How can becoming an accountant change your life?
92026
As a person working in Accounting without an Accounting degree I can say that it is truly a profession for people with great attention to detail.  It is not really a job for someone who thrives on interaction with others, because so much of the work involves just quietly sitting at your desk plugging away on Excel spreadsheets and accounting software.\n\nI was never a math whiz, but accounting doesn't require math  wizardry, just an understanding of basic concepts (debit/credit, etc) and an eye for detail.\n\nThe good thing is, if you have those qualities you will always have a job because every business needs an accountant.
979300
There are many different kinds of accountant.  If you are reasonably numerate (top 75 percentile) and logical/methodical in your approach to problem solving it isn't difficult at all.\n\nThe hard part is maintaining interest in your studies, as some segments of the qualifications can be very dull.\n\nThere are many different types of accountancy work.  Management accounting, financial accounting, bursarial work, advisory, forensic, audit.... the list goes on.  \n\nIt is a good career path, and if you take a good combination course, with a management element you may well be able to move into other work.  Most senior officers in local government and Chief Executives started their careers in accountancy.\n\nIf you are seriously considering a post graduate course in accountancy the main options are:\n\nCIMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - good generic course with strong management element, liked by business and local government.\nhttp://www.cimaglobal.com/cps/rde/xchg/live/root.xsl/index.htm\nCIPFA - Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants - again good management element, but predominantly for those wanting a career in local government.\nhttp://www.cipfa.org.uk/\nACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - generally preferred option for practice accountants\nhttp://uk.accaglobal.com/\n\nYou could enter the career by working for one of the 'big four', KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Ernst&Young.  Or any number of other firms, or you could apply for a trainee post within local government.  You should expect to take three or four years to qualify, but the financial rewards are high.\n\nBefore you leap into the career wholeheartedly, why don't you try getting a Summer job in an accounts office, or ask local firms/councils for some work experience to give you an idea of what's involved.\n\nPersonally I drifted into finance by accident, I've spent 10 years advising non-financial managers on all aspects of financial rules and regulations and the customer facing aspects of the job gave me great satisfaction.  I've done some audit/forensic accounting, which is brilliant if you like problem solving and puzzles.  Now I'm using that experience in a general management position.\n\nGood luck, whatever you decide to do....just remember that there's more to life than work.  After all I'm 34 and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!!
236376
Accounting is super power!!!!\n\ncheck here to know why\n\nhttp://futureaccountant.com/forum/index.php/topic,4.0.html
183781
Depending on your background, go for a Bachelors in Accounting.  Many firms hire fresh graduates as trainees.  If doing Bachelors is not an option for you then buy some books on Fundamentals of Accounting.  Once your basics are strong, you can start applying for trainee jobs.  REMEMBER: there is not much growth without a proper degree.
1137222
I guess it would depend on what you're leaning to. I disagree with the "helping people" vs. "making money" stance. A decent job done in the spirit of doing it well and in the spirit of giving would in turn enable you to earn at the same time help people. Going back to the original question, if you like both careers, you could go into law and specialize in taxation for example. Or if you're leaning towards being a CPA, you could take law classes related to your career as a CPA. You can also take some sort of psychological exam that determines where your aptitude and interest lies. And then you can base your decision on the result of the exam. Just my two cents worth. I hope it helps. =)
722356
enroll yourself in a degree course with major in accounting  and start to prepare to give CPA or CA exam
1122963
Congratulations on your big accomplishment!  I got my AA degree last year, and I have transferred to a 4 year university.  It is a stepping stone on your way to higher education.\n\nI looked in the help ads for my local paper, and yes...there were jobs that asked for at least a two year degree in accounting, and payroll type work.  Of course it is not what a CPA would do, but it is some type of payroll, or excel type of imput.\n\nSo there is an advantage because it shows employers that you have taken the next step and are willing to.\n\nGood luck.\n\nDave
1045335
Yes! In every business they need an accountants or even in your family, understanding accounting is a very big help. Specially if you will go in to business, its not enough to know your product you should also know how & when to oil up.
387659
You can get a 2 year associates degree for lower level acct. jobs. A 4 year degree will take you much farther. Get a CPA and you can do even more.
213985
Accountants are realistic. Usually professionally they do not have any emotion what you have is what you have, the numbers never lie.
47726
Accountancy is the first step to understanding finance. It also teaches the essentials of book-keeping so it is important for anyone who wants to run their own business. There are many reasons of course but I think its mainly because this subject is very easy.
5971
The first thing to note is that the answer to which is more interesting is completely subjective. If you took a random survey, my guess would be that more people would answer finance rather than accounting - but the bean-counter stereotype of accountants is rapidly changing with the hype generated by Worldcom, Enron, and the Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Act.\n\nPublic accounting is a mighty interesting place to be, my recommendation would be take Intermediate Accounting - that's what will determine whether you can stand accounting. Nonetheless, auditing is a great springboard into anything in the business world.
1074190
I'm a CMA.  I can tell you that in the 10 years or so that I have been, its certainly gained more prestige in industry, to the point where quite a few jobs out there are looking for it.\n\nThat being said, getting your CPA and getting on with a public accounting firm (particularly big 4) is another notch up for sure.  If you put your time in at a public firm... say 5-7 years to get you to the manager level, you've got the golden key to a lot of high level corporate jobs.  If you're going to have anything to do with SEC reporting they particularly demand a CPA.  My understanding is that the price is pretty steep to get that golden key though... the burnout rate is pretty high.\n\nWhichever way you go, the future is certainly bright for accountants, at least as long as the whole Sarbanes-Oxley and hightened corporate governance and awareness is with us.\n\nGood luck.
71605
Yes.  In my experience a good CPA is worth it.
575692
If you are looking for an accounting job, it is possible, but you would still need to get accquainted with Australian accounting practices.  If you are looking for any old job, sure..  But if you are looking for a CPA equivalent to Australia, you probably would need to study Australian accounting principles and take that test..
770185
Hey, there.\nDepends on how the teem is.If u r under a C.A then he'll be there to guide u.Since u r a junior better seek the advice of the seniors and do your best.Yes it is very stressful during the year end because of the Audits and income-tax cut off dates to comply with.If you like to learn new things then  it's fun and yes it is not a 9-5 job.The job demands lots of hard work.As u do it u'll learn to enjoy and cope with the stress.Pre- requisite of an accountant is high level of Honesty!!!!(if u want to rise up from mediocracy!!!)
670462
It totally depends on what you want to do.  I got a BofBA in accounting and now I'm an accountant.  Some of the folks I work with got Com degress and are now answering the phone in customer service.  I would say, for either degree, get a speacialty in something like marketing, management, journalism, etc. so that you'll be really great in one field.  It's better to be great at one thing than just ok at a lot of things.