I couldn't help chuckle at this one.
When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting.
This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not very high.
Sounds like some accountant made a really bad choice in accounting software --- probably went with the most cost effective option.
Software Engineering as an academic topic can be very difficult; as a career, because of various factors over the last 30 years, it's anything but.
Accounting as an academic topic is fundamentally very simple (it's mostly about giving precise names to money movements); as a career, because of rigorous qualification paths in most countries, it's anything but.
LOL!
Here is are the requirements to take a CPA exam in the USA.
US Citizen, 18 years old with a valid SSN
120 hrs of college credit or a bachelor's degree.
Whereas I dropped out of school at 17 after being on track to fail my A Level in Maths and yet I recently built an ERP system for a $100m revenue company. No one checked my (lack of) qualifications! (Nor did my lacking certain bits of paper impede my ability to do a good job)
I’m not as bad at maths as that failed A Level would have indicated, but I doubt I would have easily sailed through accountancy training/qualifications. Not for lack of intelligence but for lacking in other areas.
So raw “math ability” is only one element here and just focussing on that could risk minimising all the other skills required to be a good accountant (including organisation and people skills).
No, they don't. Only about half the accountants in the USA are licensed CPAs. And you don't need a college degree to become one in many states.
Lots of lawyers are licensed CPAs without any accounting degree.
However for companies over a certain size it would be very rare, at least in the UK, to employ someone without formal recognised accounting qualifications.
And for certain accounting practices (auditing accounts for example) then there are actually legal requirements around having qualifications from a recognised body.
So you’re partly right, but for all intents and purposes in the UK at least, there are de facto qualification requirements for working as an accountant. (I would say for anything more than just preparing simple accounts for sole traders or individuals).
This accepted minimum qualification level is not matched in the software development field. Even if “a degree” is listed as required, this can often be sidestepped by being able to prove one’s track record.
My comparison between software development and accounting was somewhat tongue-in-check anyway. I was really just trying to stand up for the accountants :)
I don't think ANY state requires a degree or CPA license to be employed in a job that may have the word accountant in its title; however, there are certain kinds of roles, with certain responsibilities, that generally require a degree, and sometimes a CPA license.
Can't say whether or not it's easier than an exams to become an accountant. Bear in mind though that one needs to keep taking exams to maintain CPA status, whereas in law, we have no such requirement. Just have to keep doing (usually bullshit) CLEs.
In any event, any kind of licensure is more than we have to become devs, which I think is the main point.
edit: I see your point in another comment that one need not be a CPA to be an accountant, and that's fair enough.
Nope, not in the USA.
Most states have "continuing education" reporting requirements which can be self study in many cases. Take an approved on-line class every 2 years and you're good in most states.
Also bear in mind that most accountants (at least in the USA) don't have any license or certification. Try practicing law like that.
Total BS to show you're still involved and interested in accounting. The idea behind the requirement is to keep accountants up to date on new tax laws.
As I said above, report your results (pass/fail) from an on-line class once every 2 years and you're good in most states. A lot of states will accept self study. This is nothing like the CPA test.
Note: I have a CPA in my extended family.