Filling the Gaps

How the Accounting Profession May Respond to Talent Shortages

Last December Robert Half International, a staffing and consulting firm, created The Financial Leadership Council in order to report on trends in the accounting, finance and audit professions. Recently they released a report entitled “Charting the Future of the Accounting, Finance and Audit Profession” addressing the projected shortage of talent in the accounting field.

Universal Accounting Center has long been reporting that accounting is a sure profession with a bright future and endless opportunity. This new report confirms UAC’s assessment, expressing concern over the projected talent shortage while suggesting ways in which the profession can better attract and secure accounting professionals. The report also advices accounting professionals how to best prepare for changes in the industry.

Attracting and Retaining Skilled Professionals

The Financial Leadership Council advices employers to revise their recruiting practices in order to make even entry-level positions more appealing. Their suggestions include enhancing the branding of the accounting profession, showcasing exemplary professionals who successfully balance their families and careers while offering more career guidance, projects that promote growth, and challenging assignments mixed with routine tasks. The profession as a whole will be required to better understand what motivates and inspires this new generation of employees.

Preparing for Changes

And if you are looking to advance in the accounting profession, the council advices you to enhance your communication skills. Technological advances, including email and text messaging, will require the ability to communicate more, not less, effectively. And again, as UAC has consistently advised, an accountant’s ability to analyze financial information, to act as a profit and growth expert, and to inform business owners as they make crucial business decisions, will make them valuable assets to any organization. Finally, the council encourages accountants to improve their cultural literacy in order to increase their ability to function in a global economy.

To request a free copy of this report, visit www.financialleadershipcouncil.com.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Help You Prepare

Universal Accounting Center has been helping individuals like you advance in the accounting industry for over 25 years. And one of the objectives of the Professional Bookkeeper Program is to train individuals to act as a company’s profit and growth expert, using the analysis of financial information to help small business owners make key decisions that will make their businesses more profitable.

Not only that, but in receiving this training you enable yourself to start a small business of your own as a freelance accountant. Never has there been a time where skilled accountants are in such high demand. You can craft your own opportunity, either advancing in your current job or taking that leap to start your own accounting firm. The possibilities are truly endless.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.” UAC recognizes your need to take the time to decide whether or not this program is for you. That’s why we’ve created a DVD designed to help you start your own accounting and bookkeeping practice. This DVD will introduce you to our program and how you can use the training to take advantage of all the opportunities in the accounting field. For less than ten dollars you can deliberate and then prepare for action before it’s too late. Don’t waste another day. Order now!

Does Your Resume Put Your Best Foot Forward?

There’s A Lot of Opportunity - Make Your Resume Strong Enough to Improve Your Career

A New Year = A New Career? What a great time to consider a career in the accounting field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the strength of the job market in accounting will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. As more and more start-up businesses enter the economy, the need for skilled and qualified bookkeepers and accounting professionals has never been better. In fact, if you’re looking for a stable career with the ability to create a consistent and rewarding income, the accounting department has been a great place to be for over 500 years.

I’m Not an Accountant Yet. Is This Really a Stable Career With Potential for Growth?

If you have the right education and skills, it really is a stable career that offers great income and job security. In fact, the accounting profession has been around since 1494.

As long as government requires all businesses to do accounting, there will be a need for skilled and qualified bookkeepers and accountants. At the end of this article, I’ll talk more about how to gain the right education and skills.

If you’ve decided that you want to change your career and join the ranks of those who have found personal and professional satisfaction in the accounting field, you’ll need a resume that will knock-em-dead. Here is a list of some do’s and don’ts for putting together a high-impact resume that gets noticed.

