View the Profession from the Eyes of Young CPAs

Source: Florida CPA Today Interviews of young CPAs on their attitudes towards the profession will give you a unique and valuable perspective on the profession. Following are selected highlights.

• A 33-year-old audit manager in a small boutique firm likes the firm’s good morale, flexible hours, and well-defined goals for both firm and staff. He is most fulfilled by helping clients reach their goals. He sees a bright future as the profession increasingly embraces technology and globalization. Young people will have great opportunities because of the retirement of baby boomers.
• A 31-year-old senior audit manager with a Big 4 firm enjoys having a “mobile” office. He is rarely at his desk. He believes in working hard and playing hard. He likes the diversity of the firm. He likes having important executives listen to his advice. He finds mobility and license portability very important both in his work and because young professionals are always looking for better places to live. He believes the profession should be more involved in global accounting standards. Young people are always looking for new challenges, and employers can help by providing exposure to opportunities to work in the community and become leaders.
• A 25-year-old in assurance advisory services with a Big 4 firm really values the opportunity to keep learning. She likes having managerial and administrative responsibilities as well as serving clients. She also places great importance on flexibility. Team members help each other develop. She was grateful for the honesty displayed by firms that came to her campus to recruit.
• A 33-year-old specialist in valuation and forensic services with a local firm that merged with an outside regional firm loves the variety of types of engagements on which she works. Every engagement presents her with a new challenge. And as with almost everyone else, she values work/life balance.

From Florida CPA Today, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., P.O. Box 5437, Tallahassee, FL 32314, www.ficpa.org.

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