Early exposure to accounting could make all the difference

New data released from Miami University reveals that students often set their perceptions of the accounting profession before college. Large barriers include perceptions of the field as uninteresting or boring, and that an accounting career requires longer hours than other business careers. Some also believe an accounting degree is harder to earn than other business majors. On the positive side, students generally agree accounting has ample employment opportunities, is intellectually challenging, and the career leads to a high lifetime earning potential. 

Additionally, the Center for Audit Quality’s July 2023 report, Increasing Diversity in the Professional Pipeline, says: “Interest in accounting is most likely sparked before a student enters high school and peaks by the end of high school. Increasing opportunities for diverse groups of students to gain exposure to accounting prior to college will help not only in increasing diversity across the accounting talent pipeline but also in increasing the number of accounting majors overall.” 

Understanding student views and opinions can inform the profession on where to focus initiatives encouraging accounting careers. To reach high schoolers before they make college decisions, CPAs can speak at high schools through our CPAs in the Classroom program (vscpa.com/CPAsintheClassroom). Employers can implement high school internships or learning programs. High school accounting teachers can guide students to accounting careers, and college accounting faculty must actively engage students during early career selection.