Why Become a CPA? More Career Opportunities Than You Think!
Published on by Scott Cress in Careers, Video
Accounting is often associated with taxes, audits, and financial statements, but the career possibilities go way beyond traditional accounting roles. An accounting background can provide a strong foundation for a rewarding career with opportunities to continually learn, build relationships, solve meaningful problems, and explore new paths.
After nearly 30 years in the profession, Barnes Dennig Director Scott Cress says that no two days are exactly alike, and he’s still learning all the time. And that makes the profession continually rewarding for him.
Accountants have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people, businesses, and non-profits, developing relationships that can last throughout their careers. At the same time, constantly changing regulations, industries, technologies, and client challenges mean there’s always something new to learn.
Making a positive impact for clients
Scott says that some of the most fulfilling moments for accountants and advisors come from finding an idea or strategy that makes a meaningful difference for a client, and that can be especially powerful when he’s working with high-net-worth individuals, where identifying the right planning opportunity may generate significant savings or other benefits, and he says he never gets tired of the lightbulb moment when the client realizes the impact.
Those moments demonstrate how accounting knowledge can translate into tangible value and make problem-solving an especially rewarding part of the profession.
How does an accounting degree open career doors?
Accounting provides a versatile skill set that can lead in a lot of different directions.
Even for graduates who ultimately decide public or private accounting isn’t their long-term career path, the knowledge and experience they gain can be valuable throughout the business world. Many CEOs, COOs, entrepreneurs, and other executives began their careers in accounting or finance and continue to draw on that background as leaders.
Understanding financial information, how organizations operate, and how business decisions affect performance provides a foundation that can translate across industries and roles, so the possibilities are virtually endless
What are the benefits of becoming a CPA?
Earning the CPA credential can expand those possibilities even further. CPAs continue to be in high demand, and the designation provides benefits like job stability, opportunities for career advancement, industry recognition, and increased earning potential.
And becoming a CPA doesn’t mean committing to a career focused exclusively on tax or audit. Today’s profession encompasses an increasingly broad range of advisory and consulting services, creating opportunities for professionals with a wide range of interests and strengths.
Building a career that fits your life
Flexibility is another important benefit of an accounting career, and one that matters more and more to today’s workers. While the profession can be fast-paced and demanding at times, it can also provide significant control over when and how work gets done.
That flexibility can make it easier to build a career around the other priorities in your life, whether that’s attending a child’s ball game, spending time with family, or pursuing interests outside of work.
Ultimately, accounting offers much more than a single career track. It provides the chance to meet interesting people, develop lifelong relationships, continuously grow your expertise, and make a meaningful difference for clients and organizations.
As you consider career options, keep in mind that an accounting degree and CPA credential can be the beginning of a path with far more possibilities than you might expect.
Barnes Dennig offers great internship opportunities, so find out more on our careers site. Or drop by and see us when we visit college campuses in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky each fall and spring!
