Accounting Program

We're a 2020 Best Value, with a No. 5 ranking on College Factual's list of Best Accounting Colleges for the Money in New York.

Through a combination of innovative coursework that balances analytical thinking and creativity, one-to-one interaction with faculty, attractive internships, and an opportunity to earn your BBA in accounting and your MBA in professional accountancy in five years or less, SBU accounting graduates are well-equipped to achieve professional success.

Demand for accountants is a steady climb, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means there will be job for you when you graduate.

98% of our students have a job offer before they graduate.

Grasp the Opportunity

Accounting major and rugby player Patrick Hogan says choosing St. Bonaventure is the best decision he's ever made, and he'll take with him memories to last a lifetime.

Two undergraduate degree options

Bachelor of Business Administration

The 120-hour BBA prepares accounting students to work in a variety of accounting and business fields, tailored to their individual interests.
Degree requirements & a 4-year plan of study

4+1 BBA & Master of Business Administration

This 150-hour program is structured so that students earn a BBA in accounting and then an MBA in professional accountancy. With careful planning, both degrees can be completed in 5 years or less.
- Early Assurance Program: Prospective freshmen who meet certain qualifications may be granted early assurance to the 150-hour 4+1 BBA/MBA program. This waives the requirement to take the GMAT and qualifies graduates to sit for the New York CPA exam.
  Details at 4+1 BBA/MBA Early Assurance

A minor in accounting

For non-majors, a minor in accounting provides a solid grounding for anyone planning to work in the banking or financial industry, and can help increase your understanding of how financial theories are used and applied.

Requirements for a minor in accounting

Why study accounting at St. Bonaventure?

For starters, our 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio means you'll get plenty of one-on-one attention from caring professors who know you, your interests and your ambitions. But that's not all:

AACSB accreditation
The School of Business is accredited through The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), ensuring parents and students that we are meeting tough standards and providing a top-quality education.
On-the-job experience through a required internship
Major accounting firms, including the "Big 4," actively recruit on campus for internships and full-time positions.
See School of Business Internships
Bona graduates are in demand
Recruiters from regional and national accounting firms visit campus regularly and begin identifying our best prospects in their sophomore year, frequently offering internships that pave the way for employment upon graduation.
An emphasis on ethics
We are committed to educating outstanding future managers and leaders who incorporate the Franciscan values of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service to others
McQuade Center for Accounting Excellence
St. Bonaventure's McQuade Center provides scholarships, programming, faculty development and the opportunity to work with faculty on educational and research-related internships.
See McQuade Center

Chart showing high percentage of accounting graduates working in their field Source: Emsi Data

Data collected from 189 SBU accounting graduates between 2008-2020 shows that 89% are employed in the field, and nearly 75% live and work in WNY.

Outcomes & placement rates

Accounting is as much about communication as it is numbers. With your BBA in accounting from SBU you will be prepared with the necessary skills to analyze complex business challenges and clearly communicate solutions for success.

In other words, you'll be more than ready to step into your first job in accounting.

Learn more at Outcomes & Placement Rates

Upon successful completion of the accounting program at St. Bonaventure University, graduates will:

Demonstrate knowledge of key accounting terminology and concepts;
Identify the four basic financial statements and their components;
Understand cost terminology used specifically in a manufacturing environment as well as in general business decision making;
Account for the flow of manufacturing costs in various Inventory Costing Systems;
Know the basic and detail transactions that are processed in AIS and how these transactions are summarized in General Ledger (GL) systems to produce financial statements and other management reports. This includes the proper design of fata collection and summarization (for example the chart of accounts);
Know a common set of errors and frauds that may occur in the operations of AIS. Also be aware of the internal controls (I/C) included in AIS to prevent and/or detect these errors and frauds;
Understand and account for the accumulation and allocation of overhead costs, using both traditional and activity-based methods;
Understand and be able to determine cost behaviors and structures;
Read and interpret federal tax law at the introductory level;
Calculate taxable income and income tax liability;
Understand and demonstrate an intermediate level of fluency in “the language of business;”
Know the financial statement impacts and the disclosure requirements related to selected financial accounting topics;
Account for each of the complex topics (listed in course outline) in accordance with U.S. GAAP;
Describe the financial statement impacts and disclosure requirements related to each of the above topics;
Students will be able to identify legal procedures and actions that may pertain to the business sector;
Describe business law in the global context.

Bona Believers

The people here are amazing. You can sense the pride for this school, and I knew I had to be part of it.

Patrick Cole, BBA/MBA, '19, '20

Student Testimonials

Professors King and Case share conference honors with student co-authors

Oct 31, 2019

A paper authored by Darwin King, professor of accounting, and Dr. Carl Case, professor of business information systems, and two SBU students earned Distinguished Research awards at the fall conference of the Institute of Global Business Research, held Oct. 16-18 in Las Vegas.

The student co-authors are senior accounting majors Taylore Lunger from Nottingham, Pennsylvania, and Brianna Ragonese from Baldwinsville, New York. (Left and right, respectively, in photo.)

The paper, titled "A Review and Analysis of Fortune 100 Firms' Identified Risks," addresses a project that involved an analysis of the 2017 Fortune 100 firms' SEC 10-K reports, which require firms to describe all types of risks that they face.

"The conference attendees complimented Taylore and Briana on a very professional presentation of our paper," said King. "These young women represent the fifth and sixth students that I have involved in conference presentations over the last few years. I hope to attend a conference in the spring with another student who has been involved in research with Carl and me."