Online MBA programs could help accountants battle the economy

Online MBA programs could help accountants battle the economy

As accounting executives report they expect their businesses to expand in the coming months, online degree programs may help individuals remain competitive in a post-recession job market.

A recent survey conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina found that 45 percent of accounting executives anticipate their businesses will expand in the next 12 months, which shows a 3 percent improvement from the third quarter.

However, survey participants - including chief financial officers, controllers and CPA financial professionals - remain cautious in their expectations for economic recovery, as 61 percent reported they do not feel the economy will begin to improve until the second half of next year.

Mark Lang, a professor at the business school, said these findings indicate "executives remain pessimistic about the U.S. economy as a whole" but "forecast modest expansion in their own firms in terms of sales, profitability and spending" over the next year.

Such expansion may include the creation of new jobs, which will undoubtedly be in high demand. Accounting professionals who wish to compete for these positions may consider enrolling in online universities to update their skill sets while they develop their careers.