Top 5 Accounting Career Tips
Posted by Saundra Lee on Thu, May 26, 2011 @ 05:00 AM
How nice would it be to never have to worry about finding a job again because no matter what happens, everyone wants to hire you?
True job security is having a background that is so in demand that it does not matter what happens to the economy or the company you work for, you can ALWAYS have great opportunities at your finger tips.
How do you create the ultimate Accounting Career Path?
1.) Take a job for the experience it will give you, not for the money. Make sure the job you take will get you one step closer to the direction you want to go even if it is not your ideal job whether it is the industry or responsibility.
For instance, if you want to learn SEC reporting, as is necessary for accounting job security 90% of the time, you should make sure you can get into a publicly traded company.
2.) CPA! An accountant without a CPA can have a strong career but more opportunities are available to the CPA in corporate accounting. You will be best off if you get it though public accounting. As business becomes more and more regulated, the CPAs will only be more in demand…not just for the CFO career path either. All aspects of a business are leaning towards people with public accounting and CPAs…Finance, Operations, IT. I am hearing that more CEOs in the future will be CPAs.
3.) Keep your eye on the prize. Never lose sight of where you want your accounting career path to go. Keep the upwardly mobile career plan in mind and seek out opportunities to get the experience you need. Taking initiative will not only make you stand out amongst your peers but it will get you the experience you desire faster.
4.) Find a mentor. Many people that are capable of being a great mentor are not seeking out protégés. I have had a few great mentors in my life (thank you Jackie) but it is up to us to inspire them to want to mentor us. How?
- Explode with enthusiasm for the business and learning
- Prove your ability to soak up information like a sponge
- Show interest to learn more about your potential mentor’s career path
- Be able to take direction and think outside the box (many cannot do both).
Doing these things will inspire someone to want to mentor you. It will rejuvenate their own enthusiasm for their job.
5.) As you grow, help others. I can’t tell you how many talented accountants I have run across that are stuck at a certain level because they don’t have want it takes to manage. Some don’t want to be managers and some are never given the opportunity. The way to be given the opportunity, is to take initiative in helping others learn without getting paid for it. You will only get so far as an individual contributor.
The most in demand Corporate Accounting professional is someone who…
- Started out in public accounting
- Went in to corporate after they got their CPA
- Got experience with publicly held company
- And kept gaining experience every year without being stagnant.
What is your biggest career challenge?