If you’re looking for a lucrative and rewarding career field where you get to put your mathematical skills to good use, use numerical data and your good sense to earn and save people more money, and become your organization’s hero, look no further than accounting and finance jobs.
The sky’s the limit for the future of accounting and finance professionals. That’s because there isn’t a business out there that couldn’t use the advice and expertise of a money-handling professional. From analyzing and forecasting to strategizing a firm’s successful business trajectory, aspiring accountants and finance professionals are an invaluable team member.
Want to know how to take your accounting career as far as it can go? Let’s talk about what it takes to survive and thrive as an accounting professional.
Plan Early
One of the keys to enjoying a stellar career is to plan for it as early as possible. Like planting a tree– “The best time was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.”– it’s never too late to start.
An accounting career can look like many things. However, it always has three key components:
- Education
- Skills
- Experience.
These three things take time to acquire. The patient student will one day become the masterful advisor.
Pursue Higher Education
Never stop learning. Get on-the-job training and boost your skills by signing up for online classes. Take advantage of continuing professional education (CPE) courses offered by your firm, school, or accounting organization. Readily accept extra responsibilities and project assignments to gain more experience.
Earn your bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Your pursuit of a four-year degree will serve as a sign to future employers that you understand accounting fundamentals. It also showcases your dedication to your craft.
Set Your Sights on a Goal: CPA Track Or Not?
CPAs need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or similar field. They must develop a plan to gain those four years, or 150 credits, of education plus the experience required to sit for the four-part exam.
You’ll have to study hard, but it will be worth it. A CPA license opens up considerably more doors. Decide early in your education whether or not you will or should work towards becoming a CPA. Knowing where you are headed gives you an objective to work towards.
However, not everyone desires to become a CPA. It is possible to achieve your career goals without it. Do some soul searching to determine what you want your career to look like in the years to come. Then, do your research to see what qualifications it takes to get you there.
Find a Good Mentor
Having a coach in your corner has many advantages. One of those is the knowledge you’ll gain from their expert advice. Another is the networking and connections they can provide for you. Also, they can be a great reference when it’s time to apply for internships and jobs.
Broaden Your Skills
Developing various skills improves your career options. It ensures your skills don’t become obsolete. Accounting constantly evolves and shifts; it’s hard to say what skills today will be outdated in a few years. Stay vital and desirable by pursuing passions and new skills.
Develop People Skills
Accounting is a team effort most of the time. You want to voice your opinions and ideas amicably while allowing others to do the same. It’s essential to respectfully disagree and be capable of clearly and professionally stating your case.
Remain open to learning from others no matter their age or job title. It helps to assume everyone has something to offer.
You’ll also work with others outside your department and clients whose skills lie outside accounting. You must communicate information and ideas to them in a common language that’s easy to understand. In other words, you’ll need to know when not to use accounting jargon.
Sharpen Analytical Skills
Technology is absorbing fundamental manual accounting functions, like bookkeeping tasks. Data analysis is becoming all the more critical.
Tech is excellent for information collection. Still, it hasn’t taken over the need for creative problem-solving, and it never will.
Data analysis is imperative to business operations. Accounting and finance professionals hoping to further their careers can count on analytical skills as a safe bet. Any accountant is sure to go far with a keen eye for accuracy, experience, and education in analysis.
Agility
Accounting is ever-evolving, and technology continues to change the landscape. Protocols, standards, workplace developments, software, and communication platforms are just a few of the many changes accounting has seen over the past few years. Accountants must adapt and adopt new changes to remain relevant and stay in the game.
An Excellent Career Field
Accounting and finance professionals enjoy many different routes to success. Anyone with a love of numbers, excellent organizational skills, satisfactory interpersonal abilities, and a hard work ethic can find their groove and excel in these career fields.
Those aspiring to be an accountant in Charlotte need not leave their uniqueness at the door– special interests and abilities only add to what they need to build a flourishing career. Continue to pursue education, take advantage of networking opportunities, and discover your areas of interest, and you will excel.
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Infographic
Want to learn how to advance your accounting career to its fullest potential? Discover what it takes to excel as an accounting professional in this infographic.
