How to Become a Professional Accountant

An accountant is a person who analyzes financial data of an establishment to consequently evaluate its progress in the field that it is specializing in. Accountants hold a high degree of respect in the industry for the complex job they have which involves critical analysis of financial data, a lot of numbers, concepts to consider for the growth of the business and many more. Accountants are rarely unemployed in the society because every business or organization requires one or a team to enhance the positive cash flow of their business as well as to manage their tax and financial planning. Generally, accountants hold key positions in the development of the economy, thus, many people aspire to become one.


Becoming a professional accountant requires a lot of effort and discipline. As early as your high school years, you must prepare yourself of the necessities to become one. Here are some steps that you can take to assist you in pursuing your accounting career:

1. Inquire on the major subjects that you have to take in college that would lead you to becoming an accountant. Enroll in an accredited university with a course majoring in Accountancy, Business or Mathematics.

a. Accountancy
Accountancy classes involve the fundamental lessons on accounting principles. It focuses on accounting practices such as auditing, income tax systems, financial theory and managerial cost accounting.

b. Business
Business classes are required to be taken up by accountancy students to introduce them on the ways of managing a business. Classes such as economics, business finance, investments and business management, which are not accounting specific, are essential in defining your perspective on the business world.

c. Mathematics
Since accounting profoundly entails dealing with numbers, accountancy students are required to take up mathematics classes such statistics and probability. Some accountancy positions involve statistical analysis on a great number of data; therefore a broad background on this is important.

2. During internships, a college requirement which comes later in the college years, choose to have experience in an accredited and well-known accounting firm. Acquiring experience from a distinguished accounting firm is the best way to apply what you have learned from school on the fundamentals of accounting. Aside from this, you also get to meet professional accountants who can explicitly give you an overview on the accounting profession.

3. After completing a college major on accountancy, you may want to take up professional exams to enhance your eligibility of becoming a professional accountant. It is essential that you take up these exams if you wish to practice your profession. Such exams are conducted by one of the oldest and most recognized accounting body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). This institution aims to provide world-class chartered accountants and assists people in pursuing an accountancy profession.

The competition in the accounting field will always remain strong since many business establishments require only the best accountants. Regardless of your determination to become one, accounting firms and institutions will always consider your qualifications. So if you are thinking of becoming a professional accountant, or are on its way to pursuing an accounting career, always carry with you the willpower and discipline that one has to have in going through the steps above to fulfill your goal.