The GSCPA House of Blogs
For the members. By the membersArchive for March 1, 2012
Training a New Generation of Accountants
Written by: Lee Woodward
As a consultant and former CFO one of my passions has been teaching young accountants. Over the years I’ve also had the opportunity to teach classes as a part-time professor at various colleges, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to make a positive difference in the future of our profession.
With 35 colleges and universities around the state the University of Georgia offers accounting classes that are convenient to nearly all of our members. In addition there are the many private institutions in this area. Besides the traditional classroom courses most institutions also offer online training and classes at remote sites. With the growing demand for accounting education there is a constant shortage of professors, which causes most institutions to rely on part-timers. As anyone who hires accountants knows, the supply never seems to meet the demand.
The rewards of teaching are many. For me the two greatest are the chance to make a positive impact on my students and the opportunity to refresh my own skills. I’m currently teaching an online class at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. The first thing I noticed was how many changes there have been since I took the course myself (back in the days of paper spreadsheets).
If you’ve ever thought that this is something you’d like to do I suggest that you contact the head of the accounting department at a nearby campus and see if they are looking for instructors. You might discover a whole new career or an enjoyable pastime.
