The Benefits of Becoming a Certified Public Accountant

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Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a challenging journey full of long hours of studying, testing, nervousness and wondering if it’s all worth it in the end. So, why put yourself through it?

Is it worth the work and effort to get your license?

Absolutely! There are bountiful benefits to becoming a CPA. Discover what has compelled countless accountants to head back into the world of academia to become CPAs.

Job security

Having your CPA license affords you peace of mind when it comes to applying for accounting positions, staying gainfully employed and being promoted.

Expertise and honor

You’ve put in the time and effort, trained with professionals,passed a rigorous exam AND you came out on top with your certification.

Your work, time and effort prove that you’ll go above and beyond for the profession. That kind of work ethic gives you a reputation that you’ll do the same for your employer and clients.

Indispensable to employers

The time and dedication you put into your degree and the ensuing talent you acquire along the route make you more appealing to employers. You’ll stand out from the crowd of applicants with your certification, showcasing your determination to excel in the field. Not to mention, your demonstration of leadership and commitment will earn you more management opportunities.

Stable employment

Accounting professionals are in high demand right now for several reasons. One of those is due to baby boomers retiring and leaving openings that need to be filled, especially in accounting, where there’s a shortage of degree earners.

The Silicon Valley boom of the 1990s is also partly to blame for today’s lack of accountants to fill everything from entry-level positions to upper management positions left by retiring baby boomers. Lucrative information technology (IT) and marketing-driven professions of that decade drove students towards those jobs and away from accounting degrees.

Also contributing to the accounting employment gap is the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX or SOA), which was a response to the accounting scandals seen at the turn of the millennium. The fraudulent accounting and reporting by corporations like Enron disrupted the stock market and damaged investor confidence. That proverbial cookie started to crumble for a few too many corporations in quick succession, so SOX was enacted to prevent corporate dishonesty and investor loss.

As a result of the SOX Act, a heavier burden was placed on accounting and auditing professionals. The increased legal obligation could have made an accounting degree less appealing to some.

The reasons for the accounting employment gap are manyfold. Nevertheless, accounting professionals are in high demand now, and staffers with little to no accounting backgrounds are filling many accounting roles to make up the difference. As a Certified Public Accountant, you can guarantee that your expertise and services will be in demand.

Exciting opportunities

With your knowledge and skill set, you have more options along your career path. You can perform highly-specialized functions like IT jobs, fiduciary accounting or forensic accounting. Specialized roles are notoriously fun and rewarding.

On the other hand, you have the opportunity to carry out multiple functions. Having many tasks can be more satisfying than performing the same process repeatedly. Your knowledge allows you to pick and choose your duties and build job satisfaction.

Additionally, becoming a CPA gives you the opportunity to travel or work internationally. Plus, if you have a heart for philanthropy, you can work with nonprofits and eco-friendly companies that do good and give back.

Salary and perks

If the prestige, honors, job security and exciting opportunities that await you as a CPA haven’t convinced you yet, maybe the salary and perks will.

On the path to earning your CPA licensure, you undoubtedly have become a multi-talented, highly-specialized accountant. Even better, now you get to work with other outstanding multi-talented, highly-specialized CPAs of equal caliber who love what they do. Passion and enthusiasm spur job satisfaction, a priceless perk of being a CPA.

Your talented associates can help you further your career by boosting your knowledge and skills. Your jobs won’t just be jobs; they will be building blocks creating one incredible career path.

In addition, the Department of Labor predicts that the accounting field will grow faster than average for all occupations through 2024.

Finally, as a CPA, you have the potential to earn 10-15% more income with your license.

Becoming a CPA opens doors

There’s a reason why many accountants return to academia to earn their Master's in Accounting. They have discovered the value in starting their journey to becoming a CPA. There are exciting opportunities, job stability and increased pay for them on that road.

The OSCPA supports CPAs and pre-CPAs

The Ohio Society of CPAs supports and empowers CPAs, pre-CPAs and related professionals. No matter where you are in your career—whether you work in the public or non-profit sector, full- or part-time hours—The Ohio Society of CPAs offers the resources you need to advance your career, comply with regulations and have fun in the process. Additionally, you can count much of our content and programs towards your accounting continuing education courses (CPE)!

With over 24 hours of carefully curated content to keep you abreast of news, policies, trends and best practices that matter to your career, your paid membership subscription to our accounting society in Ohio will pay for itself. Join our growing community of accounting professionals to take your career to new heights and expand your knowledge and network!

Infographic

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can be a tough journey that involves long hours of studying, taking tests, and feeling anxious. You may even question if it's all worth it. But why pursue it in the first place? Find out why so many accountants are returning to academia to become CPAs in this infographic.

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