The Student CPA

First, is it important to  dispel a popular mis-characterization about accountants being bean counters. That couldn’t be further from the truth as today’s accountants are very much different from those of your grand parents’ era. For starters, the accounting profession has undergone a series of mutations over the years. Advances in technology and constant regulatory changes make of accounting an ever evolving profession.  Consequently, modern accountants must have specialized computing skills as well as a very good understanding of the regulatory framework within which they operate. Because a sound accounting system is central to any sustainable business operating success, the accounting profession has been dubbed as recession proof. In other words, the accounting profession is hardly affected by economic cycles. That should be a compelling reason for anybody to major in accounting. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a profession that provides job security across economic cycles. When people think of accountants, they picture financial auditors. However the accounting profession offers a host of specializations such as taxation, internal auditing, business valuation, cost accounting, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic accounting. It’s not rare to run into professional accountants who are specialized in a two or three disciplines of accounting. In addition, because accounting is the universal language of business, I would strongly advise anybody contemplating a business degree other than accounting to a least get a minor in accounting. That minor in accounting will go a long way to make of you a valuable asset to your employer.