Being an Accountant, what to anticipate!

Like other languages, Accounting has its own set of terminology. Somewhere money is exchanged, somewhere down the line and somewhere accountants are there to keep track of it. From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, they keep a pulse on financial health and are important in every industry. If you are analytical and detail-oriented, you have probably considered yourself a career in this field. In the language of business there are many allowances for the profession.

People say being an accountant is boring. In terms of excitement, accounting might not compare with being a fighter pilot, but it’s not fair to assume accountants are bored to tears on a regular basis. Like any line of work, there are parts that can be a little dull or monotonous, but other aspects can be downright interesting. This is particularly true for accountants who’ve climbed into leadership positions.

“People often don’t understand that the accounting and finance person becomes a strategic partner,” said by Bob Prather, general manager of accounting and finance at Lucas Group.

Here are some basic personality of being an Accountant according to people's assumption:-

● Accountants are all math whizzes 

Numerical literacy is still an important part of the job, But many seem to get the impression that accountants possess some form of rare genius and like to spend their free time completing Advanced Calculus assignments. Some accountants may find that appealing, but the idea that the math behind most accounting work is exceedingly complex is fiction.

● Accountants loves to provide free tax advice

Many accountants spend long hours navigating complex tax arrangements and seeking ways for their clients to legally maximize their profits. So ofcourse, they’d love to spend their free time taking a peek at your relatively simple receipts, right? You can probably see where this is going, but this is a terrible assumption to make. There’s a reason accountants get paid for the work they do.

● Accounting work is rigid

Given the generally buttoned-up and structured nature of parts of their work, you might be inclined to believe accounting is essentially “paint by numbers” with little variation in how scenarios are resolved.

● Accounting skills are narrowly applied and focus only on taxes

Let's take an example, management accounting, mergers and acquisitions, estate and trust accounting, and compliances roles are all types of accounting positions you may choose to specialize in over the course of an accounting career.

“Doesn’t matter if you work for a Fortune 500 or a local nonprofit, somebody has to manage the money to keep things running smoothly,” It pleased to discover just how much more flexible accounting is.

● Accountants are dull or unfriendly

Sure, accounting work can be dry at times and any group that collectively tends to get excited about fancy pens might cause you to raise your eyebrows, but as with any career, you’ll find a variety of personalities throughout the profession.People assume accountants don’t have personalities or are anti-social. Some Accountant are outgoing and have hobbies.

There are a lot of inaccurate assumptions about the accounting field, But the truth is that being an accountant might be much more interesting than you thought.

If you really want to reinforce your accounting acuity, you’ll need to think about the following things:-

1) Choosing the right accounting degree and program-
The first step toward a career in accounting is finding the right education path for you. Like with many professions, there is both an Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree option. The one you choose will depend on what roles you want to pursue.
In other words, if you want to be prepared to handle the full array of accounting-related responsibilities, the Bachelor’s degree route is right for you. For lower-level accounting and payroll duties an Associate’s degree or Accounting Certificate will fit the bill.

2) Developing your skills through accounting courses-
Once you’ve landed on a degree and a program, you’ll want to know about courses. Like - Finance Accounting, Computer focused principles, Advanced Auditing concepts, Accounting information system, Corporate and International Accounting.
It’s no secret that there are some complex concepts to master in accounting but that’s also part of why this is well-regarded profession. While everyone will progress differently, some areas may be more difficult than others. Just choose the course according to your interest and start research on it.

3) Preparing for accounting certification-
Once you obtain your education, there are a few non-academic accounting certifications or credentials you may want to consider depending on your career goals. While an Accounting degree can help prepare you for a variety of roles, these credentials may be appealing options to add to your resume. Like- Certified Public Accountant (CPA),Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Enrolled Agent (EA).
There are no strict educational requirements for the EA exam, but this doesn’t mean that becoming an EA is easy. To earn this certification, you must take 3 exams, totaling 12 hours and cover any exam-related fees or expenses.

The road is always designed to keep going and nothing is easy.
If accounting training were easy, more people would do it. But by not taking the path of least resistance, you can set yourself up for a long and successful career in accounting. It’ll take some long hours and a lot of effort, but the stability of an accounting career can make it all worth it.
Now, start focusing on the things you need to keep in mind while walking on the road.
The next step is to investigate your education option is Accounting programs (according to me).

Written By : Lakshya Pant

Note: Everything in this blog is my guidance, whatever course and certification is named here is based on all the things read professionally.