Sezua:
In the whole world-Accounting. All these people shouting Economics i just wonder what point you have to back it up. Every reasonable company has an accounting department, or at least something similar to that. Ministries, Agencies, Schools and even Churches have an accounting department. So I don't even understand what these people are talking about.
A lot of people who graduated as Economists still end up becoming accountants due to the opportunities accounting presents.
Only accountants can carry out tax related duties in a firm which means companies who remit taxes must or should have an accountant.
Only accountants can perform in the capacity of Internal and External Auditors.
I've not even mentioned the other accounts functions.
In all organization(these includes NGOs, agencies, Ministries(Which includes ministries dominated by economists) Money moves, and someone would have to report on the movement of money (and other related duties), that person is simply know as the accountant.

For those saying Economists can become accountants. Yes, i agree; but it does not happen overnight. There are exams to be written and passed. Besides, the comparisons was not between economist who turned to accountants and accountants


.

guess you're the one that doesn't know what you're saying. I'm an economist and I can tell you I can perform the work of an accountant very well. quote me anywhere, an economist can do the work of an accountant but them never born that accountant wey go venture say he fit do economist work without going through professional trainings. accounting no pass DEAL and CLIP and some other stuffs? All revolves around very few principles of accounting. Abeg, park well oo....when you hear economics, run!!! I repeat, run!!! we no dey the same level.

900warriorz:
guess you're the one that doesn't know what you're saying. I'm an economist and I can tell you I can perform the work of an accountant very well. quote me anywhere, an economist can do the work of an accountant but them never born that accountant wey go venture say he fit do economist work without going through professional trainings. accounting no pass DEAL and CLIP and some other stuffs? All revolves around very few principles of accounting. Abeg, park well oo....when you hear economics, run!!! I repeat, run!!! we no dey the same level.

Okay, enjoy living in your delusion. The question was not about the hardest course, it was about getting employment opportunities. Next time during a discussion, make points that are relevant to the topic and not veer off topic in your lame attempt to sound smart ( P.S ; RELEVANCE is something every accountant is well knowledgeable about).

Jarus:


Without professional qualification in accounting at least, no serious employer takes an accountant seriously.

He doesnt have any edge in accounting job over an Agric graduate that has accounting professional qualification.

An accounting graduate without professional qualifications (and not writing one) can only get accounting job in government company or tier two companies.

However, if it is not accounting job, he would be considered for general jobs (non-course specific, general graduate jobs, under-26) like a graduate of say Sociology or Political science in banks, Big 4, and other general recruiters.

Even if he gets a Big 4 job, he has to enrol for ACCA/ICAN if he is posted to Tax or Assurance/Audit. Same process a Sociology graduate that got a Big 4 Tax/Audit job will go through.

So why "waste" 4 years when someone that studied Economics and and wrote ICAN/ACCA in less than 2 years will get same job in your field, and on top of that, still available for jobs in his own field.

Your point suggests that there are more opportunities in Accounting than Economics...by the way, what are the opportunities for an Economics graduate an accounting graduate isn't eligible for?

If you observe closely, those non accounting graduates that practice as accountants via ICAN/ACCA hardly return to their core field to practice, not that they can't, they just hardly do.

Jarus:

Without professional qualification in accounting at least, no serious employer takes an accountant seriously for accounting roles.

I think it is better put that way.

If you are smart, go for Economics, if you like process driven things go for accounting. The only problem i have with accounting is that anybody can learn it, ICAN ACCA, it is also one of the disciplines being threatened by the rise in artificial intelligence and automation. Economics is on the other hand is like a joker for those who know how to use it, its an intersection between science, finance and social science...The carrear opportunities are wider and it builds you up for top notch positions not some yeye accounting job, In must instance an accountants peak is at the CFO level, for organisations who do real stuff: investment banking, Consulting, Strategy, and private Equity...Economics na the way.

Accounting all the way!!! U people are shouting Economics and blablabla. Look at d problem in the Nigerian Economy now, where are the economist now to profer solutions, or we don't have any? The truth is DAT we don't have anybody!!!!

emmybliz:
economics, because an economist can also be an accountant, but an accountant cannot be an economist

The comparison is not between economists who turned to accountants and accountants.

