Introduction
Background Information
I interviewed Ms. Brandi Kastler, who has been working in the banking sector for ten years. She was my private accounting tutor for about four years. Ms. Kastler graduated from Drexel University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She later pursued her master’s degree in accounting at the University of Rochester in New York. Ms. Kastler has worked in the private and public sectors; however, currently, she works in the private sector.
The Interview
Factors That Influenced the Respondent’s Career Decision
According to Ms. Kastler, the decision to pursue accounting was personal; however, several environmental factors played a role in influencing her career decisions. She grew up surrounded by accountants and, therefore, enrolling for certifications in accounting was expected. The perception of her career was influenced by the social information acquired from her interaction with family members. She often overheard their discussions regarding the industry’s pros and cons, which consequently shaped her viewpoint of the profession. She views accounting as a specialty with great professional opportunities that offer attractive salaries. Besides her natural skills with numbers, Ms. Kastler had access to the resources necessary to facilitate her studies. She reported having no specific life experiences or events that determined her decision to pursue accounting.
Specific Activities Concerning the Job That the Interviewee Enjoys
Ms. Kastler enjoys using formulas to solve financial problems. She identified this practice as the most gratifying aspect of her job. Every fiscal year, the accounting department within her organization provides its managers with recommendations on improving the business’s financial growth. To do this, Ms. Kastler conducts a financial analysis of the business’s net profits, revenue, margins, and losses and develops recommendations based on her uncovering. She finds it satisfying that she can use her hobby – working out formulas to contribute to something as meaningful as growing a business.
The Most Challenging Activities as Identified by the Respondent
According to the interviewee, the monotonous and cyclical nature of the job can be extremely stressful. Ms. Kastler finds it demoralizing and dissatisfying to always work on the same things over and over. She compared this feeling to running on a treadmill – the outcomes of her efforts are noticeable, although she is always on the same spot. Ms. Kastler further posited that since she is on a monthly salary basis and she rarely gets compensated for working overtime, which, in turn, increases the likelihood of demotivation, especially when she works hard to meet deadlines without any reward for her effort.
The Influence of the Interviewee’s Career Path on Their Ability to Serve Others and Promote the Common Good
Ms. Kastler’s profession fosters her capacity to promote the common good and serve others by giving her a platform to educate people on finance-related aspects, which, in turn, boosts their financial literacy levels. Although financial literacy is perceived as a private good since people have to pay to obtain it, the respondent’s viewpoint and consequent actions counter this perspective. Ms. Kastler views it as a public good and, therefore, offers her expertise and financial knowledge to people for free. She views her free financial advice as a form of content marketing. This is because the people she advises always entrust her with their financial problems and are always willing to pay to get those issues resolved.
The Application and Importance of Ethics in the Profession
When asked about the relevance of ethics in the profession, Ms. Kastler identified personal values as a crucial aspect that guides an accountant’s behavior in the workplace. She reported the role played by ethical behaviors in enabling her to establish trusting relationships with managers, investors, clients, friends, and business owners. Ms. Kastler further argued that a company’s finances are a sensitive matter and that every accountant must uphold the highest professional standards.
Ms. Kastler noted the prevalence of ethical dilemmas and issues in the accounting profession, as well as the effectiveness of adequate ethical knowledge in helping her resolve these problems. Since trust from involved stakeholders relies on her accuracy in generating financial reports, she views responsibilities such as minimizing the risks of misrepresentation and errors during the report generation as part of her ethical responsibility. According to the respondent, financial reports are used during a company’s valuation, and having strong moral behaviors can benefit the firm in the long run.
Reasons for Recommending This Career
Ms. Kastler reserved the recommendation for a career in accounting for people with an interest in the profession. According to the respondent, anyone interested in the specialty and those who enjoy working with numbers and are capable of working in a structured system can handle every aspect of the profession. Ms. Kastler further revealed the significant demand for experts in the specialty, arguing that it offers various career opportunities, although one has to have the appropriate proficiencies. Furthermore, she identified social skills’ efficacy in influencing the rate at which one advances throughout their career. According to Ms. Kastler, accounting can be rewarding both career-wise and economically if one has the right skill set.
Reason for Recommending a CPA Certification
Ms. Kastler argued that a CPA certificate opens more opportunities and enhances flexibility in choosing one’s career options. She further stated that with a CPA certificate, one could work in the public and private sectors. According to the respondent, this accreditation is mandatory, particularly for individuals considering a career in public accounting. To emphasize further the significance of this certification, Ms. Kastler asserted that employers in the public sector place much more value on CPA certification than those in the private sector. As per the interviewee’s viewpoint, CPA certification adds credibility to one’s qualifications, and therefore, it is essential.