A CPA designation opens doors far beyond traditional auditing and tax roles, leading to executive leadership (CFO, COO), forensic investigation, corporate finance (FP&A), and specialized consulting in technology or sustainability. CPAs can also become business owners, educators, or work in government, banking, and specialized consulting.
There are many career options for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) outside of accounting firms and corporate accounting. Possible career paths include being an entrepreneur, freelance accounting service provider, business analyst, non-profit accountant, writer, accounting information technologist, and math teacher.
Here are some non-CPA career options for you:
The Ability to Perform Financial Audits
One of the distinctive roles of a CPA compared to a tax preparer is the ability to conduct financial audits. CPAs are licensed to audit an organization's financial statements, assuring the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting.
What careers can accountants transition to? Accountants can transition to roles like financial analyst, project manager, business consultant, or citizen developer. These positions leverage analytical, organizational, and communication skills developed in accounting.
An increase in regulatory complexity, coupled with a growing need for business advisory services, is spiking the demand for CPAs and other accountants. About 124,200 new jobs per year are expected to open up for accountants and auditors through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fast-forward a few years, and Erica now runs an accounting practice making over $200,000 yearly—on less than 15 hours of work per week.
Once you've passed all parts of the CPA exam and fulfilled your experience requirements, the next step is applying for your CPA license through your state's Board of Accountancy. CPAs must also complete Continuing Professional Education (CPE) annually to maintain their licenses.
The single most important certification needed for a Big 4 career is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
A CPA license is considered very prestigious: The CPA license is the most widely recognized professional credential in the accounting industry.
With the right amount of experience, being a certified public accountant can mean an eventual position as a chief financial officer (CFO) or a highly paid tax accountant. A CPA's salary usually reaches the high five figures, while senior CPAs in management can earn a six-figure salary.
Making $500,000 a year is quite rare, placing you in roughly the top 1% (or slightly below, depending on data) of U.S. earners, with estimates suggesting only about 0.8% to 1% of individuals or households achieve this income, though government data can obscure this; it's a significant financial milestone, yet surprisingly, many high earners still feel financially stretched due to lifestyle inflation and high costs.
Con: Accounting Can Be Stressful at Times
Accountants are under high “stress during busy seasons, especially during tax season, when the hours can be very long,” says Dr. Machuca. Despite the benefits, an accounting career often brings tight deadlines, long hours, and high volumes of work during the annual tax season.
5 accounting careers in demand
There are no strict age requirements to earn an accounting degree. High school graduates and adults who have earned the equivalent of a U.S. high school degree are eligible to apply for a bachelor's degree in accounting at an accredited university.
You could look into roles in finance, like financial analyst, business analyst, or management consultant. A strategy might be to start exploring roles along those lines, and perhaps do some networking. Try to talk to people in financial firms and see if you could get some referrals for interviews.