The image of the "pencil pusher" accountant is outdated and the profession now offers a wide range of career paths that offer financial rewards as well as the opportunity to have a major impact in the corporate world.

Lindsay Crouse, who recently graduated with an accounting degree, told the Seattle Times that the "diversity" of the occupation was one of the main things that attracted her to study for a career in the field.

"It's not just bookkeeping and basic accounting. You can have a huge impact ... through the consulting you give to the corporations you're working with," she said.

Furthermore, new federal laws introduced in the wake of the Enron and WorldCom scandals mean there is great demand for qualified accountants.

According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, over 64,000 people graduated with bachelor's or master's degrees in the field last year - the highest number since the organization started tracking the data.

During the same school year, 203,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate accounting courses - up 19 per cent from 2004.

Statistics for 2006 from the Department of Labor show there were 2.1 million people working as accountants and auditors. The median wage for these workers was $30,560, with variations by job role and location.