Do you consider yourself good with money? Would you like to earn a median salary of over $70,000 each year? Are you ready to advance your career to the next level and increase your marketable skills? If so, then accounting may be just the jumpstart that your career needs.
Not sure how to become an accountant? No worries! Our step-by-step guide will show you the way.
Step One: Ask Yourself, “Do I Have the Qualities of an Accountant?”
Before you ask yourself how to become an accountant, you should first ask yourself if you have the right qualities for the job. Accountants need to have an exacting eye for data, a clear mind for calculations, strong organizational skills, and a knack for technology. If you don’t have these qualities, you either need to hone them or consider another career path.
Step Two: Decide If You Want to Become a CPA or an Accountant
The next step on your path to becoming an accountant is to choose your focus. There are many different types of accountants, including forensic, government, tax preparation, auditors, and many more. Furthermore, you must decide if you wish to become a Certified Public Accountant, which requires licensure, or not.
All CPAs are accountants, by trade, but not all accountants are CPAs. So, keep that in mind when deciding your career path.
Step Three: Pursue Degrees and Certification
Once you’ve decided on a specialty, it’s time to pursue the education you need to become an accountant. Most accounting jobs will require at least a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or some other relevant field like Business or Finance. However, some more selective positions will require a Master’s degree or higher.
Still other jobs may require additional certification like a CPA or QuickBooks Specialist™ certification. There may also be other types of accounting software that you should be certified to use. Make sure that you have the right level of education for whichever position you choose to pursue.
Step Four: Look for Job Opportunities
Once you’ve obtained your Bachelor’s degree and completed all certification exams that you need, it’s time to browse for job opportunities. You’ll likely start out in an entry-level position without some truly impressive credentials from step three behind your name, but don’t feel discouraged.
Prove yourself in your first accounting job, keep educating yourself, and soon enough, you’ll climb the ladder to your dream career.
Let’s Review How to Become an Accountant
Still unsure how to become an accountant? Your first step is to assess whether you have the qualities of an accountant. Second, you need to decide which specialization you wish to take on for yourself. Third, you need to pursue the necessary education and certification to start in the field. Lastly, you need to search for entry-level job opportunities.
These steps are but the first you can take on your path to becoming an accountant. If you’d like more tips and tricks to help you get an accounting job, or any other dream job, check out our blog for more information.