DO’s:

• Be concise. You’re not the only busy person in the world. Those reading a resume don’t want to know your work history beginning with the lemonade stand at age 7. Try to keep your resume to one page, but it can go over that length if you feel the information is relevant to the job and sets you apart from the competition.
• Be interesting. If you were responsible for keeping a $1 million contract on target, say so. Tell how your work kept the client happy, produced quality results, and used certain skills. This also will give the employer something to ask you specifically about in the interview.
• Be prepared. Study an employer like it was the last one on earth willing to give you a job. Know the key players and what they do, how to spell their names, what the company does, a business history, etc. This will help target your resume to the employer’s needs.
• Be lively. Use words that convey action and enthusiasm. If you can’t think of any, get a thesaurus, watch commercials or read advertisements to get ideas on how to ‘’sell” yourself.
• Hit the target. The key to resumes these days is homing in on what the employer wants, and what you can do to give it to them. Consider all the information on your resume from the employer’s point of view. What would its executives consider important to their industry? What skills do you have to help them win new clients, develop new products or make their company more efficient?

DON’Ts:

• Don’t make mistakes. We all make them, so have someone with good writing skills read your resume for grammatical flaws, spelling errors, typos, etc.
• Don’t be goofy. Most of those who read resumes would rather look at normal type on normal paper without straining their eyes or patience. Make the benefits of hiring you stand out, not the look of your resume.
• Don’t offer personal information. For employers, it’s against the law for them to inquire how much you weigh or whether you are married, so it’s just better to avoid such personal data. At the same time, they probably don’t care if you needlepoint or are an enthusiastic tuba player unless it relates directly to the job.
• Don’t stretch the truth. There’s a difference between playing up your abilities, and misrepresenting yourself. Don’t fudge the facts: it’s too easy to check the truth and ruin your chances at getting the job you really want.

Remember, practice makes perfect. This is true when writing a resume too. There are a number of sites online as well as books that give you helpful suggestions. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your resume. Be willing to rewrite your resume to keep up with workplace trends. As your resume writing expertise improves, so will your ability to find the perfect job.

How Do I Gain the Right Skills for a Job in the Accounting Department?

You need the right education, but you won’t find it at the local college. You don’t need a college or university degree to gain the skills that will make you a valuable asset to small business owners, but you do need a specific set of skills. At Universal Accounting, we’ve taught people like you and me the ins-and-outs of small business bookkeeping and accounting since 1979. We’ve been called the small business accounting experts for over 25 years.

At Universal, we believe that hands-on learning is hands-down the best approach. The Professional Bookkeeper Program utilizes DVD-based instruction, easy-to-understand textbook materials and practice sets of actual small business bookkeeping records to give you real-world experience navigating the world of small business bookkeeping.

Once you’ve finished the Professional Bookkeeper Program, you’ll have the confidence of having done a complete set of books for several small businesses, from a frame shop to a motorcycle shop. You’ll understand everything you need to know to work in the accounting department of any small business anywhere in America. From Accounts Payable and Receivable to Payroll and General Ledger, you’ll become a small business accounting expert.

What’s more, you’ll be able to offer valuable and informative advice to business owners that make his or her business more profitable and successful. This kind of information not only makes your resume look great, but creates the kind of job security you and your family deserve.

Get Paid What You’re Worth

The opportunities in small business bookkeeping and accounting have never been better than they are right now. Robert Half International, the largest placement firm for accounting professionals in the world, says that bookkeepers are in so much demand that over the next twelve months they will be able to demand a better salary than ever before. You might as well be one of those professionals who gets paid what you’re worth.

If you are looking for a new career or you want to advance the career you have now, the Professional Bookkeeper Program is the right tool for the right job. Last year we randomly surveyed 100 graduates of the program 12 months or longer after their graduation. Of that group, 74% of them presently work in accounting, had been promoted at their current job or had started their own business.

You Don’t Have to Take My Word For It

Click HERE to find out what graduates are saying about the Professional Bookkeeper Program.

If you’d like to learn more about how a bookkeeping and accounting education advances your career and how the Professional Bookkeeper Program will provide you with the tools to do it, follow the link below. Don’t you deserve to find out more about how you can attain the professional and personal rewards of a recession-proof occupation that will create the lifestyle you want?

Regardless of your background,
IT WORKS!

It doesn’t matter if you have 20 years experience in accounting, or have never worked in the field before, the course is designed to provide practical, hands-on training for everyone!

