You pay strict attention to detail and maintain sharp analytical skills. With this in mind, you’ve likely done some research on careers that would leverage these abilities. After also considering crucial components such as job security and earning potential, you’ve narrowed down your options to two fields: accounting versus computer science.
It’s no wonder you’ve landed on these two options, because the future looks bright for both. But although they require some of the same skills and aptitudes to perform the job duties, the jobs themselves are quite different.
So how do you know which career path is right for you? We created a side-by-side comparison so you can easily evaluate which option best meets your needs. Keep reading to discover which career is your calling. Want to read more about computer science and wondering "is computer science right for me?" Read more here.
Accounting vs. computer science: The basics
Both accounting and computer science careers will incorporate a fair amount of mathematics and analytical skills. Whether you’re crunching numbers in accounting or writing code in computer science, you consider yourself methodical and computer savvy. This makes you well-equipped to succeed in either industry!
It’s going to take a bit more research before you’re able to choose a winner in the accounting versus computer science debate. Read on to find the information to help.
Accounting vs. computer science: Job duties
Before we get any further, it’s imperative that you understand what each of these jobs actually entails. After all, this is what you’ll be doing 40 hours for who knows how many years, so you better enjoy what you’re doing!
Put simply, accountants will spend much of their days examining financial statements for accuracy, computing taxes and inspecting account books and accounting systems for efficiency.
While there is a wide variety of accounting jobs and specializations within the field, many of these careers will require you to assess financial operations of organizations, government agencies or even your own employer if you work as an internal auditor.
The higher you climb on the chain of command, the more management responsibilities you’ll have to assume. This includes finding ways to reduce costs, increase revenue and manage other budgetary concerns within the company.
The job duties within the computer science field can vary greatly by specific job title. Some common duties you can expect, however, include writing code to create software programs, creating information systems solutions for an organization’s current computer systems, and using specialized software to store, organize and protect data.
Developing apps, creating websites and monitoring technical aspects of computer systems, such as performance and capacity, are also common computer science job duties. Check out this list of computer science careers to learn more about the specific duties required in various positions in the field.
Accounting vs. computer science: Required education
Earning a degree is one of the most important credentials for both accounting and computer science careers. We used real-time job analysis software to determine just how important this factor is in each field.
An examination of nearly 300,000 accounting job postings revealed that 98 percent of employers prefer accounting candidates have at least a bachelor’s degree.1A similar analysis of more than 1.7 million computer science job postings found that 86 percent of employers prefer computer science candidates to have a bachelor’s degree or higher.2
This suggests that pursuing a formal education will increase your employment chances in both industries. There are also certification opportunities to further your training in either field. Some common options for accounting certifications are: the CPA, the CMA and the CIA.
There is a whole plethora of technology certifications available for computer science professionals, but a few popular options include: the CCNP, the MCSE and the CompTIA A+.
Accounting vs. computer science: Skills needed
You now know earning a degree will help set you up for success in the industry, but that’s only the beginning. The knowledge and skills you acquire from your courses are essential to landing a job. The analyses mentioned above helped us identify the top skills employers are seeking in each field.
| In-demand accounting skills1 | In-demand computer science skills2 |
|---|---|
| Account reconciliation | SQL |
| Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) | JAVA |
| Financial reporting | JavaScript |
| General ledger | Oracle |
| Accounts payable & receivable | LINUX |
Accounting vs. computer science: job outlook
Both accounting and computer science have positive job growth outlooks.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032 about as fast as the average for all occupations.3
Computer science shows even more promise. BLS reports overall employment in computer and technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032.3
Does technology improvement intrigue you? If you wanted to dial in on a specific segment, consider the role of a computer and information research scientist. These individuals “design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology.” BLS reports that employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 23% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.3
Accounting vs. computer science: Career path options
When considering a new career, it’s important to know the path you’re taking won’t lead to a dead end. You want to know you’ll have options and advancement opportunities after entering the field. The good news is that both accounting and computer science offer promising prospects.
| Top accounting job titles1 | Top computer science job titles2 |
|---|---|
| Staff accountant | Software developer/engineer |
| Accounting manager | Systems analyst |
| Tax manager | Network administrator |
| Internal auditor | Database administrator |
| Accounting analyst | Business intelligence analyst |
Choose a side
Accounting versus computer science – which side will you choose? You now have an arsenal of information that should put you one step closer to making your decision. But a bit more research will help you be certain you’re making the right decision.
If you’re leaning towards accounting, learn more about the ins and outs of the job in this article: What Do Accountants Do? A Look at Life Behind the Ledger.
If you think you’re cut out for a computer science career, check out this article to learn about all of the avenues available: What Can You Do With a Computer Science Degree?
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Is an Accounting Degree Worth it or Worthless?
- Myth vs. Reality: What is Being an Accountant Really Like?
- 8 Entry-Level Computer Science Jobs that are ACTUALLY Hiring
1 BurningGlass.com (analysis of 292,829 accounting job postings, Dec. 1, 2014 – Nov. 30, 2015)
2 BurningGlass.com (analysis of 1,715,856 computer science job postings, Dec. 1, 2014 – Nov. 30, 2015)
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed December 18, 2023]. www.bls.gov/ooh Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries, and employment conditions in your area may vary.
