Opportunities in Environmental Accounting

Environmental accounting is a career choice with aand private sector decision-makers, and you may
big impact. Instead of figuring out how theinfluence key decision-makers.
corporate giants of the world can makePrivate Sector Internal Focus: If you're less into
impressive profits, an environmental accountantpublic hype and more interested in a steady job
analyzes external and internal costs of whatthat influences a small sector of society, you may
happens to the environment. Once anwant to look for a job with a private company
environmental accountant has identified anreporting to an internal group of decision-makers
environmental cost, she relays this information toin a corporate setting, focusing on one industry.
companies and government entities so as toGovernment And Regulatory Focus: If you'd like
protect the environment.to work for the government, you can find a job
Green accounting goes beyond whistle-blowing andwhere your analysis will be presented to an
government-sponsored studies. Many privateexternal audience as law-makers make new
companies hire environmental accountants toregulations and enforce existing ones.
evaluate the costs of cutting pollution, includingAll of these forms of green accounting are
adding in benefits of tax relief for followingsupported by a basic degree in accounting. Most
government regulations or tax credits for utilizingenvironmental accountants double major in
government-approved equipment or methods.accounting and environmental sciences. You may
Not all environmental accounting jobs are alike.also want to minor in political science, since the
You can choose to work in one of the followingjob often involves interacting with policy-makers.
three situations:Another good minor or double major is business,
National Focus: If you choose to analyze awhich will help you understand the operational side
situation that has a national impact, you may getof running a business while supporting the
to speak to national audiences, plus governmentenvironment.