Accounting careers vary widely in today's complex, global economy. Graduates may find themselves tracking illegal funds for the FBI or preparing financial statements for multi-billion dollar firms. Generally, accounting career paths can be described as financial reporting, assurance, budget analysis, management accounting, tax accounting, and federal contract accounting. Accountants may work for public accounting firms, public or private corporations, governments at all levels, or for themselves in private practice.<br><br>Students considering the professional certification examinations upon graduation, such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), will need course work in accounting beyond the minimum requirements for the BSBA degree. Among other requirements, the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy requires 150 semester hours of credit in order to be licensed as a CPA in Alabama. The College of Business offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree that meets or exceeds requirements for professional accounting certifications in Alabama.