This article was originally published May 23, 2022, and was updated February 9, 2026, to reflect most recent information.
Whether you are beginning your career or considering a transition, it is important to consider the full range of opportunities available to you. For those seeking a career with strong earning potential, flexibility, and the ability to work across industries and locations worldwide, accounting is an excellent choice. For those pursuing a career in accounting, consider some of these essential traits.
1. Professional Integrity
As an accountant, you will be entrusted with highly sensitive financial information, including tax returns, investment portfolios, payroll data, and business records. Building strong client and employer relationships requires trust, which is grounded in honesty, integrity, and confidentiality.
In today’s digital environment, professional integrity also includes data security and cybersecurity awareness. Accountants must protect client information from breaches, comply with privacy regulations, and demonstrate accountability in handling electronic records. By consistently acting ethically and reliably, accountants help build organizational trust and credibility (Levin, 1999).
Professional integrity is reinforced through formal education. Recognizing the importance of ethics, many state boards of accountancy require CPA (Certified Public Accountant) candidates to complete at least one ethics course, and some U.S. jurisdictions require a separate ethics examination for licensure. For example, CPA candidates in Maryland must pass a standalone ethics exam as part of the licensing process.1
2. Commitment to Professional Development
The accounting profession evolves continuously due to changes in laws, standards, and technology. To maintain professional competency, accountants must commit to continuous learning throughout their careers. Professional organizations provide structured guidance to support this development. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) developed the Foundational Competencies Framework for Aspiring CPAs to help students identify essential technical and professional skills. Similarly, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) established a competency framework encompassing ten key focus areas. These frameworks guide accountants toward relevant university coursework, certifications, and professional development opportunities.
Accountants must stay current as Congress passes new tax legislation, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) implements new tax laws, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues updated accounting standards, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandates new reporting requirements for public companies. Beyond regulatory changes, today’s accounting professionals study data analytics, ESG reporting, forensic analysis, and digital asset accounting.
To ensure continued competence, all U.S. jurisdictions require CPAs to complete Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses to renew their licenses. In Maryland, licensed CPAs must earn CPE credits in ethics to renew their license. Accountants who embrace lifelong learning remain competitive and adaptable in a rapidly changing profession.
3. Professional Communication Proficiency
While accountants are known for strong quantitative skills, those with exceptional writing and communication abilities truly stand out. The ability to analyze data, create meaningful visualizations, and clearly explain financial information to non-financial audiences is increasingly important.
Strong writing skills help accountants interpret analytics, summarize audit findings, and translate complex accounting standards into accessible language. Writing is also essential for preparing ESG and sustainability disclosures, which require extensive narrative explanation. Effective communication bridges the gap between financial data and informed decision-making. Accountants who aspire to leadership roles such as managers, firm partners, consultants, or entrepreneurs must invest in developing strong writing and communication skills.
4. Digital Agility
Given the rapid pace of technological transformation in the accounting profession, digital agility is essential for today’s accountants. Accountants now use AI-assisted audit tools, automated reconciliations, robotic process automation, and predictive models. As these technologies evolve, accounting firms must adopt agile practices and continuously reassess their software capabilities.
New guidance for the accounting treatment of certain assets, such as crypto, further underscores the need for ongoing technical awareness. In addition to proficiency in Microsoft Excel, accountants are increasingly expected to leverage tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and other data visualization applications to enhance analytical insights and professional value. Accountants who proactively adapt to emerging technologies are better positioned to lead innovation and shape the future of the profession.
5. Professional Skepticism
Professional skepticism is the disciplined practice of questioning evidence, verifying information, and critically evaluating data. Accountants apply this mindset to ensure financial information is accurate, reliable, and free from material misstatement.
With the growing use of AI tools that generate vast amounts of financial and operational data, accountants must carefully assess the validity of automated outputs and investigate anomalies that may indicate fraud or error. Maintaining professional skepticism helps protect clients’ assets, reduces the risk of misleading financial reports, and reinforces public trust in financial reporting.
Internal and external stakeholders rely upon financial reports to make informed decisions. When information is inaccurate, stakeholders may unknowingly assume significant risks. In the United States, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board oversees audits of public companies to protect investors and promote informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. When accountants identify questionable information, they are ethically obligated to investigate and act. Professional skepticism ultimately safeguards transparency, strengthens audit quality, and protects investors.
Succeed with a Career in Accounting
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for accountants and auditors is projected to grow 5% through 2034, and that there are more than 1.4 million accountants in the United States, with approximately half holding CPA licensure.
The AICPA reports that accountants who earn the CPA credential typically earn 10–15% higher salaries than non-CPAs. This higher compensation often reflects greater responsibility, involvement in more complex and engaging business transactions, and increased professional fulfilment.
Before selecting a career path, students are encouraged to research projected growth rates, median salaries, and credential requirements using the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Connecting with professionals in specializations such as taxation, auditing, government accounting and fraud examination can also provide valuable career insight. Once you specify areas of accounting you’re interested in pursuing, schedule time to shadow one or more accountants. Consider volunteering as an intern to learn more about the industry and company-specific practices, and some accounting firms may offer paid internship positions.
Accounting is a dynamic and rewarding profession that offers stability, flexibility, and long-term career growth. While technical expertise is essential, success in the accounting profession ultimately depends on professional integrity, continuous learning, effective communication, digital agility, and professional skepticism. By developing these traits early, students can position themselves for meaningful careers that offer increasing responsibility, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact across industries.
1 CPA requirements vary state by state. Learn more about these professional licensure requirements.
References:
Levin, S. L. (1999). Development of an instrument to measure organizational trust.
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