Please house, am a 2.1 recent engineering graduate awaiting service, undergoing some professional and skills acquisition training relevant to my field. But t I discovered I have a flair for finance(not as much as engineering though, but I deeply understand the subject matter from my own personal study.)
I'm considering having some professional certifications in the area of finance
My questions are thus:
1. Is it feasible for me, considering my engineering background?
2. If yes, How do I go about it, what certifications do I start with, how long will it take? What are my prospects.?
An MBA in finance or economics too isn't ruled out.

As an ECONOMIST, i will say Accounting has more prospects only if backed with necessary certifications. The only undoing of Accounting is that with just the certificate from one certificate milling university in nigeria, you cannot perform certain accounting roles unsupervised except with a deeper knowledge. As for Economics, the rigorous route to obtaining the certificate and its suitability to any role makes it more ideal. But we need to de-emphasize importance of certificate and entrench skills acquisition, It helped U.S citizens build U.S.

Zionprincess:

I am sure you know nothing about Economics

yeah exactly! y not educate me

The topic is about, which is better in terms of employment opportunities? Accounting as a profession offers wide range of employment opportunities. It is not about the personality performing the role. There are illiterate business men and women who perform basic accounting roles in their businesses, it could be book-keeping aspect which range from recording in a systematic manner to interpreting, classifying, summarising and communicating in monetary and economic terms to users which is accounting. Economics as a discipline is the mother of social / management sciences and Economists have basic knowledge of accounting, but not all of specialised branches of accounting such as tax practice, audit & assurance services, financial services, management services, executorship/bankruptcy/insolvency services, as well accountancy services. There are specific duties reserved for accountants like the report of the Reporting Accountant on a prospectus, audit of financial statement of quoted companies. Accounting roles in a holding company with subsidiaries requires the preparation of consolidated accounts (group accounts - consolidated P&L and Balance sheet) and not some assumptions that Economists can perform all accounting roles.

confiritch:
The topic is about, which is better in terms of employment opportunities? Accounting as a profession offers wide range of employment opportunities. It is not about the personality performing the role. There are illiterate business men and women who perform basic accounting roles in their businesses, it could be book-keeping aspect which range from recording in a systematic manner to interpreting, classifying, summarising and communicating in monetary and economic terms to users which is accounting. Economics as a discipline is the mother of social / management sciences and Economists have basic knowledge of accounting, but not all of specialised branches of accounting such as tax practice, audit & assurance services, financial services, management services, executorship/bankruptcy/insolvency services, as well accountancy services. There are specific duties reserved for accountants like the report of the Reporting Accountant on a prospectus, audit of financial statement of quoted companies. Accounting roles in a holding company with subsidiaries requires the preparation of consolidated accounts (group accounts - consolidated P&L and Balance sheet) and not some assumptions that Economists can perform all accounting roles.

UNBIASED

Sezua:

Okay, enjoy living in your delusion. The question was not about the hardest course, it was about getting employment opportunities. Next time during a discussion, make points that are relevant to the topic and not veer off topic in your lame attempt to sound smart ( P.S ; RELEVANCE is something every accountant is well knowledgeable about).

Mr. man, there are times you digress just to get to a point. in terms of employment opportunities, accountants get more and you know why!? only few companies can employ the services of an economist. who heads the ministry of finance? an economist, one of the basic requirements to be the CBN governor, you have to be an economist, to hold a top managerial position in big international firms, it'd take Years of experience for an accountant to get there. but an economist can get there under few years. everyone loves ice cream but not everyone can afford it and that's why many settle for fanyogo! an economist won't receive the same pay as an accountant but accountants can get companies to pay them within their pay range easily. and to my earlier point, no accountant, I repeat, no accountant can venture into economics...but an economist can venture into accounting with little or no problems.
P.S....I am a member of Ican! �

900warriorz:
Mr. man, there are times you digress just to get to a point. in terms of employment opportunities, accountants get more and you know why!? only few companies can employ the services of an economist. who heads the ministry of finance? an economist, one of the basic requirements to be the CBN governor, you have to be an economist, to hold a top managerial position in big international firms, it'd take Years of experience for an accountant to get there. but an economist can get there under few years. everyone loves ice cream but not everyone can afford it and that's why many settle for fanyogo! an economist won't receive the same pay as an accountant but accountants can get companies to pay them within their pay range easily. and to my earlier point, no accountant, I repeat, no accountant can venture into economics...but an economist can venture into accounting with little or no problems.
P.S....I am a member of Ican! �

Well, u didn't make any point. You are just going round in circles. enjoy ur cup of tea.

