[Anonymous]

There are apps and software that completely do everything. All the small firms have been getting gobbled up by the large firms because they know their efforts are futile. And now the big firms are losing credibility so why would anyone want to hire or even become an accountant?

And regardless of what you’ve learned in school, it is not even a stable or high paying career so that is not a valid response.

[Missy]

It's nasty to suggest the foundation of our entire society is what we make others believe, and the only way to avoid it is to avoid society?

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[sweazy]

“Just by the way this thread went, you can tell how nasty and artificial people are in the accounting field.”

project much?

BEC: 77
AUD: 67, 85, 87
FAR: 74, 74, 79
REG: ___

[Anonymous]

MLA please, what happened to not responding on my posts? All you do is contradict yourself and spew hypocrisy.

Also what you are referring to is not capitalism. That is corruption.

Guys it's not hard to see what's going on in the accounting industry. There are countless apps and software available to individuals and business owners that have put many accountants out of work.

Sure, maybe auditors are safe to an extent, but that isn't the only type of accountant is it?

[Anonymous]

Bureau of labor statistics show a -8% decrease in non-CPA related positions from 2014 through 2024.

That in my opinion is heavily on the conservative side considering the growing popularity of cloud computing and business owners having access to online tutorials and tax software to do it themselves.

[TommyTheCat]

oh look everyone, another post that @BrickellCPA created where he/she posts a question and then jumps all over any posters that reply and don't agree with his/her opinion. Brickell sure does seem like you have a sore spot for people getting ahead of you at your firm or past firms, you seem to have a very negative slant on the profession and “office politics” that you so often rant about.

Toughen up. Life isn't fair, sometimes people around you at your office get different treatment because some people in higher up positions like them more, have more in common with them, or see more potential in them. Sometimes that person getting the “special” treatment might be you sometimes it might be someone else. Don't be such a sourpus. It's not a good look around the office, and maybe that negative attitude is what leads to you being on the perceived short end of the stick at times?

[Anonymous]

Oh please, you guys here trying to bully me are exactly the type of accountants that are wrong with the industry. You have low moral standards and will do anything to keep your job and working for “the man”.

Here comes Tommy the cat with nothing to add to the discussion but trying to flex his imaginary muscles in support for his fellow cronies. That is called mob mentality. You all are a victim of weak psychological conditioning and that is exactly the type of people that get ahead in the accounting industry because they do what they're told and have no conscience.

There can be fraud or illegal acts happening right in front of your face and you will do anything to keep your job. They let people like you get ahead because they've got you by the balls and know you're too weak to get ahead on your own.

[Anonymous]

Troll. Stop trying to discourage people when the facts prove otherwise. You may have a few good points, but people are working really, really hard to pass these exams. According to the BLS, accounting jobs are growing at 11% (faster than average) from 2014-2024. And, those are “accounting” positions. CPA designation will be growing at a considerably higher rate!

[Anonymous]

Well I'm here to say I don't agree with those statistics. It's not even an independent entity. If this forum can't handle career related topics that aren't delivered through rose colored glasses, perhaps this section of the forum should be deleted.

[Anonymous]

^Perhaps you should stop trolling and listen to the Facts. You are not an independent expert and you have no creditbilty. According to the BLS and other agencies, accounting occupations have excellent growth potential. Firms are lining up to hire new grads from my State school. Stop trying to discourage people who are working their asses off to pass these exams.

I agree that technology has the potential to take away jobs from many industries and it does concern me. But, I believe technology will take away more basic accounting jobs such as filling out simple 1040's etc. Consulting positions may become in more demand and the CPA exam does provide a wealth of knowledge for real world application – IMO.

Goodluck to everyone trying to pass these exams. Don't listen to the Troll who has no facts, statistics, or credibility. Just saying

[TommyTheCat]

Brick, no on is bullying you stop playing the victim, just calling a spade a spade since you have a penchant for these very types of post, here is your format:

step 1 ask a question to the forum
step 2 wait for any posts and then jump in and tell them they are wrong
step 3 rant about office politics and how the industry sucks
step 4 label anyone who further disagrees with you as a bully or as having “low moral standards”

If you are going to ask for people's opinions please actually care about them. If you want to have a thread where you spew your opinions and beliefs and tell everyone else they are wrong please start a thread and call it as such so we don't waste our time reading it.

