luda002

I started my college career as an accounting major. Even if you are debating between finance and accounting, you would be an idiot not to take 2 or 3 accounting courses. Accounting is the basic business language and having some fundamental understanding (the more the better) is incredibly beneficial.  That being said, I made the switch after I took my first finance course. Finance is much more broad, math-oriented, and interesting in my opinion.
As far as careers go - if you’re looking for security, go accounting hands down.  In my opinion, if you chose accounting, you’d be incredibly mistaken not to go to a 1 year grad program and continue on to get your CPA. CPA’s are in demand at the very least because they have a technical understanding of something that is REQUIRED by businesses and individuals to comply with standards and regulations. As great as that is, it is also what turns me off.  
Salaries (coming from someone entering the job market and comparing to friends) - Starting off as simply a business analyst doing mostly accounting type work for the first couple of years I will be paid slightly more than the accounting majors in my school (even with CPA’s) going to the big four.  The company pays well, yes, but I would easily say that the highest earners coming out of our school are going into a finance role or had finance degress. On average though, the accounting majors are definitely outpacing the rest of the business students.
Long term - I always worried about doing accounting and then getting stuck into doing tax or audit or w/e. I really think it depends on the kind of person you are. A few alum I know started their career at the big four and then went to work for one of their clients directly and now have management positions. My supervisor during my internship came from a Big Four firm and is really not doing any “accounting” type work.  Many, many accountants leave the Big Four to go on to more managerial/business analyst type roles. So, I don’t think you will be stuck doing “accounting” for the rest of your life.  You certainly can if you want but if you have the right motivation and work ethic you can do a lot with accounting.
It seems like I’ve kind of gone back and forth. What I’m really saying is just depends on what you want to do and how much confidence you have in yourself as a person. I think I have a pretty good understanding of business and do better than most of my peers in class and in an actual corporate setting.  I also think I have the kind of personality to where I can leverage my understanding and competencies into a broad career path. I’m not trying to brag or anything, just trying to make a point. If you aren’t as confident or are looking for more security, go accounting and you will get that security if you’re half decent at what you do. I could go on and on, but when it comes down to it, I’m glad I chose finance and I do not think I will regret it.
If you want a career in investments/money management, obviously go Finance. If you don’t really know what you want to do, but you know you want business, go Accounting - it will serve you well.
I don’t want a career in investments or money management (not right now anyway) and yet I went Finance and am going for my CFA. Why? Idk, I’m weird. I just like the stuff, quite a lot. Anndd.. I think I’ll do just fine with the finance background, fingers crossed.