People who choose to enter the accounting profession now will be equipped with a variety of useful skills, according to one education professional. Stephanie Bryand, director of the School of Accountancy at the University of South Florida, told the Tampa Tribune that students learn more than how to balance the books if they decide to pursue this career. Ethics, communication and teambuilding are some of the skills that today's accountants can expect to gain, she explained. "I think there's definitely a move to have students think critically. It's definitely a good time to be an accounting student," Ms Bryand added. Meanwhile, Chuck Landes, vice president of the Professional Standards Group for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), remarked that recent accounting scandals such as Enron have actually raised interest in the profession. Students see it "as a way to do something positive, not just for themselves, but for the public," he said. The AICPA has more than 330,000 members.  |