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How do I start to become an accountant ?
I am in the grade 12 and I like math so I thought accounting would be great for me
7 answers
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Carolyn’s Answer
Hello! Growing up, I was just like you - a big fan of math. This passion led me to a business school where I majored in Mathematics. I initially had plans to be an accountant, much like you, but soon discovered that the math involved was quite different. Now, I have a fulfilling career in the Data field, focusing on migrating data to SAP systems. Even though my work doesn't involve solving math equations every day, it does demand the same kind of problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, especially when I'm tasked with transforming and merging data sets to analyze the results. I wanted to share my journey with you to illustrate that there's a vast world of career opportunities out there for people who love math just like us!
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Linh’s Answer
Hello Isabella, I also loved math during my high school years. My suggestion for you is to enroll in an accounting class either at your high school or during your first year of college. This will give you a solid understanding of the basic concepts in accounting and provide a general overview of what the field entails. Additionally, it would be beneficial to conduct some research and connect with professionals who are currently working in accounting. This will give you a glimpse into their daily tasks, the career opportunities and challenges they face, and the variety of job roles that an accounting degree can lead to. While math is a significant part of accounting, there are many other skills and areas of knowledge that are equally important. Exploring these different facets of accounting will give you a clearer picture of what you need to achieve your dream job in this field!
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Kristina’s Answer
If you have an interest in accounting, I recommend exploring a college education in that field. Some colleges offer accounting studies through a more broad degree like Business Administration, with a concentration in accounting. Regardless, you will likely be exposed to various types of business studies early on in your education, and you will have a better idea of what field feels right for you. I also recommend learning from other accounting professionals to see what jobs are out there and which ones interest you. It is a field with many job opportunities and career paths, and it is always evolving over time. It is important to note that accounting does not always require as much math as people expect, and there are many other skills involved on the day-to-day in many accounting careers. These include communication, writing, teamwork, problem solving, technology, and research, just to name a few. Therefore, it is important to take a look at career options and what a day-in-the-life is like for different accounting professionals. If you do pursue a college education, most colleges have career services which can help you get that exposure and clarity for what works for you.
Kevin Greenlees, MAcc
Accountant, Financial Analyst, Automations Developer
19
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Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Kevin’s Answer
The accounting world has a current problem: not many young people are interested in an accounting career. Many refer to it as "accounting's pipeline problem," and it's a concern for the industry at large.
This is good news, at least for anyone looking to start an accounting career. There will be fewer competitors vying for the same jobs and more demand for you when you start submitting resumes. On top of that, certain organizations are changing the standards required to earn industry-specific licenses, like the CPA license. These new standards aren't necessarily lower, but they do make it easier to earn your license by providing more time to qualify or changing exam structures to improve pass rates.
That said, if you just want to get a job, any job, in accounting, you'll do well to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, or at least in a similar field such as finance or business administration. You may be able to find a job in which you'll do accounting-like work before you earn such a degree, but it will likely be a relatively low-paying role at a small business. Don't turn up your nose at these kinds of roles, as they're well suited for college students and you'll be able to add accounting experience to your resume, making you a better candidate once you have a degree.
There's a lot of job security in government employment. If you have even a slight interest in tax, the IRS is legitimately a wonderful employer with standardized pay rates/raises, extensive in-house employee education, and a lot of opportunities to learn different roles. Plus, if you get sick of working for the government, it's very easy to launch a career in corporate tax accounting when you have the IRS on your resume. That's exactly what I did, and I'm very happy.
tl,dr; It's a good time to pursue a career in accounting. I highly recommend earning a bachelor's degree in accountancy.
This is good news, at least for anyone looking to start an accounting career. There will be fewer competitors vying for the same jobs and more demand for you when you start submitting resumes. On top of that, certain organizations are changing the standards required to earn industry-specific licenses, like the CPA license. These new standards aren't necessarily lower, but they do make it easier to earn your license by providing more time to qualify or changing exam structures to improve pass rates.
That said, if you just want to get a job, any job, in accounting, you'll do well to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, or at least in a similar field such as finance or business administration. You may be able to find a job in which you'll do accounting-like work before you earn such a degree, but it will likely be a relatively low-paying role at a small business. Don't turn up your nose at these kinds of roles, as they're well suited for college students and you'll be able to add accounting experience to your resume, making you a better candidate once you have a degree.
There's a lot of job security in government employment. If you have even a slight interest in tax, the IRS is legitimately a wonderful employer with standardized pay rates/raises, extensive in-house employee education, and a lot of opportunities to learn different roles. Plus, if you get sick of working for the government, it's very easy to launch a career in corporate tax accounting when you have the IRS on your resume. That's exactly what I did, and I'm very happy.
tl,dr; It's a good time to pursue a career in accounting. I highly recommend earning a bachelor's degree in accountancy.
Updated
Tonya’s Answer
Hello,
You can start taking classes at a local 2 Year Technical College to obtain your Associate's Degree in Accounting and later complete another two years to obtain your Bachelor's Degree. A lot of employers want you to have some type of Accounting experience or money-handling knowledge, I would suggest getting a part-time job at a local bank or a receptionist at a tax provider to learn more about credits and debits, banking and taxes which could help you understand Accounting more and also help you to know for sure if this is a career you are interested in.
You can start taking classes at a local 2 Year Technical College to obtain your Associate's Degree in Accounting and later complete another two years to obtain your Bachelor's Degree. A lot of employers want you to have some type of Accounting experience or money-handling knowledge, I would suggest getting a part-time job at a local bank or a receptionist at a tax provider to learn more about credits and debits, banking and taxes which could help you understand Accounting more and also help you to know for sure if this is a career you are interested in.
Updated
Claudio S’s Answer
I am in no way a math geek, in fact, I hated algebra! I know basic math which I think is the most you need to be an accountant. I am a CPA as well.
I am of the opinion that what you need to be a decent accountant is the ability to analyze business transactions, assign them to proper categories and then create a financial report which someone can use to analyze the business' profitability and to make intelligent business decision.
I am of the opinion that what you need to be a decent accountant is the ability to analyze business transactions, assign them to proper categories and then create a financial report which someone can use to analyze the business' profitability and to make intelligent business decision.
Updated
Ching’s Answer
By getting an accounting job, you are an accountant. There is no real barrier to entry to being an accountant. Of course there are some specific roles that need licensed or certified someone someone.
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