[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.

[Anonymous]

Any software program is only as good as people using it. Show me one small business owner who actually uses Quickbooks properly, or actually want to spend time to use it, or a small business owner who keeps their own books and does their own taxes. How about audits for public firms, or just accounting for large corporations, it can never be automated entirely. Kind of strange you don't see it this way. Robots do surgeries too, but they are guided by surgeons… Software makes our job easier but doesn't make it obsolete. Accounting can be a very lucrative profession (lucrative is in the eye of the beholder). It's sort of a strange post for a forum full of people trying to become a CPA.

[TommyTheCat]

anyatver – welcome to the world of Brickell posts.

[HoosierCPA]

Sure there are apps and software out there to automate accounting. I do think this is a real concern for entry level accountants, but I don't think it's going to totally eliminate the need for accountants. Using my experience there are a lot of subjective areas in accounting that I could never see a machine doing. I.e accruals, writing off bad debt, coding certain new items, budgeting is also extremely subjective. I agree items that are reoccurring you could automate no problem but unfortunately most businesses aren't that predictable.

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AUD - Aug 16

[Josh]

My thoughts are stay creative! And educated! According to office automation experts, automation is like a hidden threat; if your job seems too redundant, you may be in the position to be replaced by a “robot” (I use that term loosely.. ape, cyborg, macro, module, code, etc. or some new guy/girl?)

The beauty of the CPA is CPA's are seen as valuable because you're investing in yourselves! I hope to join you, and as Dr. Gleim says “have my cake and eat it too;” according to people who study the difference the CPA can make for an individual; CPA's make another million give or take?

The first million earned in a career is probably enough to get by? What would you do if instead of living check-to-check, you had a million dollar “nest egg”? I hope make a difference 🙂

[Author]

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