If you chatter the account you are good to go. If not, economics all the way.

wallace1:
Hello, fellow nairalanders,
Between Economics and Accounting,which one is better in terms of employment opportunities in Nigeria? Please lets share our views!!

emmybliz:
economics, because an economist can also be an accountant, but an accountant cannot be an economist

explain To Me How An Economist Can Perform The Work Of An Accountant Without Undergoing Rigorous Training In Accounting? Or Do You Think The Preparation Of Petty Cashbook Or Working As A Cashier In The Bank Will Make You An Accountant? Accounting Is Beyond How Non-accountant View It. Can An Economist Audit? Can An Economist Prepare The Financial Statement Of An Organisation? Can An Economist act As A Tax Practitioner? No, Without Undergoing Rigorious Training In Accounting, An Economist Will Be As Useless In Accounting Like Zimbabwue Dollar. Almost All The Institutions You See Today Both Government And Non-government Have Account Or Account/finance Departments. But You Hardly See Economics Department. In Conclusion, Accountants Are Opened To Opportunities Than Economist.

account

In terms of employment opportunities in NIGERIA especially in govt, u need neither Accounting nor Economics. All u need is "4G Network"

I mean u nid serious "Conne"


...less u want t do trash jobs in a private companies: wt a pay dat wil neva measure ur sweat. Dat one na just '2G network' u nid + ur little effort + Grace of God

900warriorz:
Mr. man, there are times you digress just to get to a point. in terms of employment opportunities, accountants get more and you know why!? only few companies can employ the services of an economist. who heads the ministry of finance? an economist, one of the basic requirements to be the CBN governor, you have to be an economist, to hold a top managerial position in big international firms, it'd take Years of experience for an accountant to get there. but an economist can get there under few years. everyone loves ice cream but not everyone can afford it and that's why many settle for fanyogo! an economist won't receive the same pay as an accountant but accountants can get companies to pay them within their pay range easily. and to my earlier point, no accountant, I repeat, no accountant can venture into economics...but an economist can venture into accounting with little or no problems.
P.S....I am a member of Ican! �

This is argument is not strong enough. An economist heads the finance ministry of country no doubt but he or she can't perform the task of an accountant because he has limited knowledge of accounting. The only exception is if he or she has a professional accounting certificate with some years of experience.

edoairways:

This is argument is not strong enough. An economist heads the finance ministry of country no doubt but he or she can't perform the task of an accountant because he has limited knowledge of accounting. The only exception is if he or she has a professional accounting certificate with some years of experience.

That is where I said it is easier for an Economist, Doctor, Lawyer, Farmer to practice Accounting, thanks to ICAN. But an Accountant cannot venture into Economics without BSc Economics.

900warriorz:
Mr. man, there are times you digress just to get to a point. in terms of employment opportunities, accountants get more and you know why!? only few companies can employ the services of an economist. who heads the ministry of finance? an economist, one of the basic requirements to be the CBN governor, you have to be an economist, to hold a top managerial position in big international firms, it'd take Years of experience for an accountant to get there. but an economist can get there under few years. everyone loves ice cream but not everyone can afford it and that's why many settle for fanyogo! an economist won't receive the same pay as an accountant but accountants can get companies to pay them within their pay range easily. and to my earlier point, no accountant, I repeat, no accountant can venture into economics...but an economist can venture into accounting with little or no problems.
P.S....I am a member of Ican! �

Have you check google to know that the present minister of finance is not an economist. She is an accountant. We also have a CBN governor that is a historian, chief Joseph sanusi and his predecessor Paul oghuma were accountants etc