How is accounting hard? (2024)

3 answers

Translate

What language would you like to translate to?

shiv

Student

Los Angeles, California

1 Question

4

Asked · 2821 views · ·

What are the hardships of accounting? How long should I be studying to account?

accounting

How is accounting hard? (2) Hi ShivDon't let the others scare you, Accounting is not that hard. It isn't difficult if you just follow the rules and understand the basics. Once you get the basic rules down it's mostly problem solving. I was never particularly good at math but I was at the top of my class in accounting. Just do the work and follow the rules and you will do great.Good luck! Brad Stewart

Delete Comment

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Flag Comment

Login to comment

Delete Question

Are you sure you want to delete this question?

Flag Question

4

3 answers

Follow discussion

').prependTo($('#question')); setTimeout(function () { $('.follow-question-message').fadeOut('slow', function() { $(this).remove() }); }, 4000); } }); }); } } }); });

Garrett H

Internal Audit Manager

7 Answers

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Updated · ·

Garrett’s Answer

Accounting is considered one of the most difficult subjects at University, and likely the most challenging in the college of business. From my experience, there are several folks who will attempt to get an accounting degree and ultimately fail due only to lack of ability and not lack of dedication. But I would also argue that the math needed for accounting is more basic than economics and finance degrees. The challenge with accounting lies with understanding technical, rules-based, knowledge and applying them to complex scenarios where there is a web of possibilities, but generally only one answer. I witnessed many 3.5-4.0 gpa students from high school struggle with accounting. Those who succeeded spent many hours learning the material and practicing the rules to get the math to work out. In accounting there is a balance - all things must equal out in the end. Those who succeeded would also study 20-40 hours for each exam. There are generally two intro to accounting classes which act merely as morale boosters. The true hardship starts with the intermediate accounting classes that come soon after.

Delete Answer

Are you sure you want to delete this answer?

Convert answer to comment

Are you sure you want to convert this answer to a comment?

Flag Answer

Login to comment

Amalya Sukiasyan

ESOL teacher at Washington English Center

298 Answers

Yerevan

Updated · ·

Amalya’s Answer

Every academic field has its difficulties, challenges and opportunities. To be a good accountant, you should have great financial and counting skills, as well as be attentive to details and possible economic risks. In many cases, no matter how difficult the academic subject is: It's just important to immerse yourself into the field, study it, and practice in real work situations as much as possible.

Delete Answer

Are you sure you want to delete this answer?

Convert answer to comment

Are you sure you want to convert this answer to a comment?

Flag Answer

Login to comment

Kevin Greenlees

Accountant, Financial Analyst, Automations Developer

17 Answers

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Updated · ·

Kevin’s Answer

Accounting as an academic pursuit can be very challenging, and I believe this is often because students often enter an accounting classroom for the first time with a misunderstanding of what accounting is and what skills are needed to excel in the field.

First and foremost: accounting is not math. Sure, accountants use math all the time, but you're not going to spend much--if any--time in an accounting class learning mathematics. Most of what you likely already know (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) will get you through lower level accounting classes.

Second: studying accounting is about learning rules, more than anything else. The profession of accounting is generally about applying agreed-upon rules to business practices in order to generate standardized documents. For example, if your company buys a new piece of equipment that you plan to use for five years, how does the cost of that equipment affect your profits for the current year? Any accountant will tell you the answer to that question is: "it depends." Knowing what it depends on is what accounting is all about.

Finally: studying accounting focuses on learning how economic activities conducted by a business entity (an individual, a company, a government, etc) affect that entity's ability to survive and convert resources into assets. It's as conceptual as it is practical, which makes it a very interesting academic pursuit.

Thus, the hardships of accounting, for students studying the field, can be many. You'll spend time reading content that is very rules-based, and, therefore, often rather dry. It's not Shakespeare, so don't expect to be thoroughly entertained by the text. However, if you're fond of solving problems or understanding complex concepts, accounting may be the field for you. I love that, as a professional accountant, I work in a field where I'm often tasked with unraveling and understanding complex problems and then communicating them to people who aren't familiar with accounting.

Delete Answer

Are you sure you want to delete this answer?

Convert answer to comment

Are you sure you want to convert this answer to a comment?

