Accounting
Faculty
Chair: Antonia (Toni) Berbrick CPA, CFE, CIA, MBA
Associate Professor: Toni Berbrick
Associate Professor: Dr. Sandra Holley, PhD, CFE
Assistant Professor: Ghassan Dib, CPA
Overview
Department Mission:
The mission of the Accounting Department is to prepare individuals for employment, post-baccalaureate studies, and/or certification in the specialized fields of accounting. The program aims to equip future graduates with a strong foundation that will support continued growth and success in a complex and rapidly changing global business environment. In addition to imparting key skills and knowledge, the Program is modeled to further the development of honesty, integrity, and virtue in our students. Faculty within the Program strives to provide an atmosphere of learning and study that will nurture a generation of accountants who are technologically adept, ethically grounded, and committed to leading the way in the relentless pursuit of authentic, transparent, and trustworthy financial reporting and auditing practices.
Program Goals:
The program aims to equip future graduates with a strong foundation that will support continued growth and success in a complex and rapidly changing global business environment. The specific Program Learning Goals (PLG) have been established to support the Department’s mission and include the following: CORE ACCOUNTING KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS - Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply core accounting principles, standards, and methods in such areas as financial reporting, cost accounting, auditing, tax, and systems. CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING - Demonstrate ability to contribute to problem-solving and decision-making through research, analysis of complex data, integration of information from multiple sources, use of information technology, and creative thinking. ETHICS and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - assess and apply ethical principles and regulatory guidelines in accounting scenarios, quantify the societal impact of accountants' actions, and demonstrate a concrete commitment to ethical excellence by actively promoting and implementing authentic, transparent, and trustworthy financial reporting and auditing practices within the accounting profession.
Career Path:
With an accounting degree, graduates can pursue careers as professional accountants and auditors in public, private, and non-profit organizations, as well as specialty areas within the accounting profession such as cost accountants, fraud examiners, forensic investigators, cyber and information systems auditor, or as a data analyst. The degree also serves as a basis for graduate study in specific areas—such as financial, cost or tax accounting, information systems security, data analytics, data science, cyber security, risk assurance, and taxation.
Students that are considering a career in public accounting are strongly encouraged to take the additional 30 credits while they are pursuing their undergraduate degree. Summer courses are offered that provide students with the opportunity to earn an additional 15 credits (3 courses) each summer. It is recommended that students take advantage of the summer course offerings between their freshman, sophomore or junior year, leaving the summer leading up to their senior year open to take advantage of an internship opportunity. Students also have the option of participating in an internship and taking courses during any summer.
The North Carolina Board of Accountancy requires CPA candidates to complete 150 credit hours before they are eligible to take the CPA exam. Students will earn 120 credit hours upon completion of their undergraduate degree from Belmont Abbey College. The requirements to take the CPA exam may be different in other states. Students that plan on pursuing a career in public accounting in another state should consult with the State Board of Accountancy in the state in which they wish to practice.