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5 Reasons to be a CPA
Author: Jenna Elkins, NASBA Communications
and Digital Media Specialist
Infographic designed by: Anthony Cox, NASBA
Graphic Designer
Posted: April 26, 2017
For CPA candidates, the month of April has been a tad wonky. After all,
who launches the next version of the CPA Exam on April Fools’ Day and expects
candidates to believe this is happening? As you now know, the changes to the CPA Exam did transition
into the new format (no joke!). I think it’s time we all take a deep breath
and remind ourselves why the CPA license is worth the rigorous journey, CPA Exam changes and
all, to this
prestigious title: certified public accountant (CPA).
and all
spoken informal used to emphasize
a remark that you have just added
Here are top five reasons to become a CPA (infographic below):
1.
Prestige and Respect尊重
Respected and admired by their peers, clients and the general population, CPAs are often
viewed as an elite
group of professionals. After years of academic and technical training--and passing the rigorous CPA Exam--a CPA’s ethics and character are
further tested with several years of extensive on-the-job training. These
individuals achieve a level of expertise and proficiency beyond that of a
"standard" accountant,
proudly earning them the designation of CPA.
2.
Career Development
Conquering the CPA Exam and obtaining the CPA license allows individuals to stand out to potential
employers, who are often impressed with accountants who earn this highly coveted title. Earning a CPA license demonstrates a commitment
to the profession and often highlights potential candidates for leadership
and management positions. A CPA license is also necessary for those who desire
higher levels of authority and responsibility. It is not uncommon for
seasoned accountants to return to school to earn a Master’s Degree in
Accounting, so they can start the journey to become a licensed CPA.
3.
Career Security
CPAs are in more demand than ever before--and that doesn’t seem
to be changing any time soon. One reason for increased demand for CPAs is that in the 1990s,
there was a dip in accounting students when the Internet boomed and students
chose to pursue jobs in IT and marketing. Also, the Sarbanes-Oxley act passed in 2002 and this act increased the need
for qualified CPAs to enforce higher standards of public corporate accounting.
Finally, Baby Boomers are
retiring and leaving a tremendous gap in the market, which is also felt
in the academic world as more and more accounting professors retire.
4.
Job Satisfaction
CPAs are typically multi-talented professionals多才多藝 who perform a mix of
highly-specialized job functions including auditing, business and management consulting, information technology
(IT), international financial reporting and tax advisory services, to name a
few. With the various paths
available as a CPA, such as forensic CPA,
this allows individuals to make a difference in areas, depending on the skills
they’ve gained and the desires that allow them to be satisfied with their job.
Especially with the Millennial generation of CPAs, the accounting profession
offers these individuals unique advantages in giving back to society, which
they greatly value.
Also, with the spread of globalization, the environment of
accounting is changing. CPAs have more opportunities to travel the world and gain international
business experience, especially those who are multi-lingual and
multi-cultural.
5.
Money and Benefits
When choosing a career, many people
consider salary
potential and benefits as important criteria, next to passion for the job. Luckily, for those considering
the CPA license, there are numerous career paths individuals can follow--public
accounting, government, non-profit, industry, etc. Being a CPA isn’t just a
job, it’s actually a whole series of jobs and stepping stones that will culminate into an amazing
career. If the diversity of what the CPA license can lead you to as far as
career development isn’t convincing enough, here are the latest stats on CPA earnings and employment:
l You’ll make 10-15%
more if you have your CPA license.
l The Department of Labor and Statistics predicts employment of
accountants and auditors will grow
faster than average for all occupations through the years 2024.
