Career Investigation Essay

My preferrred profession is in accounting. I’ve decided that this discipline is finest fitted to me by way of profession evaluation assessments, studying kinds assessments and by truly working on this discipline for a number of years. I’ve been excited by accounting since taking my first accounting class in highschool. It was then that I discovered that not solely was I good at bookkeeping but additionally loved it. From my Studying Model Graph (Toft, 2006) I found that I equally mirror two studying kinds: “Why? mode” and “What if? mode.

” My knack for understanding folks and talent to acknowledge issues are strengths I posses within the “Why? mode.” On the opposite facet of the graph my drive to get issues accomplished and my management capabilities are each examples of the “What if mode.”

This coincides with the outcomes of my VAK evaluation (Chislett & Chapman, 2006) that reveals I choose to be taught by truly doing moderately than by seeing. Each studying kinds are advantageous within the accounting discipline as a result of drawback fixing is prime to balancing spreadsheets.

I ascertained from the Jung Sort Persona Check (Human Metrics, , 2005) that my character kind was ENFP. This check confirms that I’m apt at multitasking and have plentiful folks expertise. This once more could be very helpful in all facets of an accounting profession. Whereas my previous expertise as a waitress and different meals service positions might not be straight associated to accounting, it taught me many transferable expertise. A few of these are multitasking, listening and prioritizing.

I additionally developed different transferable expertise vital within the accounting discipline whereas working as an evening auditor. Not solely did I be taught precise hands-on accounting, but additionally cultivated my problem-solving expertise. It was my accountability to seek out any accounting errors and proper them every evening. I loved this a part of my job a lot, on sluggish nights I might hope that somebody on a earlier shift made a mistake simply so I might discover and proper it.

Ultimately, my supervisor started coming to me to troubleshoot errors for her. I really feel a job as a Licensed Public Accountant can be an ideal profession selection for me as a result of it might make the most of lots of my transferable expertise. I might additionally draw on expertise already gained as a bookkeeper, retail workplace supervisor, and presently as an accounting assistant. My work ethic of staying till the job is completed together with my enjoyment in troubleshooting can be an incredible asset as a CPA as effectively. Profession Profile

The roles obtainable to me at my present degree of schooling and expertise are restricted to the information entry and bookkeeping facets of accounting. My expertise to this point has taken me about so far as I can get on this discipline of accounting. Now, I need to earn a level to advance any additional. Nevertheless, as soon as I earn my bachelor’s diploma in accounting and acquire my required Licensed Public Accountant license, many extra job alternatives can be obtainable to me. A few of these jobs would come with Inner Auditor, Controller, and Administration Accountant or, with sufficient expertise, even a Vice President of Finance. Lots is relying on the scale of the corporate I work for and the realm of accounting I select. At this level my purpose is to work for a bigger public accounting agency to accumulate expertise in lots of facets of public accounting. I’m significantly excited by forensic accounting and inner auditing.

Whereas working for a public accounting agency as a CPA I might earn from $34,000 to $95,000 per yr in keeping with the U.S. Division of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008). However, contemplating my schooling degree and my expertise I might in all probability earn extra within the mid vary of $43,500 upwards to $72,000. My duties can be depending on the precise place I maintain however might embrace tax preparation, consulting, auditing, verification of consumer firm’s information and even getting ready monetary statements for purchasers.

In an entry degree place at a public accounting agency the ability set I’ve already acquired can be very helpful. My expertise in bookkeeping as an accounting assistant at current will assist put together me for the information entry assignments normally related to entry degree positions. As my place progresses throughout the agency, I can be relying extra on the data I be taught whereas incomes my diploma.

One of many benefits to being a CPA inside a big agency is that you’ve got the chance to work in lots of areas of accounting for a lot of diversified firm purchasers. This can give me a multifaceted expertise degree not simply obtained whereas working independently or for a smaller agency. I hope to have the chance to do some forensic accounting work the place I might show suspected embezzlement inside a consumer’s firm (S. Westfield, private interview, August 1, 2008).

A number of the most prevalent disadvantages to an occupation on this discipline are the hours vital. As a CPA with a big accounting agency I might anticipate a typical work week of 40 to 50 hours. However, throughout the tax season, January by way of April, it might be as many as 70 hours per week (S. Westfield, private interview, August 1, 2008). Since I’ve already been employed throughout the accounting business for a while now, my household and I are used to the lengthy hours and fluctuation throughout busy instances.

