Master of Business Administration or MBA Accounting is a 2-year long Master degree course specializing in Accounting. Predominant subjects taught in this program include Accounting, Taxation, Marketing, Finance and Human Resource Management, among others. Due to its high-level Business and Accounting based curriculum, this course helps mold a student into a competent business professional.
Know More About Accounting Courses
Candidates having an undergraduate degree in any discipline with a minimum score of 50% are eligible to enroll for this course. Candidates with work experience will have an added advantage.
See Also: How to Become a Cost Accountant?
The admission to this course is granted on the basis of Entrance Exam scores. Some colleges also take written tests and personal interviews for final selection of the candidates. Some of the most famous MBA Entrance Exams are CAT, MAT, GMAT, etc.
Average fee charged for the course ranges from INR 4,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 in different colleges. Below are a few colleges, approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), supporting an MBA in Accounting.
Check the full list of MBA Accounting Colleges in India.
This course includes all the relevant subjects from both management and accounting sectors. Some of the subjects being taught in MBA Accounting courses are Auditing, Business Strategy, Financial Reporting, and Accounting in Acquisitions and Mergers. Check MBA Full Form
Average Starting Salary offered to MBA Accounting candidates ranges from INR 8,00,000 - INR 25,00,000. The salary is likely to increase with the number of years of work experience accomplished.
Table of Content
1.2 Why study?
2.1 Eligibility
2.2 Entrance Exam
2.4 How to get admission in a good college?
3.1 MBA Accounting vs MBA Finance
3.2 MBA Accounting vs Masters in Accounting
6.1 Books
MBA Accounting Course Highlights
The major highlights of the MBA Accounting Course have been tabulated in the table given below.
Course Level | Post-graduation |
Full Form | Master of Business Administration in Accounting |
Duration | 2 years |
Examination Type | Semester-based |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% score |
Admission Process | Entrance Exam based |
Average Course Fee (INR) | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
Average Salary Package (INR) | INR 8,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 |
Top Recruiting Companies | Genpact, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, WNS Global Services, Wipro Technologies Ltd., Tata Motors, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC Ltd) |
Job Position | Accounting Educators, Chief Compliance Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Controllers, Environmental Accountants, Financial Analysts, Financial Managers, Forensic Accountants or Fraud Investigators, Internal Auditors, International Accounting Specialists, IT Asset Managers, Management Accountants |
MBA Accounting: What is it About?
- MBA in Accounting is a professional graduate degree program which helps honing an aspirant into a business-maker with problem-solving, managerial and leadership skills.
- This course has a bonus advantage of helping a student prepare for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) test, adding 5 credit hours out of the required 150 credit hours.
- Its curriculum includes classroom learning, workshops, seminars held by reputed business leaders, internship competitions on presumed manifestations, and mentoring opportunities.
- Special focus is given towards Intermediate Accounting, Financial Analysis, Personal and Corporate Taxation, and Leadership and Organizational Behaviour.
- After this course, a candidate can easily pursue any job in both management and accounting domains.
Check:
Why Should You Study MBA in Accounting?
- The MBA Accounting course helps develop problem-solving skills shaped from habitual and conceptual business practice.
- This course enhances managerial and leadership skills, hence, showing employers that you contribute to individual and collaborative success.
- After completing MBA Accounting, there is a higher scope of acquiring a job through the competency possessed by the candidate.
- It also provides an opportunity to earn credit hours for a Uniform CPA certification.
- Chances of obtaining C-suite roles in companies are higher with this course.
See Also:
MBA Accounting: Admission Process
The most common mode of admission that most MBA Accounting colleges follow is based on examinations conducted commonly by the central government or by certain universities, such as CAT, MAT, XAT, etc.
- In order to appear for exams, students have to register and make payments through the online mode.
- Most universities accepting CAT, MAT and XAT scores follow a common selection procedure, though the cut-off mark set depends on the institutions.
- CAT cut-off mark is mostly 90 percentile for general category, but sometimes some colleges may set it to 80-90 percentile.
- MAT exam cut-off ranges through 500-700 marks or 80-90 percentile.
- Colleges accepting XAT scores mostly demand more than 90 percentile.
- Relaxation of a fixed percentile is allowed to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories.
After the announcement of entrance exam results, selection procedure consists mainly of three steps, which are as follows:
- Step 1: Shortlisting: Candidates are shortlisted depending on their CAT/MAT/XAT score and by their previous academic records.
