By Emily Philippe
Faculty Member, Accounting and Finance at American Public University
Do you think accounting = boring? Well, this is not so! Accounting is a part of every business, from professional sports to doctors and pet stores to circuses. Every organization that deals with money must plan for, keep track of, and report that money. Without accountants, businesses cannot succeed.
Granted, reading an accounting textbook can put the best student to sleep sometimes, but once you learn the foundations of accounting, where you go is completely wide open and up to you.
Accountants today have a wide range of options. Accountants can work independently or with a firm as a public accountant and prepare taxes, perform audits, or act as an accounting consultant for individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit entities. Government accountants establish and implement budgets for local, state, or federal government agencies and maintain records and reports. There is the option to work as a management accountant providing vital analyses and financial advice to individual companies. Accountants can teach and help students learn about accounting and all of the opportunities available today. Forensic accountants investigate crimes or support litigation.
Being creative is a positive skill for accountants to have. Numbers seem very black and white but, as Enron, Worldcom, and several other well-known business/accounting failures have shown, numbers are not as straightforward as we think. There are a multitude of opportunities for accountants to use their ingenuity to find creative ways for companies to reach their financial and operational goals while working within ethical boundaries.
If you are a left-brain thinker with an aptitude for numbers and attention to detail, maybe accounting is for you. Perhaps you really love sports but can’t play or coach–what about accounting as a way to be a part of what you love? Accountants are part of every organization imaginable. If you’re good with numbers, take that skill and creatively apply it to the field you love for a win-win combination.
About the Author:
Emily Philippe has a BS in Business Administration with a Specialty in Accounting and an MS in Personal Financial Planning. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM), and Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). She is currently pursuing a DBA in Advanced Accounting with Northcentral University. Emily has experience in public, industry, and government accounting. She is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC).
Comments are closed.