Heading back to business school for an online doctorate in accounting degree can provide promotional powers for climbing the ranks into C-suite leadership, research, and faculty positions. Accounting doctorates train fiscal experts for the accurate analysis and reporting of monetary data for economic entities. Doctoral programs are challenging, non-compulsory endeavors that can give accountants a competitive edge with today's abundance of MBAs. The Economist reports that MBAs aren't special anymore because over 200,000 are awarded each year. Certified Public Accountants with PhD accounting online degrees may stand out from the multitude since only 2 percent of Americans hold doctorates. Savvy Ph.D shopping can let you follow doctoral-trained CEOs like James Goodnight, John Malone, and Bill Koch affordably.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
Most Affordable Online Accounting Doctorate Programs 2021
What Are the Benefits of Online Accounting PhD Programs?
Finishing the 150-hour requirement with an MBA or Master of Accountancy to pass the Certified Public Accountant exam is the most common route into this financial services sector. However, accounting online Ph.D programs help the select ambitious few push their academic limits. The AMA summarizes the top doctoral benefits as being professional growth, intellectual challenge, teaching practice, cutting-edge research, and wage raises. Getting a Ph.D accounting should always be difficult, but online universities are relieving some stress with 24/7 accessibility. Online doctoral classes offer the ability to work full-time, greater peer diversity, multimedia lessons, and faster faculty contact. Accounting Ph.D online degrees also shave off costs like lab fees, room and board, and transportation.
Which Careers Can Accounting Doctorate Online Graduates Pursue?
Where your online accounting doctorate takes you depends on your degree type. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degrees are primarily recognized in academia for data-driven, research training related to financial transactions. Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees are equally challenging but take an applied, functional approach to opening executive pathways in private corporations. Doctoral grads also choose from various disciplines, such as forensics, taxation, environmental accounting, external auditing, compliance, and government. Here are some upper-level titles where accounting Ph.D online students could excel:
Accounting Professor- Research published by The Atlantic showed that 53 percent of Ph.Ds intend to become university faculty. To inspire tomorrow's accountants, B-school professors are responsible for creating curriculum, giving lectures, assigning projects, grading papers, advising students, writing textbooks, heading research labs, and serving on departmental committees.
Management Consultant- Earning an accounting online Ph.D could build your expertise and network for signing lucrative contracts to help organizations improve externally. Consultants would analyze ledgers, forecast revenue, determine operational profitability, check for GAAP and IFRS compliance, present strategic solutions to executives, and keep long-term progress reports.
Chief Audit Executive- Combining your Ph.D accounting online with CIA certification could lead to oversight of publicly traded corporations' audit operations. CAEs are watchdogs who supervise compliance checks, direct auditing staff, inform executives or shareholders of risks, increase auditing efficiency, address fraud or theft evidence, improve governance processes, and leverage new auditing software.
Chief Financial Officer- Senior management teams rely on master's- or doctoral-trained CFOs to oversee the company's finance and accounting divisions. Landing the field's highest-ranking position requires tracking fiscal activities, disclosing financial data, setting tax policies, implementing quality control, hiring and supervising staff, minimizing investment risks, and establishing corporate economic strategies.
How Much Can You Earn After an Accounting PhD Online Degree?
Salary potentials after cheap online accounting PhD study can more than double your tuition paid. The U.S. Census Bureau found that doctoral degree holders make $6,656 per month, or $86,528 annually, on average. Financial investing firms have the highest yearly earnings averaging $113,947. That's a significant raise from the mean annual wage of $76,730 for non-CPA accountants. Postsecondary accounting faculty bring home standard income of $96,770. According to Robert Half's 2017 Salary Guide, accounting directors at large corporations make $145,500 to $225,500 yearly. VP of finance jobs come with salaries from $250,000 to $406,000. The highest-paid CFOs like Anthony Noto and Patrick Pichette make $72.7 million and $43.75 million respectively.
Will Employers Need More PhD Accounting Online Graduates?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that opportunities in accounting will rise quickly by 10 percent for 140,300 new jobs and 1.538 million total employment by 2026. Demand is particularly high for online PhD accounting graduates to pursue academia since the average tenured professor is 60. The retirement boom will create added vacancies atop the 15 percent faculty hiring growth. Industry director-level titles like treasurer and controller will mushroom by 19 percent. Even the most competitive chief executive jobs are poised for 10-year increases of 8 percent. Make your financial talents more marketable within one of these online PhD in Accounting programs.
