[JSPERBER]

Okay, so I’m 21 currently a senior in college and will be graduating next semester with my BA in accounting. I’m beginning to have some serious doubts about the career path that I’ve decided to take. I wanted read your opinions if whether these thoughts that I’m currently experiencing are normal, and if I should continue the path that I’m currently on.

My Story:

I’m currently an “Assistant controller” and work under the wing of my father who’s a (No I’m not; I’m a bookkeeper, but I use that title to make myself sound prestigious.). My father and I run the accounting department for a jewelry company. I’ve been and still am working for this company for about a year and half now, and I learned a lot about myself throughout the time working.

First off, I feel like I’m NOT “detailed oriented” like at all. How can I improve my attention to detail? Like if I’m NOT detail oriented, and I’ve been told that, is that a sign to look for a new career? Accountants need to be detail oriented.

Second, I don’t get much joy as I used compared to when I first started working from this particular job. Is this normal? Like will I experience this feeling from every accounting job? I’m starting to hate my job and I want to quit this summer, but I kind of hesitant because I don’t want to leave my father hanging.

Third, I don’t think passing the CPA is within my reach due to my limited learning abilities.

What do you guys think?

[JSPERBER]

just expressing and attempting to alleviate my anxiety.

[TheGuyCPA]

They will tell you accounting is a stable job. Sure it's stable, but it's only as stable as the person working behind it. However you're already a senior about to graduate, are you sure you want more debt by changing majors? You can always improve your skills.

FAR - 80
REG - 78
AUD - 88
BEC - 84

State of Illinois Licensed CPA as of September 2015

[Skynet]

If you want to pick up hot women, accounting is the way to go. Chicks dig those letters after your name ; )

[Thrawn]

The only way to know is to give it a try. Attention to detail is tough, but you just have to practice and make sure you do a thorough self review of your work, once you get some experience you will know what to look for and what sort of mistakes you make.

So my recommendation is, get a new accounting job, see what you think of it and then if you can't stand it try something new. Its easy to doubt yourself, your abilities etc. when you are not in the working world yet. You will know after about a year whether you can do the job effectively.

BEC 87 Feb 14
REG 84 Apr 14
FAR 82 Nov 14
AUD 86 Feb 15

[Anonymous]

JSPERBER,

don't torture yourself, I've seen a lot of people who work in acct because it's “stable”, they are not just miserable, they are also not very good at doing this job. Or maybe you are bored with simple stuff and ready to move to more complicated tasks?

[y_u_no_pass]

Accounting is still a good degree whatever you want to do. It opens doors. Go for it and if the field isn't for you I'm sure you can find business jobs you do enjoy. I struggle with attention to detail too, it comes in time if you work on it. And you just have to be vigilant. As my wall and Mad Eye Moody said “CONSTANT VIGILANCE!”

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[jaredo155]

A secret they don't tell you in college, is that a lot of jobs don't care what your degree was in as long as it is related. My degree was in Economics, my first job was doing taxes for a corporation, and I had never had a tax class in my life. My point being that Accounting is a very good field, and the classes you take for the degree will prepare you greatly for almost any job you might want to have in any business related field. I would say at this point go on and finish your degree, and then if you get out in the job market and don't like accounting, you can always try out other areas. With that being said, I would highly recommend at least trying to do an internship in accounting, to see if you like it in a setting other than your current one.

Also there is no job in existence that doesn't value having someone be “detail oriented”. If that is something you aren't good at, try forcing yourself to slow down when you are completing tasks, because you will need it even if you don't become an accountant.

AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[10keyLeah]

You sound normal to me. After you've worked a job for awhile, it can become ‘boring'. Push through it, or perhaps it's time to look for another accounting job that has more responsibilities.

I don't know your Father, but maybe consider talking to him about it. He may be willing to give you more responsibilities or new tasks to do.

The attention to detail thing will come with experience and maturity. As someone mentioned, double checking your work also helps.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[Anonymous]

“Second, I don't get much joy as I used compared to when I first started working from this particular job. Is this normal? Like will I experience this feeling from every accounting job? I'm starting to hate my job and I want to quit this summer, but I kind of hesitant because I don't want to leave my father hanging.”

Is this the first/only job you've ever had? This could just be a sign that you like the excitement of a new job and don't like a job after you get used to it, or could be that this job doesn't suit you as well (or that working for your dad doesn't suit you as well anymore). I wouldn't worry that the next accounting job will be the same – accounting jobs vary drastically due to the type of accounting, size of the company, specific coworkers, etc.

[Author]

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