- Step 2: WAT-PI: After being shortlisted, aspirants get into the next stage which has two rounds - Group Discussion (GD)/Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) - where their communication and skills are tested.
- Step 3: Final Selection: After WAT-PI round, a fixed number of candidates are selected, who are now eligible to be admitted to the respective institute.
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After a student is entitled to be admitted in a university, they are expected to submit the following documents to the management of the college:
- Marksheets of grade X and XII.
- MAT/CAT/XAT admit card, score card and rank letter.
- Six passport size photographs.
- Character certificate.
- Reservation certificate (if any).
- Migration certificate.
- Self-attested copies of various identity proofs.
- Domicile certificate.
- Demand Draft.
Check the admission process of IIT Bombay in detail.
MBA Accounting: Eligibility
- Students holding a bachelor's degree in any discipline, preferably in Business, Accounting or Business Administration specialized in Accounting, with a minimum score of 50% or equivalent scores are eligible for admission.
- Schooling in any advanced math course, especially in calculus and statistics can add to the chances of being selected.
- Some institutions may look into the level of professional experience that the candidate has acquired. These levels vary according to the institutions, but an average of 2-3 years of experience is expected.
- Letters of recommendation can also be favourable to the candidate.
Check: MBA eligibility
MBA Accounting: Entrance Exam
Various entrance exams are conducted by the central government, which is commonly accepted; by different states of India, and by certain universities. Different schools may look into the scores gained in the exams of their choice.
Most common MBA Accounting Entrance Exams are given below.
- CAT - Common Admission Test is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management once in a year for admission to PGPM / MBA Courses.
- MAT - Management Aptitude Test is conducted four times a year, it is the most popular MBA entrance exam after CAT.
- NMAT - NMIMS Management Aptitude Test is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) for admission to management courses offered by NMIMS University and some other colleges.
- CMAT - Common Management Admission Test is run by National Testing Agency (NTA) once a year, this exam can have access to many MBA/PGDM colleges in India.
- XAT - Xavier Aptitude Test is supervised by XLRI, Jamshedpur. Over 700 business schools accept XAT scores along with the members of Xavier association of Management Institutes ( XAMI).
- UPSEE - Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination is conducted by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) for admissions in MBA colleges across the state of Uttar Pradesh.
- GATA - Goenka Aptitude Test for Admission is controlled by GD Goenka University, Gurgaon.
Check:
Important dates to be noted:
Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Dates |
---|---|---|
CAT 2023 | August 3 – September 21, 2022 | November 27, 2022 |
CMAT 2023 | December 26 – February 25, 2023 | March 26, 2023 |
XAT 2023 | August 10 – December 12, 2022 | January 08, 2023 |
ATMA 2023 | December 26 – February 18, 2023 | February 25, 2023 |
**CBT=Computer Based Test
***IBT=Internet Based Test (Test is conducted in Remote Proctored Internet-Based Mode, helping in attending exams at one's home, brought due to the pandemic)
How to Prepare for MBA Accounting Entrance Exams?
Most of the management entrance exams are three-hour tests consisting of three sections:
Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Mark for each Section |
---|---|---|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 34 | 102 |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | 34 | 102 |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 32 | 96 |
Total | 100 | 300 |
Though CAT questions do not repeat every year, the syllabus remains along the same lines as the previous CAT exams and covers topics regarding communication skills, quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning. Changes may come depending on the relevance of a certain question in the present time.
Check: Best Books for MBA Preparation
Tips for preparing for MBA Accounting Entrance Exams are given below.
Exam Pattern: Candidates must have good knowledge about the exam pattern so that they have a systematic approach towards all topics.
Section-wise pattern:
- VARC: Contains 5 Reading Comprehension (RC) passages for which 24-25 MCQs and 9-10 non-MCQ questions are asked. MCQs are based on the main idea, inferences and vocabulary taken from the passages. Non-MCQ questions mostly ask for a paragraph summary, rearranging jumbled sentences, rearranging jumbled paragraphs and picking the odd sentence out.
- DILR: 16 questions in DI part contains questions about Data Analysis and data comparison from tables, graphs and pie charts. 16 questions in LR part are based on topics such as seating arrangements, blood relation, direction of motion, team formation and other reasoning skills.
- QA: 16-17 questions are based on topics in Arithmetics such as number systems, interest, profit and loss; speed, distance and time; work etc. 17-18 questions cover topics like geometry, algebra, mensuration and modern math.
Section-wise Preparation Tips:
- VARC: Read various articles and books to improve vocabulary and grammar. Enhance vocabulary by learning new words everyday. Converse in English on a daily basis.
