Attitude and Skills Needed to Succeed in the Accounting Profession

• Accountants must be patient and detail-oriented. Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images

  Working as an accountant is more complex than simply crunching numbers. A successful accountant must possess a particular set of skills, both with handling massive amounts of money-related information and with navigating the sphere in which he works. This is because accountants can work in one of several fields, including working for the public, the government or major corporations.

Math Skills

• Of course, an accountant must first and foremost be skilled with math. Without formidable math skills, the aspiring accountant will probably never earn an accounting degree, let alone pass the Uniform CPA Exam. This exam, administered to would-be certified public accountants, tests their skills in auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, regulation and business environment and concepts. Without a mastery of these four major areas, achieving certification is exceedingly difficult. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than half of the people who take this test pass all four sections on the first attempt.

Patience

• Accountants must possess a certain amount of fortitude and wherewithal to undergo years of rigorous education and experience-earning. For example, after earning a bachelor's degree, a CPA must complete additional schooling. This could include earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree or a Master of Accountancy (MAcc).

  Aspiring accountants must also be able to balance their studies with work experience. Many students complete internships while still in school, either while enrolled as an undergraduate or while completing an MBA. Students trying to earn an MBA may also find themselves working regular jobs to support themselves while taking night classes. Fortunately, these years of difficulty pay off when an accountant realizes her dream, as working as an accountant requires a significant amount of patience and the ability to multitask.

Professionalism

• Aspiring accountants must demonstrate the utmost professionalism in their jobs -- after all, a major business's money could be in her hands. While part of this entails maintaining a courteous manner and thorough work habits, it also includes a strong sense of professional ethics. Some accountants work in what is called "forensic accounting," which is the investigation of white collar crimes, which may, in fact, be perpetrated by other accountants. For this reason, accountants must have the sense of ethics that prevents them from committing crimes such as embezzlement as well as the courage required to report ethical violations committed by their peers.