Free Gift

Two Additional Practice Sets
-a $$$ value-

Practice makes perfect. The three modules already contain practice sets for nine different businesses. Purchase the Professional Bookkeeper program today and you’ll receive two more practice sets, giving you eleven in all. This will give you even more confidence and experience in various industries and the opportunity to work with additional types of clients.

It has often been said that “You only get one chance to make your first impression.” What kind of impression do you give when you meet a prospective client? We all try to put our best foot forward when meeting new people, but if that first impression is to continue, we have to follow up.

Whenever a prospective client gives you his or her business card, write the following information on the back of the card when the meeting is over and you are alone:

• The date you received the card
• Where you met this person and when
• Any other details, such as personal information, that may be helpful the next time you see that person. Remembering things like the contact’s spouse or something about their hobbies or interests tells a person that you care about them beyond simply what they can do for you.

You can also use speedwriting/shorthand to specify whether the individual was pleasant or not. If someone else sees the back of the card, they would not know what you wrote.

Writing down what kind of mood the client was in is helpful next time you meet them. You may have to go out of your way to be extra kind to those who were in an unpleasant mood when you first met them. But reminding them of what you talked about during the last visit demonstrates that you either have a very good memory or are very efficient, and they tend to respond more favorably.

Other sections from this week’s newsletter:

• Purchase the Professional Bookkeeper Program and get the Financing a Small Business Course at No Additional Charge
• Keep Your Bookkeeping Service Flying High
• Client Secrets are Your Secrets

10 Tips on Preparing a Successful Interview

(Part One of a Two-Part Series)

So your business has grown to the point where you are thinking about hiring support staff. That’s great news! This is an exciting time for your business, and you want to ensure that you surround yourself with talented employees. Conducting solid job interviews is an important part of that process. While you may be nervous about conducting interviews, you must remember that your goal is to hire a diverse group that will build your business’s success. Here are ten things to remember as you prepare for interviews.

1. Help applicants come prepared

If there is anything else you would like to review aside from a resume, for example writing samples or a project portfolio, be sure you ask the candidate to bring them in advance. You want to give yourself and the candidate the best opportunity to successfully fill your position.

2. Schedule enough time for each interview

Often interviewers underestimate the time required to complete a successful job interview. Be sure to schedule amble time so that you don’t cut interviews short or require other candidates to wait for their turn.

3. Know what you’re looking for before you conduct interviews

Be sure you take the time to write down what you’re looking for in a candidate before you sit down in the interview. You want to have a good idea of what you’re looking for so you can craft questions that help you determine the best applicant for your position.

4. Ask each candidate the same questions

The only way you can truly compare candidates is to ask each the same set of interview questions. Otherwise, the information you have is unbalanced and doesn’t give you a fair view of all the applicants. Come back next week when we discuss which questions you should ask when conducting a job interview.

5. Study the applicant’s resume and/or application before the interview

When you study the resume or application on the fly, you’ll miss important information, especially if you’re distracted by the actual interview. Take the time to look through each resume or application before you sit down with the candidate. That way you know in advance which items you want the interviewee to expand on.

6. Don’t let the interview get off-track

Regardless of how good your connection might be with a particular candidate or how much you have in common (including acquaintances) you shouldn’t allow the interview to rear off-track. Always redirect the conversation back to the interview so that each applicant has a fair shot at the job. And be sure you don’t hire according to who you like best. You’re not looking for a new best friend; you’re looking for the person who can contribute the most to your business.

7. Pay attention and take notes

After you conduct a few interviews you may find that you’re mind has begun to wonder and you’re having a difficult time maintaining focus. Snap out of it! You have to pay attention so you don’t miss important details. And take notes so you don’t forget key information when it comes time to make your choice.

8. Check their references!

Why ask for references if you don’t check them? I’ve heard countless stories of references who shared crucial information about a candidate’s true nature in a job environment that either foiled his/her chances or sealed the deal. Either way references can provide you with more information on which to base your final decision.

9. Be direct

Be upfront with the candidates so they know what they’re getting into. Explain what the job entails, the salary range, and the tasks they’ll be asked to perform regularly. When you misrepresent the position upfront the employee will most likely be resentful later.

