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Accounting

Franklin University Accounting bachelor's degree banner, with link to program video.
Program OverviewProgram DetailsWhy Choose Franklin

Crunch the numbers to prepare and analyze financial reports

Once thought of as stodgy and rigid, the field of accounting is anything but. Thanks to corporate scandals, consolidations, and regulatory mandates, the face of accounting has forever changed.

Fortunately, this means more opportunities for accounting graduates, and Franklin’s highly respected Accounting Major can help you capitalize. In fact, accounting jobs are projected  to increase by 18% through the end of the decade, a rate faster than the average among all professions.1

Prepare for certification while gaining sought-after accounting skills

Franklin University’s Accounting Degree Program provides the full range of skills employers desire in such areas as financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting and cost management, tax accounting, auditing and accounting ethics, and financial management.

In addition to building your Accounting credentials and capabilities, your studies at Franklin give you a jumpstart on pursuing a professional certification, saving you both time and money. Our technical and application-focused classes prepare you foundationally for professional certification exams, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

Gain hands-on experience with project-work and tools of the trade

While at Franklin, you’ll be introduced to industry-standard software, such as Microsoft® Excel and Visio, enabling you to take an active role in creating impactful systems and processes as they relate to the accounting function.

And in your final accounting course, you’ll take part in a business simulation assignment in which you’ll collaborate with a small student audit team. You’ll participate in analyzing a set of financial statements, investigating the numbers, correcting the statements, and reporting your group findings. This integrated assignment gives you important experience in applying technical insights and communicating them clearly and concisely—attributes very attractive to employers.

Earn a degree designed to be valued in the workplace

Franklin’s Accounting Major is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the leader in outcomes-based accreditation in business, so you know you’re earning a respected degree with value in the workplace.

Additionally, Franklin’s Accounting curriculum is designed to meet industry standards, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the auditing standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the cost management techniques of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and Sarbanes-Oxley regulations so you can be sure your degree provides you with up-to-date information so you’re prepared with the knowledge required for this exciting and changing profession.

Earn your degree from a university built for busy adults

Earn your degree on your terms by taking classes 100% online or pursue available coursework at one of our eleven Midwest locations. Regionally accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Our seamless transfer process and team of academic advisors will help ease your transition to becoming a student, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family, and life. Get started on your future today!

1Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)

Gain The Skills Employers Desire

  • Financial Reporting & Analysis
    • Maintain accounting standards, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
    • Prepare consolidated financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow
    • Produce required financial statements to meet regulatory requirements, such as Form 10-Q, 10-K, and annual reports
    • Develop best-in-class procedures for the preparation of reports, ensuring proper internal controls and policy compliance
    • Identify key differences between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
    • Gather supporting documentation and write footnotes and disclosures for financial reports
    • Prepare account reconciliations, analyzing accounts for unusual fluctuations
    • Consolidate and submit financial transaction reports, summarizing current activities, and projected financial positions
    • Analyze financial statements, performing analyses of accounts, variances, trends, and ratios
    • Prepare and submit other regulatory reports and special requests related to financial information
  • Managerial Accounting & Cost Management
    • Provide financial analyses in support of improvements in operational performance and financial returns
    • Create and execute cost-effective actions and expense-saving initiatives
    • Assist in the development and maintenance of planning and budgeting systems
    • Analyze changes in product and process design, raw materials, overhead, and production methods for cost impact
    • Perform analysis for moderate- to high-risk accounts, including reconciliation of cash, revenue, investments, receivables, and expenses
    • Provide management with costing reports and insight to support change in resource allocations, work methods, and materials
    • Develop, implement, and maintain costing procedures, performing variance analysis and cost updates
    • Recommend and implement processes, systems, and reporting improvements to provide more visibility into financial results
    • Support new business evaluation, budgeting, planning, and operational change evaluation, including extraction and dissection of data
    • Provide economic analyses and cost assessments for initiatives, projects, services, products, and/or product line extensions
    • Conduct financial analyses and reporting in support of organizational stability, liquidity, and growth
    • Use accounting principles and practices to inform and recommend process improvement changes to accounting systems, methods, and procedures
  • Tax Accounting
    • Find tax-saving opportunities for taxable entities by applying knowledge of federal income tax code, including filing status, exemptions, and deductions
    • Recommend tax strategies related to taxable entities based on research and application of federal tax regulations and guidelines
    • Provide counsel related to the tax consequences of forming, operating and liquidating LLCs, sole proprietorships, estates, and trusts
    • Provide tax-planning research and analyses to ensure tax law compliance and minimize tax liability
    • Prepare and analyze tax depreciation reporting in fixed-asset accounting systems
    • Provide annual report disclosures for taxes and deferred compensation
    • Review financial accounts and records, ensuring determination of federal, state, and local tax liabilities in accordance with prescribed rates, laws, and regulations
    • Administer business tax filings, including income tax returns, quarterly estimated payments, and quarterly income tax provisions required by the Federal Tax Code.
  • Auditing & Accounting Ethics
    • Perform internal Sarbanes-Oxley reviews, conducting due diligence to address control gaps and ensure compliance
    • Review and evaluate financial transactions and reports for data integrity, as well as policy and procedural compliance
    • Oversee internal controls of financial reporting processes and manage external audits
    • Mitigate risk through design, review, and support of detailed control procedures and exception reports
    • Ensure validity of partner audits, responding to audit findings and taking appropriate corrective action
    • Improve and strengthen effectiveness of internal controls to mitigate risk, prevent fraud, and comply with applicable laws and regulations
    • Review, recommend and develop strategies, processes, limits, rules, and controls to ensure effective risk management
    • Implement and manage security policies and procedures for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
    • Understand CPA professional standards and liabilities, operating in an ethical manner to present a true and fair view of business or individual finances
    • Recognize potentially unethical behaviors, perform research and consultations as appropriate, and determine necessary response
    • Oversee corporate codes of ethics with respect to financial practices, including monitoring employees’ outside business activities and potential conflicts of interest
    • Distill complex compliance requirements and technical documents into understandable and actionable recommendations
    • Ensure compliance with prescribed audit methodologies, policies and procedures, as well as legal, regulatory, and contract anti-fraud obligations
    • Identify and assess operational risks, such as people, processes, fraud, extravagance, execution, and reputation, remediating gaps and deficiencies
  • Financial Management
    • Assist in financial planning processes, including long-range goal setting, and monthly and quarterly forecasting
    • Provide short- and long-term financial development planning using scenario-based modeling tools and benchmarking
    • Provide strategic analyses and support to enhance profitability, reduce costs, drive productivity enhancements, and expand services
    • Prepare financial projections and provide critical examination of business results, including trend analyses and productivity metrics
    • Conduct financial modeling in support of strategic initiatives, reporting, and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs)
    • Analyze monthly financial results, generating insights, optimizing key strategic issues, and communicating financial outlooks
    • Develop and maintain benchmarks, long-term financial models, and return on asset (ROA) models
    • Provide critical business support regarding overhead, variable costs, and revenue, bringing clarity and uniformity to the process
    • Analyze key issues, including financial performance, sales and margin, operating expenses, and cash flow variances
    • Conduct financial- and business-related research and analysis on financial and expense performance, pricing, performance metrics, and business improvement

