How To Pursue A Career As An Accountant

If you are wondering which career path to take in life, then there are several key considerations you need to make. The first is that you need to find a vocation that is high in demand. While there are plenty of success stories that take place way off the beaten track, it is best to stick to a proven route that provides plenty of opportunities. 

It has been suggested that true success only occurs when you branch out on your own in a job role or business that hasn’t been created yet, but this ignores the fact that similar levels of success can be achieved in ‘conventional’ roles if you are willing to work hard and build a skill set which enough people are willing to pay handsomely for.

Furthermore, it is sensible to find a job that provides a stable income because this will allow you to plan further into the future. For all these reasons and more, accountancy is a compelling career path that is often overlooked. This is everything you need to know about becoming an accountant:

Learn from the best

Accountancy is a vocation that is incredibly high in demand at the moment and can pay equally well if you gain enough experience and specialise in a lucrative industry. Whatever the industry, when you are just starting out on your career as an accountant, it is crucial to combine real-world skills with the qualifications you will gain at university and beyond. The reason for this is simple. 

There are countless aspiring accountants on the job market, all competing for an infinite number of jobs. What’s more, when they ‘just’ have theoretical qualifications, it can both be difficult to gauge their real-world abilities and differentiate them from anyone else.

Instead, consider gaining on-the-job experience as an assistant accountant. You will be able to learn from fully-fledged accountants and understand more about how to handle the customers you will face in the future. There are plenty of assistant accountants job vacancies around, so consider looking into it as a potential opportunity. 

Gain the relevant qualifications

Of course, you aren’t going to get very far as an accountant without the necessary qualifications. The exact courses you need to take will depend on the type of accountancy you want to specialise in, so it is important to research the various specialisations before enrolling at university. 

Consider branching out on your own

Once you have your feet under the table and several years of experience under your belt, you may want to consider branching out on your own as a freelancer or business owner. 

Not only is this potentially a more lucrative path to take, but you will be able to increase the amount of flexibility in your lifestyle. For example, given the rise of hybrid working, you could theoretically travel as an accountant or strive to earn more as a business owner.

Conclusion

As you can see from the information in this guide, there are numerous ways of gaining experience and skills as an accountant. From getting on-the-job experience as an assistant accountant to going to university and branching out on your own thereafter, plenty of ways into accountancy exist – all you have to do is choose the right way that works best for you. Plus, if you decide one pathway isn’t quite right, you can always opt for the next and see where it takes you.