Fall Into Change—The Dream Job You’ve (Probably) Never Considered

Oh summer. It seems as though we wait all year for it to arrive. When it does, it’s gone in the blink of an eye. You saved up your vacation days to capitalize on the hottest months of the year and spend more time with your family—but it never feels like enough time. The days are getting shorter and you’ve come to the harsh reality that it’s not only back-to-school for the kids—it’s also back to the office for you.

Time to invest in yourself. . .in a much needed new career

Don’t beat yourself up over sticking around for too long at the wrong job or career. Instead, we hope to empower you to invest in yourself. With that said, we’re kicking off our first autumn post with a career you’ve (probably) never considered—one in tax preparation. In a time when the job market is more challenging than ever, a good strategy is to pick up a profession that can withstand economic ups and downs, and help people with the most important financial transactions of their lifetimes. It’s important, year-round work and it builds family wealth, directly.

Recession-proof

In 2009, the female employment rate dropped by 1 full percentage point. Men were hit with a drop of 2.9 percentage points. Worse still was the overall drop for Generation Y. Young women lost more than 3 percentage points and young men lost more than 5 percentage points. Statistics Canada tells us it’s the same story recession after recession.

It’s a different tale for tax professionals. All businesses need someone to keep their money in order—regardless of job market woes. Just because the economy is in recession doesn’t mean you have to be. In fact, you may be busier than ever as people try to get their financials in order. Tax preparation, accounting and bookkeeping services for individuals and businesses—which can include retirement, cross-border and business succession planning—is very interesting and impactful work with families and it’s in big demand. According to Services Canada data (2012-07-06), actual revenues in the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services industry have been outpacing economic growth for the last ten years or so.

Economic turmoil or not, tax preparation is a basic need that comes around once a year and we’re all obliged to fulfill it. You can expect peak season to fall within the first four months of the year. As for the rest of the year? You may wish to stock up on bronzing lotion or take up that passion you’ve always dreamed of. Or why not keep working year round with other professionals—assisting them with tax estimations for investment, retirement and succession plans; doing books for business; or assisting with tax audits. With this kind of career, you really are in control of your own hours—since you decide how much business you want to take in and on what date you want to cut it off.

3 reasons to get started today

1. Be your own boss

You can be in control of your lifestyle. Juggle your family life and your career with ease. This is how you find that delicate balance most women would kill for. According to a survey by LinkedIn and CrossTab, 63 percent of women define success as finding that work-life balance. We are certain the men must feel the same. Jackpot.

2. Working from home...or office

Two words: flexible hours. Technology is king in the tax preparation industry, so much of your work can be done online with great professional tax software. You can be at every soccer game, dance recital or in a formal office setting from here on out—you choose. You can even work from your client's home, so you decide when you’re most productive. If you want to juggle your passion for working out, caring for the aged or disabled, or advocating for the unfortunate while generating a secure income, now you can. 

3. Make a difference

You’re helping people make meaningful financial changes in their business and personal lives, you’re giving them the tools to succeed in planning family wealth, and you’re making a difference in your community by assisting under-privileged or disabled people to take advantage of tax credits.

Want to know more?

Contact us at 1.866.953.4769 or register online for convenient online courses you can do in the comfort of your home. Earn certification or designation from Knowledge Bureau: a prestigious national post-secondary school, with the freedom to work it around your important family time and your passions.

Article originally published by Golden Girl Finance on September 18, 2013.