Accounting is no longer just about numbers. It’s about navigating possibilities—and career paths should reflect that. FOR DECADES, THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION HAS SOLD THE dream of a singular path to success: graduate with your degree, land a job at a firm, and work your way up the ladder to partner. Or exit the firm and become a controller and work your way up to CFO. For many, that ladder was clear, structured, and (for some) satisfying. But for too many others—especially younger generations, mid-career changers, and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds—the ladder can feel limiting, outdated, or even out of reach. Or even worse, not reaching the top can feel like failure. It’s time for the profession to replace the traditional ladder with a jungle gym (Thank you, Sheryl Sandberg.)—a more flexible, dynamic, and inclusive vision of career growth that reflects the complexity of modern accounting and the aspirations of today’s workforce. FROM CLIMBING UP TO MOVING AROUND Unlike a ladder, a jungle gym offers multiple ways to reach new heights. You can climb up, sideways, even backwards—and sometimes take a step down to ultimately leap forward. That’s the kind of career agility that today’s accountants need. Consider the rise of nontraditional accounting roles: Data analysts and automation specialists inside firms; ESG consultants leading sustainability initiatives; Internal firm coaches and DEI strategists; Client advisory professionals specializing in tech stack design or process reengineering; and/or Accountants turned into startup founders, authors, or educators. These are not deviations from the profession. They are evolutions of it. And yet, many firms and organizations still talk about success as if there’s only one direction: up the ladder. TRANSFORMATION TRENDS DITCH THE LADDER, CLIMB THE JUNGLE GYM RETHINKING CAREER PATHS IN ACCOUNTING BY DONNY SHIMAMOTO, CPA, CITP, CGMA, INTRAPRISE TECHKNOWLOGIES LLC 22 Nebraska CPA
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