Accountants are saddled with the responsibilities of accurate processing and reporting of a company's financial information, and mistakes can incur penalties, or worse. The job usually involve long, stressful hours, and sitting at a desk all day isn't particularly good for your health. But the good news is that the attention to detail and lifestyle changes can help minimize the risks.

EDUCATION
Although bachelor's degree in accounting is a minimum requirement for the job of an accountant. While it's possible to obtain employment without one, by combining some college work and experience, your opportunities for advancement and higher pay will be greatly limited. Even a bachelor's degree can't guarantee you a good position. Some employers will prefer to hire a master's degree holder; if you have one, your advancement opportunities will be on a rise.

PENALTIES
The suspension or revocation of CPA's license can occur as a result of criminal activity or a violation of ethics in some cases. Licenses to operate are issued by a state board of accountancy, which typically has the power to investigate complaints and discipline CPAs. This may differ from on country to another. In Nigeria, ICAN has the power to revoke the licence of its members. The Securities and Exchange Commission also have the power to ban CPAs from working for businesses registered with the SEC, but only state boards can fully revoke a license to practice.

STRESS
Some accountants are usually classified as exempt employees, so they don't qualify for pay on overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It can also mean that they aren't compensated even if they work for long hours at the office during tax season, or closing the books at month end and the end of the fiscal year. Audit deadlines and the potential penalties as a result of inaccurate reporting can cause stress to the accountant. Because accounting departments is not revenue generating, Downsizing often occur in economic downturns, leading to overwork and doubts over the future of remaining staff.

HEALTH
Accounting isn't an active career. Majority of it is spent sitting at a desk in the office, which has effects on health. Some researchers at Loughborough University and their counterpart at University of Leicester, England found in a 2011 study that long periods of sedentary behavior led to an increased risk of developing diabetes and sometimes heart problems which can lead to health issues, including death from a cardiovascular event. They found out that sitting all day in a place might not be the primary cause of the increased risk, but the evidence is compelling enough to recommend increased movement and regular exercise for desk workers.

PAY AND OUTLOOK
While the average annual wage for accountants was $70,130 in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the bottom 10 percent earned $39,640, so it isn't always a lucrative career.

SOURCE: https://www.trendingaccounting.com/2018/09/risks-of-accounting-career.html?m=1

I'll Be Back

You can have some certification to boost your CV and career, see my signature

If you have embraced paid employment as your life, a career in finance is a great choice. The business of money management will never go out of fashion.

I still don't understand why people go to the university to study half useless courses. I am not calling out any department, but if you ever needed to make a choice, choose a career in finance.

That being said, accounting is not easy at all

Believe this post at your own peril.

you're all about its constraints, and not the prospects.
It's hard to have your license revoked unless you're a real bad guy.

moreover, not all accounting careers are boring and sedentary....talk about Forensic Accounting.

T

Bitter truth
The rate people with that degree are finding the it useless is alarming. Although it's a very complex and terse field of study, but then again, other disciplines have overshadowed it.

Very unfortunate

I urge graduate of accountancy to explore IT courses, especially, coding with their knowledge of math. This will definitely turn around their fortunes!

Bottom 10% earning $39kplus per annum..i doubt if they had africa in mind..

Were the job they?

Following. Everyone and businesses need a form of accounting. It's a very relevant career. It's worth the effort getting certified.

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Download ACCA and ICAN study materials, Past Questions and Answers for FREE on Q and A App.
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Hmmmm

ekoson95:
Believe this post at your own peril.

knowledge is Power, Mr

Don't knw what to post yet but Majorly Chief Financial Officer of big coys are Accountant.

This person is into drugs. I mean serious coke.

The evolutn of Accounting softwares, especially ERPs have reduced d value of d profession. I won't even encourage anyone 2 study it.

every job/career has its own hazard.

Copy nd paste is bad

All eyes on you!

MAJORBANKZ:
every job/career has its own hazard.

Eden or Thorgan?

Accounting as a course of study is now useless with the evolution of ITs software like Peachtree, QuickBooks and Erps

dahmie2013:
The evolutn of Accounting softwares, especially ERPs have reduced d value of d profession. I won't even encourage anyone 2 study it.

Tell us what you study first then we can talk about it

Following. Everyone and businesses need a form of accounting. It's a very relevant career. It's worth the effort getting certified. * * * Download ACCA and ICAN study materials, Past Questions and Answers for FREE on Q and A App. Download Q and A App from Google Playstore

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Op, you are wrong, most coy CEO's and Directors are finance professionals, for anyone to successfully run a coy/business, its important you understand accounting/finance.

dahmie2013:
The evolutn of Accounting softwares, especially ERPs have reduced d value of d profession. I won't even encourage anyone 2 study it.

you Have Low Knowledge Of Accounting Bro.

dahmie2013:
The evolutn of Accounting softwares, especially ERPs have reduced d value of d profession. I won't even encourage anyone 2 study it.

My friend, I suggest you research before talking, the evolution of accounting software only reduced the value of bookkeepers, not accountants. The job of an accountant is more than what you think.

In my next world, I will study Accounting over and over again. its just like salt in your soup, you dont have a choice than seeing finance managers around. And the opportunity therein are limitless- Account clerk, cost accountant, project accountant,auditors,consultancy, etc