10. Give them a timeline

Explain where you are in the interview process and when they can expect to hear back from you. Also let them know whether or not they might expect a second interview.

Take the time to adequately prepare for your job interviews. Don’t rush simply because you’re anxious about expanding your business. You don’t want to be in need of an article on how to fire your employee later. When you choose employees wisely upfront you have a better chance of building a more dynamic and successful business. Come back next week to read about the questions you should use when conducting a job interview.

(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)
Questions to Help You Pick the Right Candidate

Last week we discussed preparing for job interviews in order to expand your business by hiring a support staff. Now that you’re prepared for the interview, you must question all the applicants in order to learn more about them and how well they align with your business plan and goals. It’s important to ask open-ended questions that allow each candidate to better demonstrate their experience, ability, and skill set. Also remember that you must ask each candidate the same set of interview questions in order to truly compare all the applicants.

We could give you a list of specific questions to ask, but the truth is you need to craft questions that suite your objectives. But here are general interest categories with sample questions for each. They should help you get a well-rounded view of your candidates.

Break the ice

Start by putting the candidate at ease. Ask a question or two that will break the ice and set a casual tone for the interview. Consider the following:

• Are you enjoying the summer?
• Are you managing to stay cool/dry/warm in this weather?
• Did you enjoy the holiday?

Note: Be careful! It is illegal to ask candidates anything discriminatory. Avoid all questions that address the following: race, color, gender, sexual preferences, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability, marital/family status.

Learn of past performance/Determine problem-solving ability

You want to know what kind of worker this candidate is, and the best way to determine that is to ask questions that will help you assess their past performance. It’s important that you include behavioral questions when appropriate. These types of questions help you to see how candidates would act given a certain work situation (or how they have acted in past work situations). Consider questions that demonstrate whether or not the candidate is proactive and has the ability to resolve problems independently. This is also a good time to see how well these candidates work with others. And remember that you want a well-rounded candidate. Interviewees who only describe themselves in a positive light may not recognize their weaknesses as well as their strengths; either that or they’re not being honest. Consider the following:

• Describe your employment history.
• Why did you leave your last job?
• What would your last boss say about your performance?
• Tell me about a time when you struggled with an assignment/project/task.
• What was the most/least rewarding aspect of your last job?
• Describe a situation where you . . . (were overwhelmed by multiple projects, had to resolve an emergency without supervisory help, successfully delegated tasks, contributed to a company/employer’s success, etc.)
• What career accomplishment has given you the greatest satisfaction?
• What mistake have you learned the most from?
• Tell me about a time when you had to work with a team.
• Do you prefer working alone or in teams?
• How do you deal with conflict?
• How do you react to difficulty and/or stress?

Learn of work preferences

It’s also important to discover the type of work environment your candidates feel most comfortable in. Equally important is determining which applicant is a good match to your company’s goals and objectives. The following questions will help:

• What types of responsibilities have you found to be most rewarding? Why?
• What type of management style do you most appreciate? (hands-on, regular supervision, minimal supervision)
• In what ways will you contribute to this company?
• Why do you want to work for X Company?
• What do you know about X Company?
• If you were hiring someone to this position, what qualities would you look for?
• Why should we hire you?

Ask about the candidates’ future career goals

This will help determine their motives in working for you. The candidate who sees your position as an opportunity to learn and grow as he/she advances in his/her career is much more desirable than the candidate who thinks this will be an easy, sit-down job regardless of how it aligns with his/her long-term goals. Consider the following:

• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• How do you plan to achieve your career objectives?
• What do you want in life?
• Why did you choose this particular career?
• How will this position help you advance your career goals?

It’s important that you determine what you’re looking for in a candidate before composing interview questions. If costumer service is important to you, craft questions that will help you recognize whether or not candidates will work well with your clients. If punctuality and a good work ethic are important to you, again you must craft questions that help you see how your candidates measure up to these requirements.

As long as you take the time to thoughtfully compose your interview questions and ask each candidate the same set, you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit for your position.

