3 Traits That Suggest You Should Become A Certified Public Accountant

15 July 2015
 Categories: Education & Development, Articles

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Was math one of your favorite subjects in high school? Did you know that approximately 4 out of every 10 adults surveyed say they hated math when they were in school? As a math lover, you may want to consider a career that allows you to work with numbers, such as a certified public accountant. In fact, there are a few traits that may suggest a CPA career is right for you.

Crunching Numbers

Are you the type to sit down every night and crunch numbers to determine your best possible budget? Do you apply every analytical skill possible to work out the various ways you can either make or save money? Number crunching is just one of the many responsibilities that a CPA has to face. CPAs are typically involved in:

  • Investment planning
  • Estate planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Cash flow planning
  • Tax planning

Of course, these are just some of the responsibilities a CPA has to face on a daily basis. However, what is most important to realize is that all of that planning involves mathematics. For example, it is up to the CPA to run the numbers to determine a client's best approach toward saving for retirement. Therefore, if you constantly find yourself crunching numbers, a CPA career may be just right for you.

Socially Adept

Is it easy for you to start and maintain a conversation, even among people you don't know? Social skills are a requirement for CPAs. In many cases, a CPA provides customer service and consultation services. Therefore, the CPA must possess social skills as a way of building trust and rapport with clients.

If you enjoy socializing with others, you will get to do that and so much more as a CPA. Not only will you have the chance to socialize with clients, you will also have the ability to help them. Budgeting is hard for a lot of people, which is why the average U.S. household owes approximately $15,800 in credit card debt. As a CPA, you can socialize with others and talk them through ways to save and get out of debt.

Crucially Organized

Yet another trait that any CPA must possess is organizational skills. Are you crucially organized to the point that you put all of your info into spreadsheets? Do you create labels for your food? Are you a fan of color-coding so you know exactly what goes where? If so, then your organizational skills would make you a killer CPA. CPAs frequently deal with more than one client. Given that you would have to handle multiple accounts containing tons of information and numbers, organization is a must.

Your organizational skill must go beyond simple document filing. You must possess the ability to organize a client's information so that it is easier to determine their best approach toward financial planning and investment. Aside from providing a level of organization, you must also know how to organize quickly so you can provide clients with the answers and information they need in a timely manner.

Pursuing a CPA Career

If you said yes to having all three of the above traits, it is worth investigating a future career as a CPA. In order to become a CPA, you need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting. Obtaining an accounting degree will be the first step you will have to take toward becoming a CPA. Many CPAs must also take a certification test.

Reach out to a college counselor to find out more about an accounting degree. The counselor can help you determine what other steps you need to take to make your goal of becoming a CPA come true. The employment of accountants is expected to increase by approximately 13%. In other words, now is a great time to pursue a CPA career for your future. For more information, contact a school like Interactive College of Technology.