Career Opportunities

  • Auditor

    Auditors verify financial records and analyze internal controls, identifying issues, ensuring compliance, and making improvement recommendations.

    View Salary Trends
  • Financial Accountant

    Financial Accountants support financial decision making by investigating and analyzing the financial position and preparing financial statements for dissemination.

    View Salary Trends
  • Public Accountant

    Public Accountants prepare and analyze financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns.

    View Salary Trends
  • Budget Analyst

    Budget Analysts produce accurate and timely analysis and evaluation of economic data to determine trends, make forecasts, and prepare annual budgets.

    View Salary Trends
  • Cost Management Accountant

    Cost Management Accountants develop and maintain standard cost data, interpreting gross margin, cost variance, and inventory movement.

    View Salary Trends
  • Government Accountant

    Government Accountants record and prepare financial reports, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines and Government Accounting Standards Board principles.

    View Salary Trends
  • Tax Accountant

    Tax Accountants prepare federal and state income taxes for businesses and individuals in accordance with current tax law.

    View Salary Trends
  • Accounting Consultant

    Accounting Consultants analyze financial information and develop recommendations to enhance, improve or facilitate financial performance, processing, or workflow.

    View Salary Trends

Employment Outlook

From 2010-2020 jobs in Accounting are expected to increase by 18%. Jobs in Accounting are estimated to grow from 1.8 million to 2.1 million by 2020.
Occupations Job Openings (2010) Expected Growth
(2010-2020)
Accountants and Auditors 72,387 18.8%
Budget Analysts 2,139 11.5%
Credit Analysts 3,173 18.4%
Financial Examiners 1,346 23.7%
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents 2,024 5.4%

Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)

Our Recipe For Your Success

Academic & Industry Experts

Classes are taught and designed by credentialed professionals with real-world experience.
 

  • Programs are designed by combining the insight of industry leaders with the academic expertise of our faculty, ensuring what you learn translates into on-the-job success.

  • Academic concepts and theories are brought to life through our teaching faculty’s professional expertise, and can be immediately applied in your career.

  • Faculty with industry experience teach our courses, not graduate students or life-time academics, so you learn not only the theories behind the practice but also how to apply them in real-world situations.

Relevant & Consistent Curriculum

What you learn is a reflection of the program you choose, not the format in which it’s applied.
 

  • All programs are designed for learning outcomes to flow from the program level into actual coursework.

  • This top-down approach allows credentialed professionals to customize assignments based on trending industry topics without deviating from a program’s core outcomes.

  • Regardless of your professor or the format of your class, you receive the same quality education.

Hands-On Learning Experience

Franklin's coursework teaches not only theories and concepts, but also how they apply to practical situations.

 

  • Professional course designers ensure that class activities such as learning simulations, case studies, interactive videos, and group exercises are relevant and appropriate.

  • A curriculum development team is dedicated to making sure all courses are intuitively designed so content is taught in a logical manner that facilitates your success in the classroom and beyond.

Continuously Evolving Programs

Consistent program reviews ensure our programs stay at the forefront of industry trends.
 

  • Survey results and feedback from student and faculty assessments are reviewed regularly so that our programs are always improving and up-to-date.

  • A structured review process helps identify industry gaps that guide curriculum enhancements allowing our academic and industry experts to regularly implement new industry trends.

  • Regular assessment provides hard data that is used to improve student learning and teaching methods.

Get the details

Read course descriptions, learn about degree options, and meet program faculty.

View Program Details