Top Questions about Certified Public Accountant
August 22, 2011 by admin
Filed under Business & Professional Jobs
1) How are the work hours?
I heard it was around 9am-5pm 5 days a week, but I am not sure.
If you work in corporate accounting, it will depend on your company and its culture. It could be 40 hours a week (8:30-5 is typical), with overtime as needed, or it could be a lot more.
If you work for a Public accounting firm doing taxes and audit you could work significantly more than 40 hours during tax and audit season. You may have to work 6 or 7 days during crunch time.
2) Are there breaks/vacations?
I heard that accountants get around 2-3 months off every year.
Just about all jobs get vacations, but 2-3 months is rare. More like 2-3 weeks to start if you are lucky.
Unless you get a government job, then you could get more than 3 weeks. Perhaps what you heard was sometimes accountants accumulate comp time because of so much overtime, but 2-3 months seems too much.
3) Is it hard?
I am currently interested in becoming an accountant because of the pay, the work hours(If what I mentioned earlier is true), and it seems to be an easily obtainable, stable and overall relaxed job.
I don’t think the word “relaxed” is accurate. Its often stressful. Dealing with deadlines, rules and regulations, and sometime uncooperative people.
3) Is the job relatively simple and relaxing?
I don’t want to pull my hair out doing complex work.
Only clerical/bookkeeping jobs are simple. These don’t pay well. Often the higher level jobs are difficult. (see above)
4)What are your thoughts about accounting?
Often stressful but it can be a good career if you find the right fit working for a good company with good co-workers. It may sound odd, but my favorite times were the deadline intensive month and year ends because they provided feelings of accomplishments.
Source: yahoo answers