Tax Preparation - A Dream Career (Really!) You Probably Should Consider

Are you happy in your work-life balance?  If not, consider the key to your unhappiness:  is it your schedule;  the relationships you have daily with your co-workers; the commute; or  is it the glaring waste of your talents and skills?

The kids are back to school . .now it’s time to rethink your next career move.

Would you like to make more of making a difference in the lives of others?   The nature of work is that we often spend more time at it than at home with our families.  Perhaps it’s time to think about how to have more of the best of both worlds.

Make a Great Decision – Reinvest in Yourself

Think about a learning more about a lucrative career you may never have considered - tax preparation.  Much in demand, this is a profession that can withstand economic ups and downs, and help people with the most important financial transaction of their lifetimes.  Certified tax practitioners do relevant year round work that builds family wealth, directly, and you can be a central figure in providing much-needed help. . . as an employee of a tax preparation or accounting firm, or as an entrepreneur with your own professional practice.  Tax preparation is also a great “add on” to other financial services you may already be providing.

Get a Recession-proof Career

Tax accounting is a recession-proof skill.  Today, unemployment remains a problem for young people in particular. According to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in September 2014, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/young-and-jobless, youth unemployment is 13.5 to 14.5% nationally; and even higher in Ontario.

But the story is different tale for tax accounting professionals. According to Talent Egg (http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2012/09/10/average-entrylevel-accounting-salaries/) from 2011 to 2012, the average entry level salary of a Public Tax Accountant (one to three years of experience) grew 1.5% at large firms to range between $60,000 and $75,500 and 2.1% at midsize small firms where salaries ranged from $53,500 to $70,500.

Prospects are also good for entry level bookkeepers and tax preparers.  According to Services Canada, “outsourcing of bookkeeping has led to a sharp increase in the number of bookkeepers in accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (from 11% of jobs in 1991 to 26% in 2006, according to census data, and from less than 10% in the early 1990s to about 30% in 2011, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey).  There is also a significant opportunity in self-employment in this profession (17% against 11% for all occupations in 2006).”

Services Canada data (2012-07-06), also tells us that actual revenues in the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services industry have been outpacing economic growth for the last ten years or so.

Check out the outlook from Service Canada (http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/qc/job_futures/statistics/1111.shtml) which describes the tax accounting profession in detail.  Also noteworthy:  “According to 2006 Census data, the proportion of immigrants in this occupation group (13% compared with 12% for all occupations) shows that the occupation is accessible to newcomers.”

The reason why tax and bookkeeping professionals are so busy is simple:  all businesses need someone to keep their money in order - regardless of job market woes; most individuals need help with their tax preparation and planning too, especially in times of transition.   The job prospects, in short, are very good.

So even if the local economy is in flux, you don't have to be.   In fact, designated tax accountants and qualified bookkeeping and business services specialists may find themselves busier than ever as people try to get their financials in order.  Tax preparation, accounting and bookkeeping services for individuals and businesses can include retirement, cross-border and business succession planning.  It is very interesting and impactful work with families and it’s in big demand.

More important, tax preparation is a basic life need that comes around once a year and by threat of penalties and/or incarceration in serious cases, over 27 Million Canadians must comply with the law to file returns.  It’s a renewable resource!  There are many ways to file a correct tax return, but it is the professional who files the tax return to the best benefit of the family unit that wins the respect of clients and more important, referrals.

With this kind of career, you really are in control of your own hours - since you decide how much business you want to take in and on what date you want to cut it off.  But also, you are in control of how rapidly you’d like to build your career or business – from a seasonal enterprise, to a flourishing year round practice.

Three reasons to get started today

1. Control your busy lifestyle

Control of your lifestyle. Juggle your family life and your career with greater ease. Find that delicate balance that eludes most parents and caregivers.

2. Make a difference

Would you like to help people make meaningful financial changes in their business and personal lives?  Would you like to give them the tools to succeed in planning family wealth?  Would you like to make a difference in your community by assisting under-privileged or disabled people to take advantage of tax credits?   Both men and women are actively known to be successful in these professions because of the fulfillment they gain from helping and nurturing others.

3. Work from your own home or office

Do the right things:  you can care for the elderly in your family. You can be at every soccer game, dance recital and birthday party from here on.  When you work for yourself, from your own home or office, you can decide when you can be most productive.

If you want to juggle your passion for baking or golf while generating a secure income, you can.  Technology is king in the tax preparation industry, so much of your work can be done online with great professional tax software, which you’ll learn to work with in your Knowledge Bureau experience.

Want to know more?

Contact  Knowledge Bureau, for a free educational consultation in becoming or finding a tax or business services specialist.  Simply call us at 1-866-953-4769, email registrar@knowledgebureau.com or visit Knowledge Bureau's website to register online for convenient online courses you can do in the comfort of your home.  You can even take a free trial of several of the courses, just to get your feet wet.

This fall, make a great decision! Earn certification or designation from this prestigious national post-secondary school, around your important family time.