Accounting and Finance

For business owners, it's important to invest in a strong financial team - accountants, bookkeepers, financial analysts, and controllers - because it can mean the difference between the company succeeding or failing. As a result, industry leaders want skilled and service-oriented accounting and finance professionals on staff. Whether you're seeking a two-year degree to get started in this rewarding and high-earning field or to earn the 30 accounting hours needed to meet the educational requirements of the North Carolina Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA), let Central Piedmont be your gateway to achieving your academic and career goals.

What You Will Learn

Central Piedmont will provide you with the training you need to meet the needs of today's competitive and dynamic global business environment. With an Associate in Applied Science degree in accounting and finance, you will learn to assemble, analyze, process, and communicate essential information about financial operations. Our courses not only focus on accounting and finance, but also ethics, business law, computer applications, financial planning, insurance, marketing, real estate, selling, and taxation, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the industry you want to enter.

With the guidance of our quality instructors, you will:

  • develop communications, computer applications, financial analysis, and critical thinking skills
  • learn to create and maintain an accounting system, applying U.S. generally-accepted accounting principles
  • prepare basic personal and business income tax forms.

Upon completion, you will be prepared to secure an entry-level accountant, financial analyst, bookkeeper, controller or another related position with a variety of organizations, including accounting firms, small businesses, manufacturing firms, banks, hospitals, school systems, and governmental agencies.

Contact the program chair with any questions.

Come to an information session

Why Choose Central Piedmont

The accounting and finance program at Central Piedmont has been ranked third among all community college programs in the nation. We intend to become the national leader in workforce development for accounting, and it is our mission to encourage, engage, and empower accounting students through innovative programs, partnerships with local business employers, relationships with alumni, excellence in teaching, and career skill building. 

As a Central Piedmont accounting and finance student, you will:

  • learn from our knowledgeable faculty, most of whom are certified public accountants (CPAs), who have experience working in both corporate and governmental organizations
  • enjoy the flexibility of our class schedules, smaller class sizes, personalized attention from our instructors, and less expensive tuition
  • have the opportunity to learn from experienced guest speakers who will share important life lessons to help you on your academic journey
  • have the opportunity to gain leadership experience and participate in national competitions with Enactus

In addition, Central Piedmont offers professional accounting certificates to provide you with the 30 hours of accounting courses within the 150 semester hours of education required to sit for the North Carolina CPA exam. These certificates may be counted toward the college's Associate in Applied Science degree.

Many of our students choose to work toward becoming a CPA because according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the best accounting and finance job prospects are available to individuals who have this professional designation. In fact, a recent Institute of Management Accountants survey found certified public accountants earn 24 percent more annually, have higher starting salaries, greater job security and flexibility.

Real World Education

At Central Piedmont, your education goes beyond what you learn in class. We offer numerous opportunities for you to enhance your learning — and to make friends, network, and pursue your passions — through clubs and organizations, sports, events and activities, leadership opportunities, job experience, volunteer experiences, visual and performing arts, and even international experiences.

Accounting and Finance Careers and Average Salaries

Completing an accounting and finance degree at Central Piedmont will prepare you for entry-level accountant, financial analyst, bookkeeper, controller and other related positions in many types of organizations, including accounting firms, small businesses, manufacturing firms, banks, hospitals, school systems, and governmental agencies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the best accounting and finance job prospects are available to professionals who have a college degree or certification, especially a CPA. This high demand equates to higher starting salaries, job security, and flexibility. Central Piedmont offers professional accounting certificates to provide you with 30 hours of the accounting courses within the 150 semester hours of education required as part of the educational requirement for candidates to sit for the North Carolina CPA exam. According to a recent survey by the Institute of Management Accountants, certified accountants earn 24 percent more than those who are not. Visit Central Piedmont’s Career Coach for detailed accounting and finance career opportunities, salary information, and job openings.

Career Coach

The Details

The Latest at Central Piedmont