January 2000

Why I Want to Be a Certified Public Accountant

There are so many options open to young people today to start a fulfilling career. However, few offer the rewards, opportunities, and challenges that the field of accounting brings on a regular basis.
The truth is, I do not think people know what they want to become when they are only 17 years old, yet that is when we are expected to decide. I, as most teenagers, was not ready to decide at first, so I left a few options open. I took an accounting class in high school and did well. It was interesting to me, and I really enjoyed it. To me, it was more than debits and credits or journal entries. I liked the way it worked. It was more than adding and subtracting. Everything had a method; it was logical and made sense. It seems I just fell into something that I really enjoy doing. Doing well in that class made me wonder about my future, so I began to look into accounting more seriously.

The flexibility of the field is what first attracted me to it. I knew that once I finished college, I would be a professional, not just a college graduate. I would be a certified public accountant. Even if I did not do it for the rest of my life, it was a great place to start because of the options available to someone with a financial background. Big Five firms, medium firms, small firms, public verses private accounting, consulting, full-time work, part-time work--the list of options is endless. I could work for myself or for someone else. I could even decide to step away from being an accountant and just use that knowledge to propel me in a different business direction.

Becoming a CPA was an especially good idea since I am a female. Women are well regarded in this profession. As society is changing, the needs of families are changing, and not all women can afford to stay at home with their children. However, having a family should not compete with having a career, or vice versa. The majority of firms offer flexible working arrangements or even in-house childcare and the opportunity to work from home offices. This way women can maintain a career and still take care of family responsibilities.

The educational requirement also attracted me to the idea of becoming an accountant because I did not want to spend the next 10 years in school before I actually got a degree. The college curriculum was a challenge and required a lot of hard work on my part. Preparing for the CPA exam itself is enough to make anyone pull out his or her hair. The benefits, however, far outweigh the detriments or sacrifices made along the way. Throughout my college years, I have worked hard and spent long hours studying. In return I have learned a great deal and have had a gratifying college experience.

There are substantial financial rewards for accountants. I was concerned about being able to establish a standard of living and providing for myself, assuming that perhaps I would have to take care of myself or a family. Becoming an accountant would enable me to do so. Accounting provides secure income at a good level for both young and older professionals.

Accountants have a good reputation in society and in business. They have credibility. When an accountant tells you something, you believe it. There are other benefits to becoming an accountant, such as the strong sense of camaraderie one can experience by being involved in any of various professional organizations, including the AICPA and the NYSSCPA. The benefits and friendships made within these associations are long-lasting and meaningful both personally and professionally.

I have not regretted for one second the decision I made to enter this exciting field. By meeting accountants and speaking to them, I have a good idea of what it will be to work in this profession. The experience of meeting so many interesting, intelligent, and talented people has been rewarding. These are the people I want to make my colleagues. I look forward to becoming such a trusted professional and will do all I can to uphold the reputation that CPAs have developed. Not a day goes by that I don't learn or experience something new and challenging that sharpens my skills. Becoming an accountant to me isn't just a job, it's becoming a certain kind of person--the kind of person I want to be.

Laurie Di Russo is an accounting major at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

By Christian Grullon

When I was asked to write this article I accepted without any hesitation. I knew what I would write about because becoming an accountant had long been a dream of my mother's and mine. That was until I found out that there is something even more prestigious in the accounting profession--a certified public accountant.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic was an obstacle that I had to overcome early in life. My parents left us behind seeking the American dream of a better life for their family, so at a very young age my three brothers and I had to move with our grandparents to the countryside. There my two older brothers and I learned to be farmers while also attending school. We had to wake up at four o'clock in the morning to start our daily routine, which included rounding up the animals, checking the crops, and milking the cows.
As a young boy I was always told that I was going to be very successful because I dedicated myself completely to what I was doing and because of the way I always presented myself. At the time I did not like these compliments because they drove my brothers, whom I loved and admired, away from me. This made me feel unwanted by my brothers, but I have always taken anything negative in my life and used it to motivate me to become a better person.
After working the farms I was sent to the capitol, Santo Domingo, to proceed with my academic studies. My godfather, an accountant, took me into his home; I lived there for about a year before I came to the United States to be reunited with my parents.
My godfather would take me to his office for my lunch period. There I noticed that an accountant is a well respected and trusted individual. My godfather always told me that if I wanted to be respected, trusted, and admired by people I must put their interests before my own. He also emphasized that I should treat people the way I wanted people to treat me. When I was scheduled to come to New York he pulled me aside and told me that he knew I wouldn't let him or my parents down, that I was going to be a well respected and honorable man.
The major obstacle that motivated me to aggressively pursue my dreams was the lifestyle my family led after the separation of my parents. After my father left our home my brothers and I found ourselves working nights while attending school during the day in order to help our mother keep a roof over our heads. I always assured my mom that we would take care of her, that these hard times would soon be over. This period of having to work until midnight to arrive home and study until three o'clock in the morning at the age of fifteen served to ignite my pursuit of a career as an accountant.
I started taking accounting courses in high school, and as I gained more knowledge of the field I developed even more interest in it. One of my high school instructors told me that accounting was a great profession to pursue, but to keep my options open because I was still a young boy. I listened to him, but I still wanted to be an accountant.
After a couple of courses in college and becoming involved in accounting-related activities, I knew becoming a certified public accountant would not only better my family's economic circumstances but would help me make a positive contribution to society. Getting involved in practice with a part-time job, volunteering to do tax returns in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and participating in numerous school activities, such as serving as president of the accounting society, helped me gain a more comprehensive understanding of the different disciplines the profession has to offer. From a practical aspect one can pursue a career in the public, private, government, or not-for profit sectors--not to mention that the profession continues to evolve and expand.
Being a CPA means you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a trusted business advisor to all segments of society. For example, CPAs serve as a link between investors and businesses. Investors want to invest, but they need someone of high integrity to provide them with information to determine whether an investment is appropriate or not. This is where the CPA comes into the picture.
As NYSSCPA Executive Director Louis Grumet said at the Society's recent Nassau Chapter student night, "Certified public accountants tell the truth." Grumet also touched upon one point that I have always lived by--helping others. He said that, unlike a CPA, a lawyer would help you even if you were at fault. A CPA will help you tell the truth, because it is the correct and proper thing for you to do.
Becoming a CPA will lead me to be an appreciated and respected professional--someone of whom my mother, brothers, and godfather will be very proud. *

Christian Grullon is an accounting major at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.