Some of us here are actually trying to get better tips or guidance on the exams and how to study for them.

[Anonymous]

You guys don't have the ability to discuss differing career-related opinions without ad hominem attacks or using any critical thought. What kind of evidence do you want? It's a discussion and if you are not willing to respectfully carry one or if your opinion is to the contrary, state that it's not what you believe and why then move on with your life. Having to attack people and derail the thread to justify yourselves just goes to show the low level of cognitive ability in the accounting industry. Use your brains.

[Anonymous]

Brickell,
You sound like you need a hug. Here's a hug.
My to be husband is a software engineer first, and a software developer next. Basically he can make his own stuff, break it or scrap it. I understand next to nothing of what he does, and almost gloss over and become comatose when he talks about work. (By the way, if money is the concern, it's in IT).
Week after week, I see him drive to work on Wednesdays (he works from home except Wednesdays) where he meets with… accountants. Then, he has to come home and ask me what the heck they are asking for. “This accountant wants a report that shows current month depreciation only” blah blah blah.
I think the day IT becomes dual degreed in accounting is the day alot of lay offs might happen. But an accountant would still have a job.
I doubt quickbooks is going to be able to jump through the screen and find a material misstatement and chest punch the account payables girl who wrote an on demand 25k check and debited cash and credited an account payable because shes half brain dead. ( that was a Vent, I seen this happen). It's just never going to happen where a program gets so smart it can detect mistakes, misstatements etc. There will always be morons doing data entry. And as long as I am getting paid, I'll always be glad to fix them. Accountants also do stuff outside of accounting programs but I'm sure you know that. You need real eyes to look at comparative statements , etc etc.
I don't work in public or ever wish to.

[studysled]

To Audarah's point…you need someone to write the software and apps. They don't write themselves.

[TommyTheCat]

you must be trolling Brick, you couldn't possibly be as dense as you are coming off. your posts crack me up.

Audarah you make some great points, I look forward to seeing how Brick finds some way to disagree with you or make some passive aggressive comment about your post. Watch now that I said that he/she will feel inclined to reply and agree with you, thus negating all of his/her previous babbling.

[Anonymous]

Ok but listen, sure there will be a need for CPAs and accountants, no doubt. Perhaps I should have rephrased the question a bit.

Now I am on a computer and not on my phone so I will take a second to enlighten everyone with all the accounting software that has been replacing thousands of jobs.

Quickbooks
Zipbooks
Turbotax
Xero
Bullet
Zoho
Sage
Netsuite
Freshbooks
Wave

Do I even need to go on?

I don't need a hug (thanks though) and this isn't some sort of scare tactics. I'm simply stating the obvious that all this software has the ability to wipe out an increasing number of jobs over the next several years, which it already has been over the course of the past several years as well.

Evidence? Many small firms have gone out of business. All the top level mergers and larger firms buying out the smaller ones. Employees getting hired for the busy season then fired for no reason other than the firm doesn't have enough work to go around (there has been many threads on this).

The point is that if you are not a CPA, you are going to have a hard time in the future. Even if you are a CPA, that isn't going to necessarily save you either. In school and all the firms will tell you it's such a stable and promising profession, well, it's far from the truth. It can be a very cutthroat and Machiavellian sort of industry.

More evidence? Just go on glassdoor.com and read up on all the reviews for various employers. You'll read things about harassment, poor management, office politics, favoritism, fraud and illegal acts, etc. Read up on the latest news about KPMG and PWC as well. The corruption is pervasive in the industry, don't let anyone else like MLA tell you otherwise and preach that it's all flowers and sunshine. Eventually once you get a few years in, you will eventually come across all the wolves and snakes in sheep's clothing. And chances are unless you are with a very good firm, you will have to become one as well in order to get ahead.

[Author]

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