Take the first steps toward becoming an accountant, bookkeeper, or financial auditor.
Harper’s Accounting Program offers several courses of study, including certificate
programs that prepare students for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and
entry-level roles in business and finance. Associate degrees with transfer options
are also available, with Advising Services to help students plan the transfer process and provide information on what accounting
classes would fit best with the student’s academic and career goals.
Students will learn practical knowledge and skills essential to succeed in business
careers. Harper’s Accounting courses are designed to equip students with a strong foundation in auditing, financial and
managerial accounting, and business law. For professional accounting students, Harper’s
Accounting Program offers an exam preparation certificate that meets Illinois Board
of Examiners (ILBOE) requirements for the Uniform CPA Exam.
Whether you are earning the first two years of your bachelor’s degree in accounting
or if you are developing your skills as a current professional, Harper College’s Accounting
Program is a valuable stepping stone toward a successful career in accounting and
business finance. Get started today by exploring the Harper’s degree and certificate
offerings.
Access to guest speaker events from industry professionals and networking opportunities
through the Accounting Club.
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Earn a career-ready accounting degree
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree prepares you for immediate entry into junior accountant positions in commercial,
nonprofit or governmental organizations. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you
to transfer to a four-year college or university.
If your goal is to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, you may consider completing
an Associate in Arts. Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you
to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.
Accounting certificate programs
Whether getting started or advancing in your career, Harper College’s Accounting Program
offers accounting and bookkeeping certifications that reflect real-world demands and
prepare students for entry-level roles and the CPA certification exam. Many of Harper’s
certificates can be applied as progress in completing an associate degree program.
Earning an associate degree or professional certificate in accounting from Harper
College helps students find work in accounting and other business and financial positions.
Learn more about the Chicago job market, including salaries, open positions, top local
employers, and more by exploring the career profiles below. For more detailed information
about job outlook, visit the Accounting Careers page.
Accountants and Auditors
Accountants and Auditors
* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Accountants and Auditors career profile for most current data.
$80,657 Median Salary
0.8% Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)
1,706 Job Postings
Description:
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements,
give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise
on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
Core tasks:
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes
in operations and financial activities.
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance,
fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use
of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal
visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer's
account, preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond, initiating
repossession proceedings or service disconnection, and keeping records of collection
and status of accounts.
Core tasks:
Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal
visits to solicit payment.
Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform
any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary
financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy
of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded
by other workers.
Core tasks:
Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze
information.
Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and
proper codes.
Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations
and produce documents.
Quick facts:
For more information about Harper's Accounting Program and associate degrees, please
contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700.