- DILR: This section is particularly time-consuming. Learn to do quick calculations. Learn approximation techniques to get to the answers quickly. Practice mock tests thoroughly and strictly.
- QA: Contains questions testing basic mathematical skills, so learn all the basic math formulae and principles. Practice copious amounts of problems by referring various question papers.
Other Important Tips:
- Students are advised to prepare months in advance and make an approachable time-table to cover different topics.
- Time to face each question has reduced to 1.8 minutes per question and thus, students should make sure to get thorough practice through mock tests to increase their speed and accuracy.
- Pick out and concentrate more on the areas where a student is particularly weak.
- Various study materials are available online and as hard copies in bookstores.
Check the Question Pattern and practice papers for CAT 2023 in detail.
Reference Books for Preparing for these Exams:
Name of Book | Author |
---|---|
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Dr. R.S. Aggarwal |
Quantitative Aptitude for Quantum CAT 2019 | Sarvesh K. Verma |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Arun Sharma Meenakshi Upadhyay |
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma |
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | Dr. R.S. Aggarwal |
The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
How to Get Admission in a Good MBA Accounting College?
Admission process for the MBA Accounting course comprises two main steps - entrance exams and personal interview (PI). So, below are some points which may help you get admission in top MBA Accounting Colleges.
- Scoring a percentile more than the required cut-off can help in being shortlisted right away. Students must take note of the cut-off mark decided by each college and work hard enough to achieve that score in the entrance exams.
- Practice for an entrance exam must not stop just because one has tackled some mock question papers. There is still room for improvement and candidates must keep practicing consistently.
- Students must upgrade their communication skills as it is one of the criteria being tested during the PI round.
- Having a bachelor's degree in a reputed college/university can be an advantage.
- Participation and certification in various extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, and NGO volunteering can be an addendum to the list of merits.
- Taking up an Internal Award for Young People (IAYP) programme can prove to be beneficial during an interview and may even ensure selection.
- Be updated about the dates of registration and examination, and apply before the deadline.
- Prepare well and in advance for the exams.
- Always be aware about current affairs.
Check the MAT Exam cutoffs for MBA Accounting course.
MBA Accounting: Course Comparison
MBA with a specialization in accounting can be compared to various other courses such as MBA in Finance, Master's in Accounting, and Master's in Accounting and Financial Management.
MBA Accounting vs MBA Finance
Both MBA degrees are similar in many respects but there are many differences as well. Below we have compared these two courses on the basis of parameters like Duration, Eligibility, Subjects, Fees, etc.
Parameters | MBA Accounting | MBA Finance |
---|---|---|
Qualification | Master of Business Administration in Accounting | Master of Business Administration in Finance |
Overview | MBA Accounting concentrates on learning specific application-level principles about accounting, taxation, etc. | MBA Finance includes the studies of valuation models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) and Equity Valuation, etc. |
Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
Eligibility | A bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA | A bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA |
Course Objective | Prepares students for cost accounting, financial accounting, auditing, financial reporting compliance, tax preparation | Prepares students for financial planning, banking and corporate finance |
Average Annual Fees (INR) | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 | INR 7,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 |
Average Salary Package (INR) | INR 8,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 | INR 10,00,000 to INR 25,00,000 |
Job Positions | Financial Analyst, Management Accountant, Financial Planner, Risk Manager, Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst, Strategic Planning Director | Financial Analyst, Corporate Finance Officer, Assistant Vice-President in Corporate Banking, Credit Risk Manager, Portfolio Manager, Treasury Manager |
Source: College Websites
Also, go through the full list of MBA Finance colleges in India.
MBA Accounting vs Masters Accounting
While MBA Accounting covers the basics of both Management and Accounting, Master's in Accounting is concentrated only on Accounting. The major differences are tabulated in the table below.