Increase Your Career Options : Earn a Professional Designation

Accounting is the second oldest profession in the world. Since mankind began using money, they devised a way to count and track its comings and goings. And the accounting profession isn’t slowing down today. In fact, it’s growing at such a quick clip that the Bureau of Labor estimates that by 2008 accounting jobs will have increased by 20%. They say: “In addition to openings resulting from growth, the need to replace accountants and auditors who retire, or transfer to other occupations, will produce numerous openings in this large occupation.”

You can have advantage in this powerful shift in the Accounting and Bookkeeping profession! The opportunities are endless for those who have been properly trained. Here are just a few possibilities.

Get a New Job
There are four basic types of accountants and bookkeepers: public, management, government, and internal auditing. And while those descriptions lack luster, consider that jobs within those areas can include anything from a payroll clerk to a treasurer to an underwriter to a collections specialist to a personal financial planner to a chief financial officer, and the list goes on. Of course, experience and training play a role in the type of accounting or bookkeeping job you can get, but it’s important to realize all the options an accounting background can offer you. Here’s a list of jobs you might find:

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING

• Partner

• Director

• Manager

• Staff Accountant

PRIVATE INDUSTRY

• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

• Treasurer

• Controller

• Assistant Controller and Assistant Treasurer

• Tax Manager

• Accounting Manager

• Senior Accountant

• Accountant (General, Cost)

• Internal/EDP Audit

• Manager, Financial Analysis

• Senior Analyst

• Analyst (Financial, Budget, Cost)

• Credit Manager

• Assistant Credit Manager

• Collections Specialist

• Full Charge Bookkeeper

• Bookkeeper

• A/P Supervisor

• A/P Clerk

• A/R Supervisor

• A/R Clerk

• Assistant Bookkeeper

• Accounting Clerk

PAYROLL and DATA ENTRY

• Data Entry Operator

• Payroll Manager

• Payroll Clerk

Earn a Promotion
As always, with proper training you could advance in your current position where you work. Even non-accounting positions can be enhanced with accounting knowledge; a professional designation illustrates your willingness to continue your education and increase your value as an employee. Look for every edge you can have when it comes to getting that next promotion. Universal’s designation and training has what it takes for you to earn your desired spot in the company.

Start Your Own Business
Once you receive proper training, when you have received concentrated instruction and the practical hands-on experience you receive with Universal Accounting, you could actually work as a freelance accountant/bookkeeper, supplementing your full-time income. Some of our graduates have found that all they need to do is get two or three clients on the side to bring them from dreaming about their goals, to achieving them.

Better still, our training has enabled many of our graduates to have the confidence of running their own business full-time. We are dedicated to giving our students what they need to be successful in their accounting pursuits. All you need to do is apply them correctly, and this could fulfill your longtime dream to being your own boss, enjoying financial freedom, and spending more time with your family and friends.

A Four-Year Degree is Not required
But wait, you’re thinking, how long will it take to earn that professional designation? Less than you think. In fact, you can earn and be experiencing the benefits of your training in less time than a semester at your local university! Most universities require 4-years of your time and teach you corporate accounting, which makes up about 2% of accounting opportunities out there. Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper Program will take you less than 60 hours and train you in small business accounting, which makes up 98% of accounting opportunities.

Order a Free, Informational Video Today!
But why tell you about the program here when you could order a free video that will explain the program to you in detail from the comfort of your own home. Don’t wait to learn how you could change your life by increasing your career options. Learn more about the Professional Bookkeeper Program and how that professional designation could be much closer than you think.

You’ve waited long enough to make the move to getting for your future the difference between success and mediocrity. The easiest decision you can make is enrolling in The Professional Bookkeeper’s Course. Make the difference in success, the PB designation, work for you. Don’t delay!

7 Tips That Will Boost Your Professional Exchanges

Accountants are stereotyped as introverted bean counters who don’t feel comfortable interacting with others. Thankfully that image is changing for the better. But some of us still struggle in social situations primed for profitable networking. Your business depends on your ability to put current and potential clients at ease, to communicate in a way that builds stronger professional relationships while getting you the information you need to secure new customers and do the best work you can for current costumers.

