Accounting jobs range from entry-level staff roles to executive leadership positions. An MBA with an accounting concentration can move you from preparing financial statements to setting company strategy. Professionals who earn an MBA in Accounting often pursue leadership roles in finance, accounting operations, auditing, tax strategy and business consulting. The right accounting careers also pay well above what a bachelor’s degree alone typically commands.
The Southern Oregon University (SOU) online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Accounting builds on core accounting skills. Coursework covers financial statement analysis, business valuation and accounting information systems. That combination opens doors that stop at a bachelor’s degree.
Demand for this expertise keeps growing across industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of financial managers alone is projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
The career paths below span accounting, finance, tax, audit and consulting leadership. They move from widely available roles to the most advanced ones. Employers hire for these roles across banking, healthcare, manufacturing, government and public accounting firms. Each entry includes typical duties, a current salary range and the credentials employers expect.
What Accounting Careers Can You Pursue With an MBA?
This section starts with two finance leadership roles built directly on core accounting skills. Both combine day-to-day financial oversight with company-wide strategy.
Controller
A controller oversees a company’s accounting operations, including financial reporting, budgeting and internal controls. This role often supervises the accounting, audit and budget departments, per BLS.
Controllers work across nearly every industry, from manufacturing to healthcare to government agencies. Robert Half’s 2026 Salary Guide puts the national salary range for a corporate controller at $152,000 to $213,250. Most employers expect about 10 years of finance experience, including five years in a managerial role. Many controllers hold a certified public accounting (CPA) license, an MBA or both, depending on employer requirements and career path.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The CFO leads all financial operations for a company, from reporting accuracy to investment strategy. CFOs also manage investor relations and represent the company’s financial health to the board.
Robert Half projects national CFO salaries between $195,500 and $321,750. BLS reports that the highest-paid 10% of financial managers earn more than $323,270 a year, and that group includes CFOs. Most CFOs reach the role only after years of experience as a controller or treasurer.
What Can You Do With an MBA in Accounting? Roles and Industries
An MBA in accounting can help prepare you for senior leadership roles that reach beyond day-to-day accounting. Each role connects to its own set of industries.
Financial Manager
A financial manager creates financial reports and directs investment activity for a company. BLS reports a median wage of $166,570 a year for financial managers, with common employers spanning banking, insurance and professional services.
It’s one of several accounting degree career paths that out-earn the median wage for all occupations. Financial managers typically move into the role after several years as an accountant or financial analyst. Consulting firms and larger corporations also compete for this experience.
Tax Director
A tax director leads a company’s tax strategy and reviews corporate tax returns. This role also involves representing the company during outside audits. Tax directors advise leadership on the tax impact of major business decisions.
Robert Half sets the national salary range for a tax director at $139,500 to $213,250. Most employers also want at least seven years of experience plus a CPA license. Tax directors work inside corporations of any size or lead tax teams within accounting firms. Coursework in taxation and financial statement analysis translates directly into their daily decisions.
Accounting Jobs That Require Advanced Credentials
These two roles go beyond general accounting into investigation and oversight. Both typically call for a professional certification that is separate from the MBA.
Forensic Accountant
A forensic accountant combines accounting knowledge with investigative skills to trace funds and analyze financial records. This work often supports litigation and fraud cases, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Robert Half lists a national salary range of $86,750 to $123,750 for forensic accountants. The ACFE’s 2024 pay research also found that Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) earn a 32% income premium over non-certified peers. Most forensic accountants pursue the CFE credential or a CPA license on top of their MBA coursework. Law firms, insurers and public-sector agencies are common employers.
Audit Manager
An audit manager sets audit policies, reviews financial records and leads a team of accountants or auditors. Robert Half sets a national salary range of $115,500 to $157,750 for audit managers.
BLS groups audit managers under accountants and auditors, a field with a 2025 median wage of $83,680. A CPA or a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) credential from the Institute of Internal Auditors is typically required. These managers oversee financial controls, which makes that credential valuable to employers. Financial services firms, management consulting firms and public accounting firms all hire heavily for these positions.
How Does the Online MBA in Accounting Expand Your Career Options?
SOU’s online MBA in Accounting program also opens doors beyond traditional accounting titles. These two roles put that broader business training to work.
Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Director
An FP&A director owns a company’s budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling. This role presents that analysis directly to senior leadership. Robert Half sets the national salary range for FP&A directors at $138,500 to $179,000.
Candidates typically need at least 10 years in finance, often paired with an MBA or a CPA credential. Skills commonly developed through graduate accounting coursework, including managerial accounting and financial statement analysis, are frequently applied in FP&A leadership roles. Both require turning raw accounting data into decisions leadership can act on.
Management Consultant
Management consultants, also called management analysts, recommend ways to make a company more efficient and profitable. BLS reports a median wage of $101,860 a year for management analysts, with the highest-paid 10% earning more than $171,640.
Many employers prefer candidates with an MBA, since consultants need both analytical skills and sound business judgment. SOU’s accounting concentration adds a data-driven edge that general business consultants often lack. That edge runs from reading financial statements to valuing a business unit. Courses like business valuation and accounting information systems turn that edge into a concrete consulting skill.
If your goal is to move beyond technical accounting responsibilities into leadership roles such as controller, tax director, FP&A director or CFO, an MBA with advanced accounting coursework can help prepare you for those opportunities. See where Southern Oregon University’s online MBA in Accounting can take your accounting career next.
About Southern Oregon University’s Online MBA in Accounting
Southern Oregon University’s online MBA with a Concentration in Accounting is a fast-paced program. You can finish it in as few as 16 months while working full time. The 45-credit curriculum blends business courses with emphasis on accounting information systems, financial statement analysis and business valuation. Tuition is billed by the course, so you pay only for the terms you’re actively enrolled in. You can also step away for a term without financial penalty.
Faculty brings both academic credentials and active CPA experience into every course, connecting classroom theory to accounting practice. Courses run seven weeks at a time, so you can pace your studies around a demanding accounting career.
Please note that the MBA with a Concentration in Accounting does not by itself qualify graduates to sit for the CPA exam. At least five additional courses (the Certificate in Accounting) are required before one can sit for the exam.
