To The Editor:
Loved “Cohen the Barbarian’s,” er, I mean, “Cohen the Columnist’s” piece ‘Demand for accountants unfortunate sign of times.’ Brilliant!
Yes, Larry (gosh, now I sound like Gina Barreca) it is indeed a good time to be an accountant, especially if you’re a certified public accountant.
As we are wont to say, “CPAs speak the language of business,” and these days there’s no lack of demand for trusted — and savvy — financial linguists. For as long as buyers and sellers exchange money, and businesses, not-for-profits, individuals, and even governments themselves must comply with local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and taxes, CPAs will be in demand, whether they work in one of the ‘very, very large accounting firms,’ in industry, or simply for themselves.
I agree with Cohen the Columnist: it’s never too early to start making the case for accounting, although we have found that high school is a pretty good time to make formal introductions. Accounting really does have it all — real opportunity, true variety, excellent compensation, and autonomy. Heck, CPAs even work the Academy Awards!
I invited Duane Sauer, the CPA featured on your recent related cover story, to speak to my business and professional communication class at the University of Hartford. After Duane’s presentation, several of the finance majors announced their intentions to switch to accounting. So perhaps there is some accounting for job preference.
And hey — forget all those lame Dickensian “accountant on a high stool” creative crutches the media love to perpetuate. Accountants rock! Connecticut even boasts a CPA rock band, The Accounting Crows, who have wowed audiences in San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, Orlando, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., and elsewhere. Of course there’s a website, www.accountingcrows.com where, as it says, “They rock, they roll, they audit, they do taxes, and they’ll even play your next party, business function, wedding, bar mitzvah or IRS audit.”
Good job on that column, Laurence!
Mark Zampino
Public affairs director
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
Rocky Hill