If your people skills are lacking, here are 7 quick tips that will improve your interactions:

1. Smile
No one needs a smile as much as a person who fails to give one. -Unknown

When all else fails there’s one thing you can do: smile. Regardless of what the other person does, a smile won’t damage your image or spoil a networking opportunity. This is especially important to remember if you’re feeling a little nervous. Chances are you’ll get lots of smiles in return which will put you at ease and make it easier to connect with others.

2. Listen
I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention. - Diane Sawyer

While listening you will discover how your services can best fulfill the needs of those you’re talking to. The more you can get them to share about their business the better prepared you’ll be to illustrate how your expertise will improve their profitability.

3. Remember names
When you remember names you’re communicating that the people they belong to are worth remembering. You should always strive to make the people you speak with feel important; remembering their names is an easy way to accomplish that.

4. Remember common talking points
At the bottom of things, most people want to be understood and appreciated. - The Buddha

Sometimes it’s a matter of knowing what you can talk about when there’s a lull in the conversation or you need to break the ice. Fortunately there are certain topics nearly all individuals love talking about:

• The traffic
• The weather
• New movies
• Their business
• Their children
• Family pets

5. Acknowledge things you have in common
The more you have in common the more connected you will feel. Pointing out the similarities you share will help strengthen your bond and forge a solid professional relationship.

6. Avoid gossip
Gossip needn’t be false to be evil; there’s a lot of truth that shouldn’t be passed around. - Frank A. Clark

Avoid gossip like the plague. While it may be easy to talk about someone else it certainly puts your character in question and causes the individual(s) you’re talking with to consider what you might say about them when they’re not there.

7. Be positive
Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? - Dennis and Wendy Mannering

Negativity will repel more contacts than you can imagine. Whether or not people recognize it they are drawn to individuals who are positive and affirming. Regardless of the topic of conversation, stay positive; it will leave a good and memorable impression.

And above all, remember that it takes time to develop good people skills, especially if it doesn’t come naturally. Just make an effort to work on one thing at a time and soon you’ll recognize an improvement that will not only put you more at ease with others but positively impact your business.

Gain the right skills and you will earn a better income. Bookkeepers can anticipate a 6.8% rise in base compensation in 2006. That’s great news provided you have the right skills.

The 2006 Salary Guide is based on an analysis of thousands of job placements managed by Robert Half International Inc., and predicts that heightened competition for accounting and finance professionals will lead to increases in base compensation next year.

Companies are Recruiting Accounting Staff

Max Messmer, Chairman and CEO of Robert Half International says, “Organizations are actively recruiting accounting and finance staff to support business expansion initiatives and corporate governance efforts.”

“To attract and retain skilled financial professionals, firms are reassessing their hiring practices and enhancing compensation packages for current staff.”

Bookkeepers are Doing Better than Average!

Robert Half International forcasts an increase in starting wage for bookkeepers and accountants of 3.1%. An increase of 3.1% is OK, but according to the Salary Guide, bookkeepers can anticipate a 6.8% rise in base compensation in the year ahead. Over twice the average. What a great time to consider a bookkeeping and accounting education.

The opportunities for you have never been better in accounting. Click on the link below and discover the potential for you to earn a great income and enjoy a stable, recession free career.

Show Me a Stable Career With a Great Income

The Accounting Department Has Always Offered Great Opportunities

For hundreds of years accountants have contributed to the profitability of businesses all over the world. And they have been well paid to do it. With the right skills you will not only find the right job or enhance your present career, you’ll also enjoy the benefits of increased competition in the marketplace and can expect a bigger paycheck.

Where Can I Find the Right Skills… I Don’t Have a College Degree?

You don’t need a college degree. You do need a specialized education. And you can find it at Universal Accounting.

For the last 25 years, Universal Accounting has taught thousands of people the profitable and exciting skills of small business bookkeeping and accounting. We’re the small business experts and we can teach you to be too.