I’m contemplating looking for employment alternatives at a number of native firms. One such firm is predicated in Ionia, Michigan with a satellite tv for pc workplace in Ada, Michigan. Each of those workplaces are inside ten miles of my house. This can be a smaller agency however I’ve labored for considered one of their purchasers previously and have had the chance to get to know and work with a number of members of their employees. One other potential employer is Plante Moran. This can be a a lot bigger agency with workplaces in Western Michigan as effectively. “Plante Moran was named to Fortune Journal’s listing of ‘100 Greatest firms to work for’ for the tenth consecutive yr” (Plante Moran, 2008). Lastly, I’m contemplating development throughout the firm I’m presently working for, The Hanover Group. They’ve workplaces all around the nation with main focus in Howell, Michigan in addition to my present location in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Schooling Plan

Programs Required I plan to take solely two programs per semester for the next yr due to private circumstances. I feel that is the perfect plan of action to steadiness my schooling with different facets of my life presently. If the chance arises the place it’s not completely vital for me to work full time, I want to tackle extra of a course load. Till that occurs, I’m content material to take my time in order to make sure a cheerful steadiness with my household, profession and research.

The programs I feel can be tougher and fewer inspiring for me are the arithmetic and composition courses. It could appear humorous that an individual so excited by accounting would shrink back from math courses, however I’ve by no means had the chance to review algebra. I do know that if I’ve bother with my math programs there’s free tutoring obtainable by way of the Library Info Commons on campus. I’m additionally anxious concerning the composition programs for a lot of the identical causes. I’ve by no means needed to do a time period paper. I’ve at all times had bother getting the primary draft down on paper, however do effectively at proof studying and modifying. I feel I’ve began to beat this hang-up by composing on the pc. I can kind and proper a lot quicker than I can write. I’m now capable of get my ideas down on paper earlier than they flutter away. Plus, modifying is now a breeze. Davenport DUES

All the Davenport College DUES expertise are necessary to all careers. Within the accounting fields, particularly, honesty and integrity are important. In case you are advising a consumer on monetary issues, you should be above reproach. You have to additionally be capable of suppose globally as a result of seldom are monetary issues only a native concern. Teamwork can be one other necessary ability for an accountant, even when self-employed. Your consumer and also you make up a crew and if you can’t work collectively together with your consumer, you will be unable to maintain that consumer. On this rising technological world, the accounting business is conserving tempo. Immediately most accounting is completed by way of computer systems and being educated of the present accounting software program is crucial. Academic Objectives past Faculty

After acquiring my Associates diploma in Accounting, I plan to work on my bachelor’s diploma after which turn into a licensed CPA. I’ve discovered that to turn into a licensed CPA in Michigan I might want to efficiently full a 4 half Accountants examination administered by the Nationwide Affiliation of State Board of Accountancy (CPA examination dates, 2008) in addition to meet sure licensing necessities. The necessities to use for the CPA examination are simply half of what’s required to acquire a CPA license. I can even want work expertise of at the least one yr in a “accountable audit place” for a “CPA agency or a governmental company underneath route of a licensed CPA,” (Michigan Division of Financial Development, 2008, para three). Conclusion

I’ve realized many issues throughout this venture, most of which got here from the analysis I did on the varied profession decisions obtainable in accounting. After talking with an expert on this discipline, (S Westfield, private communication, July, 2008), I’ve now determined that I aspire to be a Licensed Public Accountant. Whereas researching the necessities to be licensed as a CPA in Michigan, I discovered that they’re extra concerned and time consuming than I had first imagined.

This profession purpose would require extra time than initially anticipated however, has the potential to be much more financially rewarding that I first thought. I stay up for seeing this profession dream turn into a actuality. I additionally realized from the required profession and studying assessments that I’ve, actually, chosen the proper profession path for me. My recognized transferable expertise, a few of that are drawback fixing and organizing, can be very helpful in my chosen profession purpose of changing into a CPA. This venture has additionally helped me see a number of the areas I want to enhance resembling in be aware taking and creating enhanced reminiscence expertise. Mission Assertion

My mission is to completely make the most of my many transferable expertise, earlier work experiences in addition to my present and future schooling to turn into a self-employed Licensed Public Accountant. By attaining my short-term purpose of incomes my bachelor’s diploma in accounting, I’ll have completed the primary half of the necessities vital. My mid-range purpose is to turn into licensed as a CPA. Lastly, with the expertise attained whereas changing into licensed, I’ll set up my very own small CPA agency. I do know that by making use of myself and staying centered I can attain this purpose earlier than I retire.