Flag Answer

Login to comment

How is accounting hard? (2024)

FAQs

How is accounting hard? ›

Accounting programs entail challenging courses that require a solid understanding of key concepts such as debits, credits, income, and expenses. The curriculum can be demanding, emphasizing critical thinking and analytical skills. Moreover, obtaining a degree in accounting requires commitment.

Why is accounting difficult? ›

Mastering complex skills and paying close attention to detail are some of the challenging parts of learning accounting. Choosing a specialization may help in overcoming these challenges. Accounting is closely connected with fields like finance, data analytics, technology, and mathematics.

How hard is accounting to learn? ›

Earning a degree in accounting can be challenging due to the complex nature of the subject matter, however it is not necessarily categorized as math-heavy. Students who are dedicated, diligent, and hard-working can successfully earn an accounting degree.

Is accounting a hard skill? ›

Accounting skills are abilities that allow you to accurately and ethically manage financial transactions, analyze financial data and generate financial reports. They include hard skills such as understanding generally accepted accounting principles, mathematical comprehension and data analysis.

Is accounting hard if you're bad at math? ›

Expertise in mathematics is not required to succeed as a bookkeeper or an accountant. What is needed, however, is the confidence and ability to be able to add, subtract, multiply, divide as well as use decimals, fractions and percentages.

Is accounting a lot of math? ›

A solid mathematical foundation is vital for succeeding in the field of accounting. From basic arithmetic to advanced mathematical concepts like algebra and statistics, accountants must be comfortable working with numbers and analysing financial data.

What's the easiest business major? ›

5 Easiest Business Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) ...
  • Bachelor of Arts in Marketing. ...
  • Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship. ...
  • Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management. ...
  • Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management.

Is it easy to pass accounting? ›

The overall CPA Exam pass rates hover slightly below 50%. This makes passing the CPA Exam a difficult, but achievable, goal. You'll need to study wisely, set a strategy for managing your time, and call on your support network, but with the right plan and good study materials, you will conquer it.

Is accounting or finance harder? ›

Is finance harder than accounting? Accounting relies on precise arithmetic principles, making it more complex, whereas finance requires a grasp of economics and accounting without as much mathematical detail.

Why is accounting so stressful? ›

With the constant stream of tax deadlines, year-end reports, and other financial obligations, accountants are under a lot of pressure to get everything done on time. This can lead to long hours, missed breaks, and a lack of work-life balance, all of which can contribute to stress.

What is the easiest accounting field? ›

The easiest accounting field often depends on an individual's aptitude and interests, but many find that basic bookkeeping and accounts payable/receivable roles tend to be relatively straightforward entry points into the accounting profession.

What is the hardest accounting exam? ›

The FAR section of the CPA Exam is hard because it's the most comprehensive of the 4 exam sections, and it has a lot of math questions that are mentally taxing to get through. It has the lowest pass rate of all 4 exam sections and is considered the hardest CPA Exam section.

How hard is accounting really? ›

Accounting is considered one of the most difficult subjects at University, and likely the most challenging in the college of business. From my experience, there are several folks who will attempt to get an accounting degree and ultimately fail due only to lack of ability and not lack of dedication.

Is accounting stressful or boring? ›

There is variety of work in accounting

One of the biggest misconceptions about accounting is that it's all about crunching numbers and staring at spreadsheets all day, basically that accounting is incredibly boring. But that's not the case. Accounting is a varied profession that involves a range of skills.

Is accounting hard at first? ›

Rigorous Coursework

Accounting is often considered to be one of the most intense college majors there is. Students are required to take very rigorous courses in a number of different subjects. In addition, the core coursework required in accounting can be daunting and takes much studying and preparation.

Why do some people struggle with accounting? ›

Having Poor Communication Skills

I have seen first year accountants struggle with communicating their priorities and status updates to managers, which made them incredibly difficult to work with. Remember, it's better to over communicate with the people you work with than to under communicate.

What is the most difficult part of being an accountant? ›

Repetitive work:

Before you find yourself covered in accounting glory and pushing analytics and brainstorming strategies, you will have to work your way up with a little bit of repetitive work. In large organizations, you will have a fair share of audit work that will repetitive in nature.

What are the challenges of accounting students? ›

Accountancy students face various challenges when transitioning from school to work. These challenges include insufficient technical knowledge, poor communication skills, difficulty in adapting to the workplace, inadequate stress and time management skills, and a lack of hands-on experience.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5547

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.