Whether you're thinking about changing careers or you're trying to decide what path to take after leaving education, accountancy is sure to be a rewarding choice. It might not sound as exciting as some other fields do, but there are a lot of benefits to becoming an accountant, especially in today's ever-developing modern world. It doesn't matter what stage of your journey you're at right now, the following list of reasons will help you to decide whether you should go ahead and take your next steps.
Varied Role
Being an accountant can be a surprisingly varied job and isn't all about spreadsheets and calculations. Depending on the role you take, you could be working with payroll software for small businesses or giving corporation leaders advice on their cash flow issues. You don't even need to stick with one or the other as, throughout your career, you could be working for a wide range of companies with different needs.
Opportunities for flexibility
Your duties as an accountant can be performed just about anywhere, so there's no need to stay stuck in an office if that's not where you work best. Plenty of companies are now offering flexible working contracts to their accountants, allowing them to work remotely at least some of the time. Alternatively, you could even consider pursuing a freelance career once you feel confident enough in your skills. This would allow you to choose your own hours and working location as well as giving you complete freedom over the niche you decide to specialise in.
Accountancy is changing
There was once a time when accountancy focussed on crunching numbers and little else, but that's all changing with the development of more sophisticated software. There are so many computer programmes that now automate tax calculations that accountants aren't having to do as much maths as before. This frees them up to use their time for more important decision making. Accountants are now acting increasingly in an advisory capacity, analysing data and helping business owners to manage their finances to make investments in the best possible way.
Job security
Accountants are almost always going to be in demand. Even when business isn't going so well, an accountant's job is secure until the last possible moment because every company needs someone to help them manage their money. You'll be able to choose to work in-house or for an agency, giving you even more options when looking for a job.
No need for a degree
While you can study accountancy at university, there isn't any need to. All you need to become an accountant is to take any relevant exams, making it a highly accessible field no matter your educational background. It's this that makes accountancy popular amongst those looking to change their career later in life, because it really doesn't matter what field or industry you worked in before.
If you think accountancy could be the right career for you, don't wait to make a change. Take the plunge today.
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