Category: Professional Development

Photo Source: Unsplash+ Soft skills, sometimes referred to as interpersonal communications skills, relate to how well a person interacts with others. Up to now, the majority of your professional educational efforts have probably been razor-focused on hard skill, fact-based learning. For certain, crafting the perfect pivot table and mad-fast analytical skills are awesome technical feats.

“How do we solve bottlenecks in the audit process?” This is a common question among audit managers who want to make the most of their time while meeting deadlines and satisfying clients. Waiting for clients to submit documents for the audit can be one bottleneck, but there are other aspects of audit workflow improvements that

It’s ironic, but accounting professionals can struggle with their personal finances. Due to their accounting career, they are especially challenged to reach out and seek help, according to research from caba, a UK-based service for accountants. There is no federal or state standard for teaching financial literacy, even in high schools. The National Financial Educators

Accounting firms like ours know this: five years is often a crossroads for many professionals in public accounting. Really, it’s a crossroads for any career, but we want to make sure that you know your options before that fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, reactive rather than proactive decisions can cause younger professionals to leap into private industry

According to Handshake, that all-purpose job site for interns and recent college graduates, companies are posting 15% fewer internships than reported just two years ago. Why? Some of the downturn is attributed to economic uncertainty, but others are pointing to AI’s role in handling junior-level tasks that young professionals used to perform. At public accounting

In recent months, we have witnessed a stunning turn regarding the relative economic security of government jobs. It made us wonder if other careers such as public accounting are still considered fairly immune to economic downturns or political disruptions. Historically, a career in accounting or bookkeeping has provided a fairly stable career for knowledgeable and

What is the total compensation at your accounting job? It goes beyond your salary. One benefit of working for an employer is…you guessed it, the benefits! What do we mean by that? Accounting firms often pay the following on behalf of their full-time professionals and some of their key part-time professionals: Medical insurance premiums Paid

Annual performance reviews have a bad reputation. This is especially true if they aren’t supported by regular conversations between managers and employees. An employee who only receives feedback once a year — either as part of compensation increases or a promotion evaluation — is less likely to be engaged, according to research by the Gallup

Are you in a love/hate relationship with your remote accounting job? Sometimes becoming disengaged from your role can change your entire outlook on your career. Don’t make the wrong move. Here are six tips to help you stay connected to your team when you’re fully remote. 6 Tips to Stay Connected 1. Leave your house

Whether you are graduating with a finance or accounting degree, or you have decided mid-career to change accounting firms, there are many reasons that professionals choose a small, mid-sized or large accounting firm. First, let’s define small, mid-sized and large for the industry. A small public accounting firm is typically under $10 million in revenue

The journey from a staff accountant to a managerial role is a path much traveled…yet it’s one that requires careful consideration. This transition, often viewed as a natural progression, brings with it a host of changes that can significantly impact your professional life and personal satisfaction. Let’s dig in and see if you have what

People may equate resilience with being able to “tough it out” when facing adversity. This perception can lead to professional exhaustion and less-than-resilient firms. In fact, articles in Harvard Business Review frequently focus on what resilience is not. It’s not linear (either you have it, or you don’t). It’s not a trait that requires soldiering

First off – we’re glad you’re here! Managing your career is not always easy. And if you’re newly graduated and thinking that accounting could be for you, let’s talk! But, even those of you with years of experience in other fields are welcome to apply for accounting jobs, too. Here’s why. To tell you the

The first 15 minutes after you wake up are the most significant minutes of your day, setting the pace for how you perform and respond to life and work. A study on sleep inertia found that it can take up to two hours for the body to fully transition from sleep to alertness. Critical tasks

Accounting managers, supervisors and partners need training to oversee a team and manage projects, but there is even more required when they serve clients. Unlike mastering technical procedures and processes, accountants who advance in their careers will be responsible for proactive advisory conversations with clients to support business growth and wealth preservation. There is training,

A recent survey of B2B firms in six different industry groups revealed that high-growth firms value project management as the top skill among new hires. Investment in operational software is also happening more rapidly at high-growth firms to create efficiencies among smaller project teams. How can you be a more attractive candidate for high-growth, public

Affordable housing accounting is more than just crunching numbers – it’s about providing homes, stability and opportunity to communities in need. This unique career path allows you to harmonize professional success with creating powerful social impact through programs like the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC). As you gain years of experience, you’ll develop a heightened

Let’s talk about your accounting career. If you know what you want, how do you get there? If you’re already on a path, how do you change directions? When you have your goals at heart, it makes the journey much easier to assess. Let’s take it one step at a time. In this article, we’ll

When obtaining your accounting degree or other related finance degree, you have options. One of those options is to work for a public accounting firm. You may also explore accounting careers within a business setting. As you consider your options for internships and accounting jobs, you should think about the best training opportunities that will

When thinking of a career transition, many people think that they must stay within the same industry. Not true. Whether you are a teacher, a healthcare administrator or a bookkeeper for a small business, you may have many transferable skills for a public accounting career. Accounting firms are also looking for more nonaccounting majors to

Fridays off. No more 80-hour work weeks. Hybrid and remote positions, even for audit work. Artificial intelligence and automation. This is not your grandmother’s CPA and advisory firm. The public accounting industry used to be among the most prestigious careers, and it still is in many parts of the world. But long hours, advancing technology

Professional service firms are often different in their approach to promotions. This is certainly true in accounting career advancement. Most, but not all, CPA firms offer internships, and they will hire from the intern pool. However, some firms start with a pool of first-year staff who must complete training and performance requirements before they advance

When you are building a public accounting career, it may seem that the only two choices for technical specialization are tax or audit. However, there are many ways that you can add skills, gain certifications and advance your career. You may notice that other public accountants carry different credentials behind their names besides, or in

Among the top concerns of nonprofit boards is how to maintain resiliency through economic pressures. As an auditor, accounting or tax professional preparing a presentation for a nonprofit board, it is important to discuss financial narratives through the wider lens of resiliency. If the nonprofit is part of a highly regulated industry, this is another

As an accounting professional, you know that your skills and experience are valuable. But when it comes to negotiating your salary, it can be tough to know where to start. Do you ask for too much and risk losing the job or the promotion? Or do you ask for too little and leave money on

Public accountants play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of their clients’ financial reporting. However, they often face ethical dilemmas when confronted with conflicting interests or client requests that could compromise their professional integrity. Here are some ethical areas to bear in mind for your accounting career and why they are important

  When considering all the career options out there, accounting jobs can sometimes seem like they are all about managing money or helping the wealthy get wealthier. However, accounting is also about maintaining healthy balance sheets to support jobs as well as sustain funding for society’s most challenging social issues. In addition, proper accounting and

The accounting industry is experiencing advancements in digital automation and AI tools. These technologies are applied to increase efficiency, support proactive advisory guidance and improve data security. As you explore your career in accounting or the next stage of your accounting management opportunities, these technologies are already redefining and adapting job descriptions. The future for

When it comes to choosing a job, many people focus on the salary offered. But money isn’t everything! While salary is important, it’s not the only factor to consider. Understanding the total compensation package is crucial in making an informed decision about a job offer. This is especially true for tax accountant jobs and CPA