Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Director of accounting & finance education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of accounting & finance. Directors of accounting & finance usually study accounting, business, or finance. 75% of directors of accounting & finance hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,411 real director of accounting & finance resumes to see exactly what director of accounting & finance education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of accounting & finance are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online director of accounting & finance courses to help get the education required to be a director of accounting & finance.
There are certain director of accounting & finance certifications that you should consider. These director of accounting & finance certifications include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become a director of accounting & finance?
What degree do you need to be a director of accounting & finance?
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Master's, 20%
- Associate, 3%
- Doctorate, 0%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a director of accounting & finance?
- Accounting, 49%
- Business, 25%
- Finance, 12%
- Economics, 3%
- Other Majors, 11%
Most common colleges for directors of accounting & finance
| Director of accounting & finance common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 12.00% |
| Northeastern University | 6.50% |
| Pace University | 6.00% |
| University of Southern California | 6.00% |
| George Mason University | 5.50% |
Best majors for directors of accounting & finance
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 48.6% |
| 2 | Business | 25.4% |
| 3 | Finance | 11.7% |
| 4 | Economics | 2.5% |
| 5 | Management | 2.0% |
Best colleges for directors of accounting & finance
The best colleges for directors of accounting & finance are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A director of accounting & finance with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for directors of accounting & finance. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become directors of accounting & finance.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for directors of accounting & finance
Advertising disclosure
1. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
2. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
3. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
4. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
5. Awaken the Accountant in You Master the Accounting Basics
Learn Accounting to Boost your career, pass an exam, be a screwed entrepreneur!...
6. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...
7. The Complete Introduction To Accounting and Finance
The Original Course on Accounting & Finance! It's easy once you know the basics. Learn introductory accounting & finance...
8. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
9. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
10. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
11. Accounting 101 - The Principles Of Accounting
The Easiest Course In Accounting!...
12. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
13. Microsoft Excel for Finance, Accounting & Financial Analysis
Excel tips & tricks for Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis. Learn from the Bestselling Accounting Instructor...
14. Basics of Accounting
Accounting Concepts & Principles...
15. Fundamentals of Accounting
Learn the basics of accounting in an easy to understand method...
16. Introductory Financial Accounting
Learn the basics of Accounting including: the accounting cycle, inventory, depreciation, receivables, and more!...
17. Excel Accounting Problem
Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...
18. Accounting & Bookkeeping Masterclass - Beginner to Advanced
Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...
19. Accounting 101: How to read an Accounting Balance Sheet
Accounting 101: Non-Accountants' Guide to Accounting. Learn Accounting. Get Paid More, and Get Promoted Faster!...
20. Financial Accounting-Depreciation Calculation & Fixed Assets
Optimizing Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide to Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounting...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of accounting & finance
The most affordable schools for directors of accounting & finance are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for directors of accounting & finance are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for directors of accounting & finance.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors of accounting & finance
The hardest universities for directors of accounting & finance to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for directors of accounting & finance are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for directors of accounting & finance based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of accounting & finance
The easiest schools for directors of accounting & finance to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director of accounting & finance without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for directors of accounting & finance.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
8. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average director of accounting & finance salary by education level
| Director of accounting & finance education level | Director of accounting & finance salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $160,724 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $113,855 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $140,663 |
| Doctorate Degree | $168,772 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $113,841 |
Director of accounting & finance education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for director of accounting & finance jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025