Globalization's Impact On Accounting Career

 number of international students who go to
Today the term globalization has become morecollege to major in accounting in the US is
popular to people. The world's economy has tunedincreasing. This will have both positive and
to a new age that trading between countries isnegative impacts on accounting in the US. A large
easier than ever. Yet, globalization has affectednumber of international students will be a good
and really changed the world from heavysource for accounting in both the Us and
industrial, manufacturing, services, transportation,countries. The US will be able to take advantage
and education.  It even affects on the accountingof international accounting students as they return
careers today.home and implement what they have learned.
            In this paper I will focus onHowever, there will be a large number of
three main issues of globalization that affects onstudents who will stay and work in the US after
accounting careers in the near future.graduation. This will create an unbalance in supply
The role of Information technology affects onand demand in the US accounting job market. 
accounting careerWith the effect of globalization, today accounting
International students and new immigrantstudents can work for the big 4 companies in
population Asian countries or for accounting firms in
Changing in International trading between countriesEuropean countries. Future accountants in these
The rapid growth Information system and thepositions will require more traveling and additional
Internet not only changes the way people trading,education. Since accounting systems are still
but also changes accountant's roles. Thedifferent in different countries, accountants need
accountant's role has been expanding withinto study different rules. The most important skill
organizations and they are becoming part of thewould be understanding and communicating
management and decision-making team, ratherefficiently in a different culture. English is still the
than just providers of financial information.first choice in international trading, but Spanish and
Corporate accountants must shift priorities fromsome other languages are also necessary.
analyzing past events to acting as strategicAccording to USA Today, "In an interview, Sir
partners, advisers and information providers.David Tweedie, chairman of the International
Already, accounting and finance professionals areAccounting Standards Board in London, says the
mining data, turning information into knowledgegrowth of the global economy means "we must
and communicating what they learn to all levels ofeventually end up with a common system of
the organization. This is a result of having a newregulation, auditing and accounting." Change in
option in accounting education. Most colleges andInternational trading between countries is the
universities realize the importance of informationbeginning of change the accounting rules. This will
technology, so they have added a new track thatbe a big challenge for international accountants. A
is called Accounting Information System to theircommon rule for accounting might be made to
school program.simplify the accounting job. In addition, most of
Internet and information technology created athe companies in the US need to expand their
revolution in storing, managing, and using businessmarket to remain competitors. When those
databases. Some traditional accounting job will becompanies globalize, they also need to globalize
cut in the near future with more and more peopletheir accounting system.  A switch from GAAP
use accounting software for tax preparation.to IFRS will be a good solution. Currently, there
Additional advancements in information technologyseems a hesitance in switching because the
further reduce the need for accountants andchange from GAAP to IFRS may affect to the
auditors. However, Increase of applyingbenefit of company. This also requires a change in
information to accounting will create new jobs.some accounting college level courses.   In
And those new jobs will require accountants toFuture of Accounting System, Zin Lin says "It is
receive more education. They will be hired intoclear that many of the disadvantages of IFRS are
positions to develop, maintain, and monitor newjust short term, for example the costs of
systems. Because there will be larger volumes oftransition; while the advantages are long term."
information to report and the increasedFor me, sooner or later, the change needs to be
complexity of reporting mechanisms, demand forconsidered to fit with International trading.
auditing or monitoring services by both internalAccounting careers are being affected deeply by
and external auditors should also increase in theglobalization. Accounting in the future will require
future. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics,not only specific knowledge but also must change
"Individuals who are proficient in accounting andwith the globalization. Accountants will need to be
auditing computer software and informationwell prepared in computer skills, the ability to learn
systems may have an advantage in getting somenew softwares and new accounting rules. All
accounting and auditing jobs."accountants must be prepared to work in an
Globalization opens opportunities for internationalinternational, world-wide environment.
students to study in the United States. The