Professional development

Accounting's most influential share whether they would make the same choice to enter the profession today.

As part of this year's Top 100 Most Influential People survey, Accounting Today asked, "If you were a young person starting your career today, would you pursue the same career? Why or why not?"

Scholarship applications are now open for college students pursuing an accounting degree, taking the CPA exam and becoming educators.

Plus a new tool uses AI to fill out tax returns; AvidXchange offers cross-border payments; an E&Y platform helps with upskilling workers; and other updates from the accounting tech world.

Technology is hugely increasing the sheer amount of knowledge required of a competent accountant — which was already vast to start with.

Do you want to accelerate through your career, be constantly challenged, have lots of mobility, and be paid higher? If so, good for you. Just know you'll probably have to work longer hours.

Plus, Bill completes its acquisition of Finmark; TaxFyle is named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 500; and other news in accounting technology.

The program is designed to give students audit experience and accelerate them on the path to CPA licensure.

Everyone seems to complain about spreadsheets and their limitations, but despite this, they remain ubiquitous in accounting. Why?

The more you prepare, the greater your chances of impressing your interviewers and getting a job offer.