Robert Persichitte, certified public accountant, certified financial planner and founder of Delagify Financial, tells us that the main motivation to become an accountant was money.
"I went to university with a good business school and a bad engineering school. I looked for what business field had the highest pay (at the time) and went down that path."
Meanwhile, Alex King, chartered accountant, personal finance expert, and founder of Generation Money, was looking for a profession that would withstand global challenges.
"It was seeing the Great Financial Crisis happen as I was at university and realising that accountants were in demand whether the economy was expanding or contracting. The resilience of the industry was a key factor in drawing me to the accounting profession."
The accounting profession is surrounded by quite a few mysteries and misconceptions, as not a lot of people know what’s going on inside. Unless you’re a friend, spouse, or family member of a bookkeeper or accountant, this industry might, at first glance, seem too hard or boring to understand.
However, with the help of experts, we hope it becomes more clear what this profession entails. And we’ll start by figuring out how one becomes an accountant.
"Anyone can start in accounting; you need attention to detail and patience to understand what is happening with money. If you're interested in a career, I recommend "CPA or get out of the way." While there are good jobs in accounting that don't require a CPA, you get paid more and have instant credibility if you can get your CPA," tell us Persichitte.
"To become an accountant, you need to have good attention to detail and a logical mind," agrees King. "You’ll need to pass lots of exams and get relevant industry experience before you become a chartered or certified accountant."
The education required to work in the accounting industry is at least a bachelor of science in accounting or another related field. Students take math, tax law, and business-related courses, which equip them with the knowledge needed to become an accountant.
During their studies, they may choose a more specific career path to become a managerial accountant, financial accountant, or tax accountant. To gain more experience, students may find paid or unpaid internships that can help them get better and higher-paid job opportunities after graduation. When they complete their bachelor’s degree, they should be prepared to search for and obtain entry-level positions in the accounting field.
