Garnet Valley High School

Job Shadowing Employer Interview

Student Name: Sadie Allen Date: 10-29

Person interviewed, place of business, and job title: Accounting course temple
https://www.picpa.org/future-cpas/high-school-accounting-career-days

1. What education is required for this work?

The type of education needed for this career is a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
Certification in becoming a CPA (certified public accountant), helps improve job prospects.
2. What type of experience is needed? How do you suggest I build this experience?
The experience needed is to work in the environment, suggested by getting an internship at an
accounting firm.
3. What skills are needed for this career? How do you suggest I build these skills now?
self-motivation,integrity, ability to reflect on one's own work as well as the wider consequences of
financial decisions, business acumen and interest, organisational skills and ability to manage deadlines,
team working ability, communication and interpersonal skills.
4. What types of interests are common for those in this career?
Math is a common interest in the career.
5. What benefits do you have with this job?
You get a better understanding of finances, taxation and business law.
6. What factors impact the average starting salary? What factors affect salary growth (clients,
economy, etc?)
Industry, or type of employer, strongly affects starting salaries. Accountants who work in the securities
and accounting/bookkeeping services industries make more.
7. What are the opportunities for advancement? How do I gain skills I need to advance once I’m in the
job?
Some opportunities for advancement include becoming a partner of the accounting firm, some skills
needed to advance are time management and ability to quickly and efficiently solve the accounting
problems.
8. What other jobs are there in your line of work?
An auditor is a very similar job in the line of work.
9. What changes have occurred in this career in the past few years? How has technology impacted your
work?
Access to faster software that can perform more complex functions has made accounting both easier and
more efficient. Indeed, organizing financial information, analyzing data, and measuring economic activity has
never been simpler.

10. What is the future outlook?

Accounting has a good long term outlook, it is expected to increase.
11. What do you especially like and dislike about your job?
Likes- problem solving, working conditions good, good people
Dislikes- slight training, complex, time consuming
12. What are your working hours? Is there overtime? (when, how much, how often?)
Accountants typically work a standard 40-hour week, though some work 50 hours a week or more. Tax
accountants often work long hours from January to April, which is the tax season
13. Do you work on weekends or holidays? How often?
It depends on the company.
14. How far do you travel to work each day?
NA
15. How does your career affect your family and your lifestyle?
NA

16. Original question --- What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages of the job?
The working conditions are overall well, some disadvantages or hazards of the job include, slight
training, can be complex and time consuming. Requires a lot of hard work and practice.

17. Original question --- What is the nature of the work?

Accountants perform perform overviews of financial operations of a business in order to help it run
efficiently.
18. Original question --- What are the responsibilities of the job?
Some responsibilities on the job include posting and processing journal entries to ensure all business
transactions are kept on record. Making sure everything is organized and put together and done
correctly to ensure and easy process.
19. Original question --- What training is needed for this career?
There is not any training needed for this career, except completing your bachelors degree.
20. Original question --- Is the CPA exam recommended?
Strongly
Student Observations:

Describe the work environment (number of people, noise level, space, etc.):

As you observe the person you are shadowing, write down all the things that person is doing, what
tools and/or technology he or she may be using, whether the person works alone or with others, etc.

After your interview and observation, how do you feel about this type of job for yourself? List the
reasons for feeling this way:
I feel this job could be well fit for me since my interests are there for this specific job and I share similar
likes and dislikes of the job. It seems fast paced and good for people who enjoy problem solving and
the salary is good which helps motivate and provide for a good lifestyle.

Other observations:
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Employeer Name Signature