Parameter | MBA Accounting | Master's in Accounting |
---|---|---|
Qualification | Master of Business Administration | Master's degree in Accounting |
Overview | MBA Accounting concentrates on learning specific application-level principles about accounting, taxation, etc. It also helps in acquiring credits for the CPA Certification. | Master's in Accounting concentrates on public accounting. It also aids in preparing for the Certified Government Financial Manager exam. |
Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
Eligibility | A bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA | A bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA |
Course Objective | Prepares students for cost accounting, financial accounting, auditing, financial reporting compliance, tax preparation | Prepare students specifically for an accountant position, and does not contain other disciplines |
Average Annual Fees (INR) | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 | INR 8,000 to INR 2,50,000 |
Average Salary Package (INR) | INR 8,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 | INR 3,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 |
Job Positions | Financial Analyst, Management Accountant, Financial Planner, Risk Manager, Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst, Strategic Planning Director | Certified Public Bookkeeper, Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) |
Source: College Websites
MBA Accounting: Top Colleges
Below is a list of top colleges offering MBA in Accounting approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE):
Institute Name | Location | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|---|
Presidency College | Bangalore | INR 2,00,000 |
IIT Bombay | Mumbai | INR 24,00,000 |
BML Munjal University | Gurugram | INR 5,79,000 |
Delhi Technical University | Delhi | INR 1,66,000 |
Institute of Business Studies and Research | Navi Mumbai | INR 5,70,000 |
Rabindranath Tagore University | Bhopal | INR 70,000 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University | Hyderabad | INR 80,000 |
GD Goenka University | Gurugram | INR 3,73,000 |
Source: College Websites
MBA Accounting: Top College Comparison
Choosing a good college may be confusing as there are quite a few options. The table below shows the merits of the three best colleges giving MBA in Accounting:
Parameter | Institute of Business Studies and Research, Navi Mumbai | BML Munjal University, Haryana | GD Goenka University, Gurgaon |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | Founded in 2005, the institute aims to put emphasis on training in various business-related aspects for global trade. | Established in 2014, BML encourages youth to become ethical leaders by acquiring knowledge and skills to lead organisations to success. | Instituted in 2013, the university promotes world-class knowledge in various disciplines through high-quality teaching and collaborative experiences. |
Ranking | Times 2019 - 64 | Outlook 2019 - 97 | Outlook 2019 - 120 |
Average Course Fee | INR 5,70,000 | INR 5,93,000 | INR 3,73,000 |
Average Placement Package | INR 5,50,000 | INR 8,73,000 | INR 3,50,000 |
Top Recruiting Companies | Accenture, Axis Bank, Aditya Birla Money, Bisleri, Croma, Citi Bank, FedEx, Eureka Forbes, India Bulls, Godrej, ICICI Bank, Indian Oil, Jet Airways, JP Morgan, Philips, Naukri.com, Reliance, Pepsico | Hero MotoCorp, Axis Bank, BML Munjal University, Tata Consultancy Services, Chegg Inc., Hero FinCorp., KPMG India, EY | Wipro, To The New, Genpact, NIIT, BYJU’S, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCL, Reliance, Bergen Group |
Source: College Websites
MBA Accounting: Distance Education
Since MBA is a flexible course, distance learning is a possible solution if a candidate is unable to attend a campus or desires to take up an MBA in Accounting program in universities abroad.
- The average course fee will be given upon request to the desired university.
- Students can be admitted through online application provided that they fit the usual eligibility criteria.
- Aspirants should keep in mind that a distance MBA education is considered lower than a regular MBA program. However, the quality of distance learning depends on the institution that you apply for.
Very few colleges in India offer this course in distance mode. Top colleges to opt for a distance/online education in MBA in Accounting are:
Institute | Location | Course Duration | Average Course Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning | Pune | 2 years | INR 20,000 |
ICFAI University Centre for Distance Education | Agartala | 2 years | INR 30,000 |
MBA Accounting: Syllabus
The following table gives a semester-wise syllabus followed in the curriculum for MBA in Accounting:
Semester I | Semester II |
---|---|
Organizational Behavior and Principles & Practices of Management | Marketing Management |
Managerial Economics | Human Resource Management |
Legal Aspects of Business | Materials and Logistics Management |
Information Technology | Research Methodology |
Management Accounting | Financial Management |
Statistical and Quantitative Methods | Manufacturing and Operations Management |
Basics of Marketing | Management Information Systems |
Managerial Communication | Business and Environmental Management |
Semester III | Semester IV |
Business Policy and Strategic Movement | Entrepreneurship Development and Project Management |
Elective I | Current Trends in Management |
Elective II | Elective VI |
Elective III | Elective VII |
Management Control Systems | International Business Management |
Elective IV | Elective VIII |
Elective V | Elective IX |
Project Report | Elective X |
MBA Accounting: Books
Some of the important books which can prove helpful to an MBA Accounting candidate are tabulated in the table given below.
