add to the job. “I think students need to learn how to analyze big data and use AI to innovate responsibly and help them work smarter,” says Look, who adds that her company, EY, has invested $1 billion at the intersection of technology and talent, which is equipping her teams to use AI-powered capabilities. Look doesn’t think that AI will replace accounting as many fear, but that understanding it and using it as a tool will give people in the accounting industry an advantage. According to Gray, generative AI is already part of the workflow at her organization. “We have a whole team within Deloitte dedicated to fueling our professionals with technology such as generative and agentic AI and imagining what future ways of working will look like,” she says.

Financial Management

Superstars in some of your favorite industries need accountants. Whether it’s famous athletes or artists, specialized financial professionals are critical in helping them invest wisely and sustain their financial success. “Your favorite pop-star likely didn’t start their career without understanding the numbers behind their success. Accounting plays a key role in helping to make sure their financial decisions support their goals,” Smith says. Often, accountants are working directly with these individual clients, sometimes traveling with them, and helping them figure out their next move.

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While highlighting the unexpected specialties within an accounting degree, Smith adds that it can be a career that provides both stability and change. “Once you have that reliable foundation, you can drive sustainable growth for yourself and your clients,” she says. “I like to believe that accounting can be a profession that can catapult you to new heights and levels that you didn't even think were possible, because we have this image of what accounting was, but it's evolving every single day.”