You May Also Like
The future of accounting: Why it’s a stable and growing career path
Published: August 22, 2025
Written and reported by:
Kendall Upton
Staff Writer & Editor
If you’re looking for a stable career path in an ever-changing employment market, accounting could be a great option. You’ve probably heard the axiom, “Accounting is the language of business,” and it still holds true—financial professionals are necessary wherever there is business and commerce.
However, that doesn’t mean the accounting profession isn’t evolving. Anyone hoping to enter the field must prepare to growth with it.
Accounting job growth overview
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the employment of accountants and auditors will increase by 4.6% through 2034, which is faster than the average across all occupations. This translates to over 130,000 new jobs each year, many of which will replace those who switch careers or retire.
Employment opportunities for financial managers are expected to grow even faster—a whopping 14.8% through the next decade. The higher-level skills that managers possess—financial analysis, risk management and more—are expected to become even more valuable as the economy grows.
The job outlook for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks isn’t quite so bright. This group of entry-level professionals is expected to decline by -5.8% through the next decade, largely because software advancements are automating many of the back-office tasks this group typically performs.
Emerging accounting jobs
A 2024 briefing from the UPCEA (formerly known as the University Professional and Continuing Education Association) about the future of the accounting profession noted several roles in particular that they foresee growing in demand include:
- Forensic accountants: Forensic accountants help investigate financial fraud. “With growing concerns around fraud and financial misconduct, demand for forensic accountants will rise. They’ll focus on investigating fraud, disputes and providing litigation support in increasingly complex financial environments,” the UPCEA report stated.
- Data analytics and financial insights managers: “These professionals will play a crucial role in analyzing financial data, offering strategic insights to help businesses optimize their operations and forecast future trends.”
- Financial technology (Fintech) specialists: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming numerous industries, and finance is no exception. “Fintech is reshaping the financial landscape, and experts in this area will help businesses bridge the gap between finance and technology.”
How and why the field is growing
Several cooccurring factors are contributing to the accounting field’s anticipated job growth in the near and long term.
Replacing people that leave the workforce
Every field and industry must contend with the fact that many people will either change careers or retire from the workforce altogether around a certain age. Though the finance industry is not expected to lose more career changers and retirees than any other field, these losses still contribute to many of the job openings anticipated over the next decade.
Changing Certified Public Accountant (CPA) requirements
Many accountants choose to pursue a CPA license, a voluntary credential that accountants can obtain through a combination of education, experience and passing a national exam. Though individual states set their own requirements for CPA licensure, most states follow the same standards. However, some states have already set some changes in motion.
“Most states required one to have 150 credit hours (bachelor’s degree + 30 credit hours) before qualifying to sit for the exam, and licenses were limited to the state in which you passed the exam. Now, over 20 states have changed these stipulations so that with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, you are eligible to sit for the exam,” said Dr. Tanae Acolatse, Program Manager for the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at Colorado State University (CSU) Global. “However, 150 credit hours are still required to obtain the CPA license. Also, once you have a license, you can practice in any state.”
As these requirements evolve, this may make CPA jobs more accessible to a greater number of people and encourage further growth.
Expansion of AI and machine learning
Although advancements in AI and machine learning technology may not bode well for entry-level accounting roles, these technologies should increase the demand for accountants and other financial professionals that know how to use them.
“There is a growing interest and use of AI in accounting that is automating repetitive tasks but requiring accounting professionals to know how to use AI to make better business decisions,” Acolatse said. “Audit and tax lead the areas where AI is being used more often.”
Desire for broader skills
Employers are already seeking out applicants with a wider range of skills to fill their accounting and finance roles. Accountants can’t simply rely on number sense to succeed anymore—they need communication skills to convey complex financial information to other departments and leaders, big-picture analytical skills so they can make informed suggestions to improve a company’s financial health and so much more.
“Employers will increasingly seek candidates with a broader skill set, encompassing both accounting operations and technological proficiency. This will cause a narrower focus on specific accounting skills, like accounts payable, to diminish in priority,” the UPCEA said.
“Accountants are no longer number crunchers,” Acolatse said. “They are becoming more well-rounded in data analytics and other digital technologies that were once reserved for technology majors.”
“While core competencies like financial regulations and financial strategy continue to dominate, the growing demand for skills such as artificial intelligence and financial software signals a transformation in how accounting professionals will operate in the future. AI is poised to revolutionize tasks like data analysis and financial forecasting, making it essential for accountants to harness these tools effectively,” the UPCEA report continued. “Similarly, the increased focus on operational efficiency and escalation procedures suggests that accounting roles will require a stronger emphasis on process optimization and risk management.”
How to nurture a stable accounting career
Although job growth projections for accounting remain steadily bright, securing employment is never a guarantee. Anyone that wants to be successful must grow with the field. That means a commitment to a lifetime of learning so you can adapt to new best practices, technologies, laws and regulations as they arise.
Master the basics through quality education
First and foremost, a stable accounting career needs solid ground—that’s where higher education comes in.
“Accounting students must first master the fundamentals in accounting through principles in financial and managerial accounting,” Acolatse said. “For example, in the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at CSU Global, our students are taught the fundamentals of accounting — financial accounting first, followed by managerial accounting. After mastering their foundational accounting skills, students explore specialized career paths within our program, starting with tax, followed by government, nonprofit accounting, accounting information systems, audit, cost, forensic accounting and advanced accounting.”
In the capstone course in Acolatse’s program, she said that students blend what they learned in their foundational accounting courses and specialized career paths to analyze and solve real-world problems using data analytics, automation and business intelligence. “When our students leave our program, they are prepared for successful careers in accounting and related fields.”
Most people seeking to enter or grow within the accounting profession need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a closely related field. From there, a master’s degree may be appropriate for people looking to complete their CPA education requirements and/or move into managerial or senior level positions.
Pursue certifications
Certifications are voluntary credentials that validate expertise in particular areas of accounting. Most are earned by meeting certain qualifications and then passing an exam.
“Certifications are no longer optional—they demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge to be successful in the field,” Acolatse said.
Some respected certifications within the field include:
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) through the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) through the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) through ISACA
Embrace technology (and Excel)
“Throughout the journey in earning a degree, accounting students must embrace technology, gaining skills in advanced Excel, which is a mandatory requirement. You cannot be an accountant without Excel,” Acolatse said. “Next, you must embrace technology and hands-on experience in data analytics, data visualization and business intelligence tools like Power BI, Tableau and AI.”
Part of the beauty of an accounting degree is that you get exposure to the most current digital accounting tools and applications. But even after your formal education is over, you must be prepared to keep learning as technology evolves.
“For accounting professionals, it is important to remain current in the ever-evolving technology in the industry. You must be a lifelong learner, continually gaining knowledge and experience with Excel, Power BI, Tableau, data analytics and generative AI, while also obtaining relevant certifications to stay current,” Acolatse said.
With professional insights from:
Tanae Acolatse, PhD
Lead Program Manager/Program Manager of BS in Accounting, Colorado State University Global