The Connected Accountant

A career for life....or just a job?

A recent survey at an audit careers website (A UK-based website) indicated that just 28% of those responding were looking for a career in public practice - less than 1/2 of those looking to be in the private sector.

Having said that, 46% of responses indicated that 'accounting is a job for life.'

Perhaps most telling for associations was the fact that 70% were open to working overseas - those associations that offer or encourage inter-firm transfers or experience are in a good position to support the desires of the new auditor.

Additionally, pending visa arrangements, this could be a way around skills shortages!

Accountants in Congress

I don't know what to make of this but, according to a report on the 109th Congress  from the Library of Congress, 6 members of Congress were (or are still) accountants.  That is a little over 1.1% of the 540 individuals who serve in Congress from the 50 states, as well as delegates from places such as Guam, Puerto Rico and D.C.

During the same time period, a Bureau of Labor Statistics report states that there were 1.3 million auditors and accountants employed in the US. With non-farm payroll at the same time quoted as 137M, it could be argued that accountants were slightly over-represented in Congress - although the loss of one member would have changed that to slight under-representation!

Compare that to vintners (two members) and radio broadcasters (five members) and accountants might certainly seem to be outnumbered - at least proportional to their numbers in society.  The real discrepancy comes when you look at lawyers (42% of the 109th Congress) and Congressional staffers (20% of the 109th Congress).

Any accountants out there want to answer the call to public service?