Name of Book | Author |
---|---|
The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business | Josh Kaufman |
The Ten-Day MBA 4th Edition | Steven A. Silbiger |
Everything I learned at $200,000 MBA About Marketing | Ritesh Chaube |
The Fast Forward MBA | Eric Verzuh |
The Portable MBA in Finance and Accounting | Grossman and Livingstone |
MBA Accounting: Jobs
A wide range of careers awaits those who have graduated with an MBA in Accounting. Occupations not only in the field of Accounting but in Finance, General Management, and HR Department can be procured in both public and private sectors.
Accounting Careers include:
- Controller
- Environmental Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Forensic Accountant/ Fraud Investigator
- Internal Auditor
- International Accounting Specialists
- Management Accountant
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Tax Manager
- Budget Analyst
Other Job Options:
- Accounting Educator
- Chief Compliance Officer
- IT Asset Manager
- Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst
- Risk Manager
- Strategic Planning Director
Below are the descriptions of a few high-profile job positions one can acquire after an MBA in Accounting:
Job Position | Description | Average Salary Package |
---|---|---|
Accountant | Preparation of asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analysing account information. Documentation of financial transactions by entering account information, and final reporting of financial actions by analysing accounting options. | INR 3,50,000 |
Chief Accounting Officer | In charge of the Department of Accounting in an organization. Held responsible for a company's accounting operations and financial reporting functions. | INR 8,00,000 |
Forensic Accountants | Utilizes investigative, auditing, and accounting skills to analyse an organization's financial statements while investigating fraud. | INR 4,00,000 |
Auditing Manager | Responsible for organising and overseeing internal audits in accordance with the annual audit plan, often managing a team of auditors. | INR 9,50,000 |
Strategic Planning Director | Organises a firm's strategic development and plans to reach certain organizational goals, by taking into account the industrial trends, companies' budget and business policies, which becomes profitable in the long term. | INR 15,00,000 |
MBA Accounting: Scope
After Completing MBA Accounting, there are multiple higher study options, some of which are given below.
- Graduates interested in entering the academic profession and/or like to contribute to the wide knowledge of Management can do so through research by taking a PhD in Management, a Fellow Program in Management (FPM) or a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
- Those interested in learning further and increasing their chances of job procurement can go for another specialisation course in MBA, an Executive MBA program from a reputed institution, or a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA).
- Students can take up additional specialization courses such as Innovation Management, Marketing Concepts and Commercialization, which further increases one's own potential and the company's prospective development.
- Contenders may find it easier to prepare for a CPA examination with a MBA in Accounting degree in hand.
- MBA in Accounting can give a huge upgrade in one's career and promises to secure upto a C-level job post.
- Jobs with high stipends can be acquired in both the public and private sectors, even in forensic research.
Students may also go for a few management-related certificate courses which are internationally accepted and hence, may help in securing a job overseas. Some of these courses include:
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Accountant (CA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
- Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Financial Risk Manager (FRM) exam
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Bank Manager (CBM)
- NSE's Certification in Financial Markets
- Systems Applications and Products
- ISB Certification Programme in Business Analytics (CBA)
MBA Accounting FAQs
Ques. Is CPA better than MBA in Accounting?
Ans. Both have high chances of acquiring employment, though CPA can procure an extra 10% of salary than an MBA in Accounting.
Ques. What is the difference between an MBA in Accounting and Master's in Accounting?
Ans. While MBA in Accounting explores widely through accounting and finance subjects, Master's in Accounting focuses only on accounting.
Ques. Is distance MBA in Accounting worth it?
Ans. Distance education in MBA in Accounting is reviewed to be lower than a regular MBA program. But the quality of education may depend on the university that one applies for.
Ques. Is MBA in Accounting the best specialization in MBA?
Ans. Though MBA in Accounting has its many benefits, other specializations offer various other benefits. Students can decide on a course depending on their field of interest.
Ques. Which MBA specialization has the highest pay?
Ans. MBA specialization in Strategic Management, Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship has the highest pay out of all MBA specializations.
Ques. Which countries are the best to study MBA in Accounting?
Ans. Canada, UK, Germany and Australia are some of the countries leading in the MBA education sector.
Ques. Is MBA better than CA?
Ans. Considering the difficulty of the course, chances of job procurement and affordability, MBA is a better choice. But CA is much more reputed.
Ques. Why is an MBA in Accounting expensive?
Ans. In order to produce competent business professionals, a wide variety of teaching methods and activities have to take place, and the cost for all of these result in higher fees.
Ques. What is the average salary earned by an MBA graduate in India?
Ans. An average of INR 8,00,000 to INR 25,00,000 can be expected.
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