Edge Project
Job Shadowing Accountants
Edge Project
My project involved shadowing several accountants in different areas of expertise within the accounting profession. I was able to shadow a CPA, budget analyst, and an accountant for a small business. I spent 8 hours with the CPA, 22 hours helping and observing the budget process for Cochise Community College, and 18 hours with the small business accountant at Mr.Fix It in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Through this I was able to determine which areas of accounting appealed to me. This gave me a realistic view of what future employment may look like for me.
I was also able to establish a network of peers and potential employers to guide or assist me on my journey to becoming an accountant. At the completion of this project I now have a greater knowledge of accounting in general and in a practical setting which has helped me connect my book learning to real life.
My Inspiration
My inspiration for this project came from a practical desire to determine which field of accounting to pursue. I also hoped to gain realistic expectations for my career. I already knew one accountant that would be willing to help me and I hoped to meet more through this journey. Additional inspiration came from the knowledge that I would need experience in order to get a job eventually. Through volunteering and shadowing, I would gain some of this experience and gain familiarity with the profession.
CHALLENGES
I did encounter some challenges along the way. The first challenge was when I had to take a summer class when I was planning to use that time to fulfill the hours for this project. The second challenge was realizing that the time of year I had free to shadow was the time that the CPA I was hoping to shadow had very little going on. Another challenge similar to the second is that is was very difficult to find a time that worked for everyone. Also, I did not consider the privacy issues that another CPA was concerned about. In addition, the military finance office had very stringent rules and background checks that would’ve taken an extended amount of time to complete before I could be considered, even in a volunteer capacity.
Benefits for All
In my effort to gain experience, I was not only able to help myself but also help others. The benefit of this outcome is that it was a mutual exchange. I didn’t feel like a burden but instead felt useful and valued while helping others complete their tasks. At Cochise College, I reviewed spreadsheets and compared budgeted numbers to the previous year’s actual amounts. This gave me experience with what a budget looks like and saved them some time, as well. With Mr.Fixit, I helped them input inventory for a new tracking system they had started. This was an easy but time consuming task that saved them many hours of adding and doing journal entries.
Through working with different people, I made valuable connections that motivated me to continue on my path. The benefit of this outcome is that these connections lead to friendships and could also help me secure a job in the future. By working in different sectors of accounting, I was able to determine, to an extent, what I did and did not prefer in a working environment. The benefit of this outcome is that it helped me to direct my career goals into areas that I am most likely to enjoy. For example, although I enjoyed working with the budget analyst at Cochise College, it felt too quiet and I realized that some customer interaction, like as a CPA or tax preparer, is more appealing to me.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”
Benjamin Franklin
