FOCUS ON CAREERS
CPA:
The Path to Many Doors
I
’m a finance and accounting recruiter with experience in a variety of areas, including public accounting. However, I haven’t been a practicing accountant for a number of years now, and a question I am often asked by friends and family is whether By Jorie Groom, or not I regret my decision CPA to become an accountant and obtain my CPA license — because frankly, 150 credits and the time it takes to properly prepare for and pass the CPA Exam is a significant investment. My answer is always the same: absolutely not! I don’t regret it; in fact, I am proud of my CPA designation.
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Demand has never been higher for accountants. Salaries are continuing to increase to reflect this high demand and place greater value on this essential business need.”
I decided on accounting as a career when I was a junior in high school, not because I was exceptionally great at math (a common misconception) but because I enjoyed an accounting class I had, and I knew it was a stable career. That was true in 2009 when I graduated from high school, and it rings true even more so today.
for me to take a risk like that, but the truth is the only reason I had the confidence to do something like that was because of my CPA designation. Even when I wasn’t in accounting, I always knew that I had job security, and I could go back to it if I wanted to.
Demand has never been higher for accountants. The number of students graduating with an accounting degree and obtaining the CPA designation is far lower than the number of accountants needed. Salaries are continuing to increase to reflect this high demand and place greater value on this essential business need.
What the CPA designation really means to employers is that you are disciplined; you can manage your time and work independently to get the job done. That skill set is in high demand, not just in public accounting but throughout the entire business world. Whether it’s a startup, a large corporation or anything between, employers want these qualities.
When I originally left public accounting, I did a complete 180. I taught yoga and fitness classes while working in retail. It was definitely out of character
Accounting as a career is not just the backbone of a business; it is the overall language of business. It’s not just “a numbers game,” as many people think.
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CPA2b Spring 2022 | wicpa.org
