Articles for Students

As young professionals first enter the world of public accounting, some may see the profession as merely a 9-to-5 job that provides a paycheck and benefits. However, public accounting is much more — the opportunity to become an expert and leader in the field and provide excellent client service.

At its Nov. 8, 2024, meeting, the VSCPA Board of Directors approved revisions to its standing position statement on practice mobility and licensure:
 
 The Society endorses automatic practice mobility for out-of-state CPAs with licenses in...

Tiandra's career goals are as ambitious as they are inspiring. Set on becoming a CPA, she is motivated by the knowledge that accounting offers endless opportunities to make a difference.

While networking is commonly viewed as an uncomfortable task or activity, it’s time for professionals to get comfortable with stepping outside of their comfort zones. With repeated practice and intentional efforts, professionals can become better networkers and establish increasingly valuable business relationships.

You’ve gotten your first job, and you’re ready to take your career up a notch. But how do you build your résumé to reflect your abilities and also your strengths? What will set you apart? Emphasize your leadership experience to snag the position of your dreams, cover your basics, show your influence and more.

One of the perks of a career as a CPA is that it doesn’t have to be traditional. In fact, CPAs can hold many unexpected roles across diverse industries. If you’re wondering what some of your options are outside of working at a firm or in...

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) will launch an innovative post-graduate program this fall in collaboration with the Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA). The program blends rigorous online learning with on-the-job professional experience for college accounting graduates, offering a less costly and more flexible way to complete the 150-hour course credit requirement to become a licensed CPA.

By Michael Kenny, CPA, Withum 
 
 So, you’ve decided to take the CPA Exam to further your accounting career — congratulations! Although the Exam is challenging to prepare for, the benefits of becoming a CPA are immeasurable to one’s career...

By Thomas J. Kleinhans, CPA, Centri Business Consulting LLC  
 
 A lot of asset blood, liability sweat and equity tears are shed during every professional’s CPA Exam journey. No journey is the same, but every person is trying to reach the...

By Daniel Kochka, CPA, CFE, MBA, HBK CPAs & Consultants  
 
 As business professionals in an increasingly competitive field, the role of the CPA is ever expanding. Networking might be neither a traditional nor instinctual skill, but it is...

The AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) are working together to develop an integrated education and experience program for students who need a path to the 150 credit hours required for CPA licensure. The Experience, Learn and Earn program (ELE) will combine meaningful online study integrated with early work experience.

For nearly the past two decades, prospective CPAs in Virginia have had to undertake 150 hours of education before becoming licensed. But a declining CPA pipeline has accountants asking: Is the 150 now a barrier to becoming a CPA? Is it time to reimagine how we prepare CPAs for an increasingly evolving profession?

Entry-level staff will be well served by building their Excel toolkit early. The list below is largely gleaned from my experience working for a Big 4 tax firm in a quantitative consulting practice.

When I started working as an accountant with the City of Virginia Beach, I never imagined I would get to ride along with Fire and Rescue. That’s the thing about being a governmental accountant — you never know where the day is going to take you. Bridging the knowledge gap between accounting and operations is the key to successful governmental accounting.

Data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual workspaces, remote learning … The professional life of a CPA is a far cry from the physical general ledgers of the past. The skills and competencies CPAs need today today to continue to provide high-level services to their companies and clients are rapidly changing.

The post-graduate summer is a limited window of time to maximize efficient, effective CPA preparation. The momentum to study can dissipate as candidates start to work full time and their plates fill up with on-the-job deliverables. Passing the CPA Exam as soon as possible after graduation should be a core aim for an accounting graduate.

These seven tips should improve your chances of finding your next great career opportunity and hopefully, as a welcome side effect, take away some of the stress. 

The CPA of the future embodies the skills needed for financial planning and analysis (FP&A). FP&A is a relatively new title, but it has begun working its way down from only the largest, most robust finance organizations to more moderately sized companies.

A new book, Advice for a Successful Career in the Accounting Profession: How to Make Your Assets Greatly Exceed Your Liabilities, published by Wiley, sheds light on how to be successful at all levels within an accounting career — something that’s not readily discussed in the classroom.

New accountants deciding between public accounting and private industry for their first jobs shouldn’t believe these accounting profession rumors. For example, joining any firm, small or large, does not mean your individual personality and interests must be left at home.

The CPA credential carries immense weight in the eyes of the public. So it’s no surprise that those who have done what it takes to become a CPA — and those who work with them every day — place a high value on getting the credential.

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license matters. The proof presents itself every day in the ethical, informed and trustworthy work CPAs do. Through their invaluable work, licensed CPAs bring confidence, experience, accuracy and honesty to an, often, uncertain financial world.