You don’t have to take my word for it, let’s look at what some of our graduates have said:

“I was amazed how practical this course was, and surprised how much I learned. Having an accounting degree and over 17 years experience in accounting, I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know. This is well worth the time and money, and you will be benefited from this class for years to come.”
-Philip Lufkin

“This was an excellent course. I have a B. S. in accounting, and this class taught me stuff I never learned in college.”
-Catherine Ferguson

“Universal’s accounting course is a very thorough approach to learning small business accounting. The materials and work sets are presented in a professional learning atmosphere. …I felt this class really helped my confidence and mastery of the accounting principles.”
-Bradley Jensen

You don’t need to be a math wiz to enhance your career. Calculus and algebra aren’t necessary. Basic math skills are the building-blocks to a successful career in bookkeeping and accounting. With your basic math skills and a willingness to learn, you’ll be on your way to an incredibly rewarding and satisfying career.

Businesses Have to Do Accounting… It’s Required By Law

It doesn’t matter what type of business, it has to keep financial records and has to have bookkeepers and accountants. Follow the link below and find out for yourself how an education in bookkeeping and accounting will enhance your present career, increase your paycheck and provide personal and professional satisfaction.

Show Me Why Becoming a Bookkeeper or Accountant is Right For Me

Squeeze the most out of every moment to find time for what’s really important!

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. Calvin Coolidge 1872-1933

I must admit, I am very lucky. I really like what I do. I get to sit down at my little computer, think good thoughts, and talk to you. Fortunately, it doesn’t stop at thinking good thoughts. I actually have to put words on the page that help you, or we don’t get to talk to each other today.

Every morning starts with a plan.

One of the first things I do when I sit down at my desk in the morning, is look at the day, what I need to accomplish, and map out a plan for what I’d like to get done that day. I know this sounds pretty basic. Not much to it. And, I have to admit, there isn’t much to it. It’s pretty simple, but the time I save more than makes up for the time I spend organizing my day. It gives me the mandate to focus on what’s really important.

If I don’t go through this ritual every day, I find that before the day is over, I lose steam. Have you ever noticed that most people start the morning all fired up and ready to take on the day, however, as the day wears on and they start to get tired; sometimes, their get-up-and-go, does just exactly that. Stephen Covey said, “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”

In other words, we can’t afford to wait for opportunity to come to us, we need to create our own opportunities. Today, more than ever, it’s important to look ahead with an easy-to-follow plan; follow the plan and discover how truly simple it really is to find the success we’re looking for.

I’m glad I don’t have to wear the Speedo anymore.

When I was in High School I was on the swim team. Swim work-outs started every morning at 5:30am. I used to dream about my first length in the pool swinging an ice pick and chopping up the ice that was in my way so I could swim my workout. It was tough, but when I look back, I kind of miss those workouts.

I know this will kind of date me, but in 1976, Olympic backstroker, John Naber was one of my heroes. In the Montreal Olympics he set two world records, won two gold medals and was the first man in history to swim the 200 meter backstroke in under two minutes.

Like most hero worshipers, I was really excited to hear him speak in person the following year. He talked about how he knew how fast he would have to go to beat the East Germans. He put down a definitive, concise, and quantifiable, time in seconds and tenths of seconds, as his goal.

With only two years to get ready, John knew how much faster he had to be every year. He also knew how that would effect every month, every week, and every day. He went so far as to determine how much faster he had to be on every set within every workout. I think it was something like 1/100 th of a second and he said, “I can do that.”

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. -Lao Tzu

Let’s take a minute and look at the big picture. What do you want to accomplish with your life? Believe it or not, working 30 hours per week at $30.00 per hour, you’ll be earning over $40,000.00 per year! (By the way, $30 per hour is a very reasonable goal. Many of our graduates us the billing techniques taught in the Professional Bookkeeper Program to bill as much as double that!)

Ask yourself, what can I do this month, this week, today, even this morning, to make my dream a reality?

Focus on your “big picture” goals. Put them into smaller, easier-to-accomplish pieces, just like John and you’ll be able to say, “I can do that.” Best of all, you’ll be able to end the day the same way you started it. Excited about what you do. Excited about where you’re going. And excited about your future.

