The Top 3 Reasons to Work in Accounting

Accountants are in higher demand these days. Here are 3 great reasons to help meet it:

1. A Clear Career Path

Although no career path is exactly black and white, a career in accounting can be more focused than other careers. You know you need a 4-year degree; that's a given. After college, you can enter the workforce directly at an accounting firm, private company, or governmental branch, or you can pursue higher education, like a CPA, CFP, or Master's degree. You can eventually start your own accounting business or consultancy, work at an established accounting firm, or decide which industry interests you the most and work for any number of companies.

Your career can take twists and turns along the way, but accounting provides a focus that other careers lack.

2. Increasing Job Opportunity

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts strong employment growth for accountants due to changing financial legislation, increased scrutiny of financial transactions, and overall growth in the number of businesses. The attention that financial scandals have created in the industry have caused enrollment in accounting programs to grow as well. This phenomenon is another reason why education is so important. There may be a growing number of jobs in accounting, but they will all strictly require education.

3. Strong Salaries

As the demand for financial professionals like CPAs and CFPs has increased, so have the average salaries. Starting salaries have also risen for graduates of accounting programs.

For middle-level accountants, the opportunities to make the highest salaries are found in tax accounting and the federal government. The private sector is also a great place to find higher-than-average salary for accountants.