5 Surprisingly Fun Accounting Careers

Before we start, we know what you're thinking: yeah, right! 

The usual joke is that accounting careers are where fun goes to die. What a sad, inaccurate view of the accounting world because there is so much more than just the boring cubicle life. 

Let's look at some fun (seriously!) number-crunching careers to give you an idea of the opportunities available.

A career as an entertainment accountant has a few different paths you can take, including:

When most people think of Hollywood, they don't think of accountants. But, Hollywood is a billion-dollar business, and like any other business, it needs accountants to keep it running. 

Studios and production companies need good accountants and film production managers. 

In those roles, you'd handle things like creating a budget for film production, negotiating salaries, working with producers to estimate costs, and managing the budget during filming. 

If you want more behind-the-scenes work, go with a corporate role at a production company. 

If you want to be on set and working with all the major players, go with the production management role.

It isn't only studios and production companies that need accountants, though. 

Celebrities also need financial advisers to help them manage their finances. Many operate like a sole proprietorship, which means payroll, taxes, and potential donations. 

Plus, if celebrity gossip is your thing, you'd hear it all working with the stars. 

And, don't worry if movies aren't your thing. You can also work in similar roles in the music, television, and theater industries.

The education requirements for these careers vary based on which path you choose. An accountant or film production manager may only need an undergrad in accounting. Being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) will likely be required for more senior roles or working with individuals.

Are you a football fan? Hockey or tennis? What about basketball or soccer? Well, we have fantastic news for you then. Sports organizations need accountants to manage payroll, cash flow, and budgets. 

You won't be in front of cameras or associating with the 1% crowd unless you have a knack for making the club millions of dollars. But if you could keep a franchise profitable, you'd be an integral part of the organization.  

As a bonus, you'd know all the first-round draft picks before your friends because you designed and approved the budget. Talk about bragging rights.

You can land a job as a sports accountant with an undergraduate degree, but you'd be more competitive with a CPA. Not to mention, you'd command a higher salary too.

If you're the fashionista type and want to find a way to blend your love of numbers with your love of fashion, then check out the fashion accountant career path.

The industry also hires purchasing managers to buy for luxury department stores and retailers. You can choose a niche path, such as Louis Vuitton, or a specific retailer, like Macy's or Nordstrom. 

As a purchasing manager or buyer, you'd learn all about the latest fashion trends and seasonal must-haves. 

In turn, you would create and maintain detailed purchase records, evaluate the cost of purchases, and negotiate contracts with suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors. 

If you decided to work with a retailer, they'd set a budget, but with your accounting skills, you'd be able to offer insight on how to meet the company's needs best while also delivering the latest trends. 

Working as a fashion accountant or purchasing manager usually requires an undergraduate degree, but sometimes companies will substitute experience for the education requirements. 

Suppose you were a buyer in a different industry but brought years of experience to the table. In that case, you may be able to get a job without a degree.

However, any work in accounting generally requires a degree, and the more advanced your degree is, the more competitive you become. Although you may not need a CPA, completing your graduate degree opens more options. 

For those who are detail-oriented with the sleuthing skills to rival even Sherlock Holmes, perhaps you should consider a career as a forensic accountant. 

These accountants generally work with government agencies to investigate large-scale financial fraud (think Enron), money laundering, embezzlement, and tracking money flow to and from terrorists and criminal organizations. Forensic accountants are looking for patterns or inconsistencies that indicate fraud — inaccurate journal entries or shady vendor invoices, to name a few.  

As with the other options, an advanced degree makes you more competitive. That can be in accounting if you'd like, but a criminal justice degree would also be helpful in this case. Ideally, you want a mixture of financial and criminal justice experience and education to make the cut. 

For those in accounting already, you might be familiar with the CFO role and may even report to one. But landing the CFO gig may be the ultimate role for some accountants. 

CFOs track a company's financial planning and cash flow and analyze the company's financial strengths and weaknesses. A CFO looks toward the future to ensure realistic budgets and business growth is attainable. They also ensure all the financial reports get done right and on time.

Now, maybe that sounds like a lot of work. Here's the thing, though. If you hire good people and trust them to do their jobs, then your job as CFO can be relatively cushy. 

We kid. Mostly.

You'll have to work your way up for this role, though. 

Most CFOs have advanced degrees, such as a graduate degree in finance or economics, and advanced certifications like the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or a CPA credential. 

Individuals with accounting, investment banking, or analyst backgrounds will excel in the role as companies want someone with proven experience. 

This career path is more of a long-term goal and probably won't be your first stop right out of college, but it's nice to know what you need if you have your sights set on being a CFO one day. 

The humdrum perception of accounting roles is far from the reality of opportunities available to you. Aside from these exciting career options, you could work in forecasting, analysis, accounting software development, or even become a professor. 

The sky's the limit!