At Universal Accounting, we’re excited about your future. Today, more than ever, owning your own Accounting and Tax Preparation business may be just the ticket to help you accomplish your financial goals. With the finest course material anywhere and a terrific value, the Professional Bookkeeper and Accounting Program will be the perfect, “first step” to your journey of a thousand miles.

Make this moment count… order your Bookkeeping and Accounting program now!

Get Started By Learning the Accounting and Bookkeeping Portion of a Financial Services Business

Having a solid understanding of the Accounting and Bookkeeping methods and procedures is a great first step in learning the concepts behind Financial Business Analysis. You will learn to do books for small to mid-sized companies and how to analyze the books to prepare reports. You will learn to interpret reports so that you can advise your clients how to reduce costs and to better understand their financial standing and profitability. Your clients will look to you as an invaluable source of information about the financial health of their organization.

If you are considering adding Tax Preparation/ Planning services to your Financial Services business at some point, you get a great price by purchasing both programs as a bundle.

You may work on the side as an accountant or bookkeeper. Perhaps you work in a full-time job performing accounting functions. Ifyou’ve ever thought about either starting your own business as a financial provider, or if you’re already in business for yourself but wonder how to increase the value of your services, then you’ve come to the right place.

Universal Accounting Center deals directly with this on a daily basis. We are in the business of seeing that accountants, bookkeepers, and tax preparers succeed. And we have to admit, we’re pretty good at what we do. Someone like yourself may find your most successful when you provide to all your clients what they need in their companies’ financial lives (except the bank loans and bottom line sales of course, they have to do that on their own) By being able to offer services, of keeping track of their bank loans and sales figures for example, you can be their “One-Stop Shop”. This is accomplished by earning two valuable designations: The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation and the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) designation.

The Value of the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for the corporate accounting processes which leaves a huge gap to fill and a great opportunity for those who have the practical knowledge that addresses the needs of small businesses. For those who recognize this and gain the training to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity have come to realize the training pay-off themselves. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Small business owners are busy with the dozens of other hats to keep the business growing, often it is the tracking of their financial health that gets neglected. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security. Imagine doing this for 3 or 4, perhaps 13 or 14 small businesses?

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. UAC has designed a curriculum specific to the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. The Professional Bookkeeper Designation assures clients that you have the skills necessary to fulfill their small business accounting needs. For you, the training designation assures you have had the applicable experience it takes to provide the quality service that they need for their company.

The Value of the Professional Tax Preparer Designation

Perhaps your accounting and bookkeeping practice is thriving. Maybe you are losing one ot two clients to those who are offering the Full-Service Financial package. But whether or not you could use more clients, adding tax services to your menu of provided services could increase your income. How? tax professionals charge $100+ per hour preparing individual and business tax returns. Many tax preparers make more money in the months leading up to the April 15 tax deadline than many make all year long! Since all individuals and businesses, small or large, are required to file taxes, tax preparation is a respected skill that will always be in demand. And many of your current clients would probably by happy to have you file their taxes as well as perform the standard accounting services you currently provide.

Also consider who your clients will trust to file their taxes. Countless individuals are scammed each year by people who claim to know what they’re doing. More and more are becoming leery of alleged tax preparers who lack credentials. The Professional Tax Preparer Designation will put many of those individuals at ease, assuring them that you have been properly trained in tax preparation.

Become a Full Financial Service Provider

By combining the Professional Bookkeeper designation with the Professional Tax Preparer designation, you will earn a terrific income all year long. It is easy to cross-sell from one service to the other, making it easier to find clients, raise your billable hours, and give you a raise to boot! The benefits you can offer to those clients you are currently servicing on a yearly basis with the tax preparation services you will be able to develop the account to the maximum potential profit, but more importantly you will be able to build the trust with the quality businesses you serve.

Special Bundle Pricing for Tax Preparation and Accounting/ Bookkeeping Training

Here’s a rundown on what’s all included:

Add Up the Value! Save $$$ Today!

Gear up to being able to offer the full services you can by gaining the Professional Bookkeeper Designation as well as the Professional Tax Preparers Designation. Don’t wait another day to enhance your business and change your life. Be the Full Service Financial Provider.