How to Understand the Lifestyle of an Accountant
An accountant's lifestyle will be affected by the type of work--whether in the controller's department, as an internal auditor, as an independent auditor in a large firm, or self-employed in a private practice. Factors that vary include the amount of travel, the number of hours and the seasonality of the work. Another factor, as in any other occupation or profession, is the level of income an accountant earns.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
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Read Internet Articles
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Look up "What's the Real World of Accounting Like?" on the Black Collegian Online Web site for good general information, and some direct insights based on the author's first-hand experience in different positions and companies.
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Read about "A Day in the Life: Auditor Intern (Big Four Firm)" and "A Day in the Life: Tax Staff Professional (Big Four Firm)" on The Vault Web site.
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Browse the Web site StartHereGoPlaces for information on career options and what it's like being a CPA.
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Visit the "Young CPA Network" section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Web site.
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Read "A Day in the Life" under the Career Profile for Accountant/Auditor on the Princeton Review Web site.
Talk to Different Accountants
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If you know accountants where you work, or have the chance to meet them, have an informal conversation over lunch or at a company social event, and ask them about their lifestyle.
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Talk to different types of accountants when they visit your company, like someone who works in the company's controller's department, an internal auditor, and an independent auditor. Compare their stories.
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Ask them what a normal working day is like.
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Talk to them about their general workload during different times of the year.
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See if they can tell you about how much they travel, and what life is like for them while working away from home.
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Engage in some conversation about their career paths--how they got started, what got them interested in a certain field of accounting, and how they arrived at where they are today.
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If you, your family, or friends contract the services of a CPA in a private practice, see if you could arrange an informal get-together to talk about lifestyle
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Be willing to share your own experiences and talk about your own lifestyle.
Obtain Information on Earning Potential
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Browse the general earnings information by occupation on the Web site of the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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Request the free Salary Guide offered in the Career Center-Free Resources section of the Robert Half Finance & Accounting Web site.
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See the Salary Survey in the CareerBank Web site.
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Use the Salary Guide feature on the Creative Financial Staffing Web site to look up salary ranges by job title and location.
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Tips & Warnings
Informal, direct conversations will probably give you the most insights on what an accountant's lifestyle is like.
Do your own research regarding earning potential.
