10 Accounting Pros and Cons to Consider—Before You Make it Your Major

Like any career, an accounting career has its pros and cons.

If you think you may be interested in the career path, you've probably thought about the big picture: you're good with numbers, you want a salaried job with benefits, and you're looking for long-term career stability. But have you dug deeper to think about what your typical day-to-day might look like as an accountant?

We've put together a list of accounting pros and cons to help you determine how the career might fit with your personality, working style and life priorities. Take a look and see if it can help steer you in the right direction. Still wondering "what is accounting?" read more in our other article here. 

Pros of an accounting career

There’s a lot to love about a career in accounting. Learn more about a few of the perks you can expect by pursuing this profession.

1. There is a clear career path

If you’re studying accounting, you’re learning well-defined practical skills employers need for a specific set of roles. This gives you a much clearer career path compared to someone who chooses to study English or philosophy, where the potential career paths are more open-ended.

“I’m a very analytical person, and I’ve found that I love having a step-by-step process to follow,” says Angela Christian, a financial controller at Burkland. “Accounting is a perfect field for people who value having a clear guidebook for professional growth.”

If you choose to pursue an accounting degree, you’ll have a pretty solid idea of where your career will take you. Though there are different types of accountants in the field, your skills and job responsibilities will be generally the same—meaning you’ll know what you’re signing up for.

2. It’s a stable and growing job field

"Nothing is certain except death and taxes." The saying is more than just an old quote from Benjamin Franklin, it's a testament to how much taxes are built into the foundation of life in America. By extension, accountants play a pretty important role.

Our point? The accounting profession isn't going away anytime soon. Virtually every business needs an accountant or the services of an external accounting firm, and even the average person has reasons to hire an accountant from time to time. As long as businesses exist and people need help with taxes, there will be a need for accountants.

3. You can work where you want to work

In some fields, you may need to uproot your life and move to an industry hub to have a chance to find work. That's not necessarily the case with accounting jobs.

While opportunities do naturally tend to concentrate in large population centers, there’s still a need for accounting professionals elsewhere. From farmers to government organizations to software development companies, seemingly everyone could use accounting services. This gives accountants a fair amount of flexibility when it comes to choosing where they want to settle down—especially as they continue to gain experience.

“Every type of business needs accountants, and so you can find your way to working in any industry or type of company that you want,” says Nate Hansen, a CPA and founder at SuperfastCPA.

4. There are opportunities to help others

While accounting might not be the first profession that springs to mind for people who find fulfillment in helping others, the role still has moments that can bring you that satisfaction.

“I really enjoy helping people and businesses better understand their taxes, how they are calculated, what factors impact them and the ways in which tax efficiencies can be optimized,” says Josh Leyenhorst, CPA and advisor at BasePoint Accounting and Finance.

Helping individuals and businesses get a better handle on their finances so they can confidently navigate their next steps is a nice feeling. After all, who doesn’t like to be a trusted expert?

5. There is entrepreneurial potential

The dream of being your own boss is alive and well in the accounting profession. If you have some of that entrepreneurial spirit, starting an accounting firm could be a great way to grow your career.

“Many accountants eventually open their own firm or even their own business unrelated to accounting,” says Hansen. “Working as an accountant, you will become intimately familiar with the inner workings of running a business, so it’s a huge advantage if you ever decide to start a side hustle or your own business.”

Of course, not everyone wants to be their own boss. But if that aligns with your career goals, it can be a major upside of an accounting career.

Cons of an accounting career

Just like any industry, working in accounting may have its drawbacks. Here are some of the less appealing parts of an accounting career. Hopefully, seeing where you land can help you decide whether it’s the right fit.

1. The potential demands of ongoing education

While completing an accounting program will establish a solid career foundation, the field isn’t frozen in time.¹ The laws and regulations that influence your work as an accountant are subject to change, and because of that, you'll likely need more than a bachelor's degree and an accounting degree to keep pace.

To be successful in your career, you’ll need to plan on incorporating some form of continuing or higher education to keep up with these changes. Many accountants choose to pursue professional credentials like the Certified Professional Accountant (CPA),² Certified Management Accountant (CMA^®) and Chartered Financial Accountant (CFA^®). Obtaining these additional certifications takes a significant amount of time and effort, and maintaining them may include meeting additional continuing education requirements.

2. The work can seem dull

Accounting isn’t usually seen as a glamorous field.

“Let’s be honest, it can be boring,” says Hansen. “There will definitely be times where you’re doing tedious or mindless number crunching in Excel®, but there is also a lot of problem solving and evaluation involved, which can be stimulating and interesting.”

Learning more about what accountants do on a daily basis can help you determine whether or not the work appeals to you. Check out “What Do Accountants Do? A Look at Life Behind the Ledger” for some additional perspective.

3. There is a busy season

Accounting is typically a standard 9-to-5 job, except for certain times of the year with impending deadlines. The most notable deadline is April 15 for tax accountants. For most tax accountants, busy season starts after New Year’s Day right up to April 15.

Leyenhorst describes these times as “a surge of deliverables” which is further complicated by clients who tend to provide information at the last minute.

“While these dynamics can lead to stress and challenges, there are steps that can mitigate this, such as setting target dates for clients to submit what is needed and equipping them with helpful tools, such as checklists, to ensure you receive everything that is needed to do the work,” says Leyenhorst.

During the busy season, long days and weekend work become the norm as accountants work to get their clients’ finances in order. But the plus side is that things slow down significantly after that period. In this sense, accounting careers offer some variety in the yearly schedule.

4. The work can be stressful

When you’re responsible for an organization’s finances, there is bound to be some pressure. But that pressure and stress can have an impact on your overall mental health, and that deserves some additional consideration.

Stress levels have a lot to do with where an accountant works and the specifics of their role, but it also depends a lot on their personality and natural tendencies.

Try to honestly assess your attitude toward pressure and heavy workloads. If you don’t stress easily or don’t mind being a little high-strung, working as an accountant might suit you. If you know you’re easily frazzled, it’s possible that an accounting career won't be the best fit.

So, is accounting a good career choice for you?

Do the pros outweigh the cons? Now that you’ve got a better grasp of a few accounting pros and cons, you can decide for yourself.

If accounting sounds like a pretty good option, you need some logistics figured out next. How much is tuition for an accounting program? Should you get an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree? How long do the programs take, and what would the courses be like?

Get the answers at  Rasmussen's Accounting Program page. If you have specific questions about your situation, fill out a form to request information. An admissions representative will contact you and can answer any questions you have.

Related Articles:

• What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Accountant

Certified Management Accountant is a registered trademark of Institute of Certified Management Accountants AKA Institute of Certified Management Accountants CORPORATION
CFA is a registered trademark of CFA INSTITUTE NON-STOCK CORPORATION
Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

¹ Rasmussen University's accounting programs is not designed to prepare graduates for any state-issued professional license or certification. This program does not meet all educational prerequisites for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any state. Each state determines its own requirements, most states require a bachelor's degree and no fewer than 225 quarter credits (150 semester credits) of university coursework, specific in-field experience and passage of the CPA licensing exam. Additional examination eligibility and licensure requirements exist. Please consult your state's board of accountancy or equivalent oversight agency for further details, as requirements may change at any time. This program has not been approved by any state board of accountancy or other professional licensing agency.
² Rasmussen University's Accounting Certificate, Accounting Associate's degree, and Accounting Bachelor's degree do not meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any state

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally written by Carrie Mesrobian and published in July 2014. It has since been updated to 2023.