Meet Nova Aurora, a CPA from 2034

Hey there, I’m Nova Aurora, a CPA. From the year 2034, I time-traveled back to 2024 to share my experiences with you. I lead “EmpreBiz — Entrepreneurs’ Empowerment Business Services” for NovaQuant Empowerium Inc. — a future-age CPA firm.

When I look back at my journey in this profession, I can vouch that it brings tremendous pride, everlasting fulfillment and delight that I had never thought possible 10 years ago when I set my career path as a CPA in 2024.

I’d think of it as a revolution triggered by the more than 300,000 people who left the profession from 2019 to 2022. The preeminent point of change was in 2024 after the National Pipeline Advisory Group published strategies on increasing talent within the profession.

The unassuming beginning

When first entering the profession, we were faced with some daunting challenges. The talent shortages were epic. The educational models were not in sync with the very fabric of the characteristics of the new generation. Compared to other industries, the profession was perceived as a vehicle for tedium and uninspiring. It didn’t even pay enough to help talented people sustain in their early years. It threatened to throttle our growth as professionals.

The new era began, first of all, with a paradigm shift in teaching and the perception of accounting. This profession was perceived as rigid, number-crunching and overworked with no creativity, excitement or work-life balance — and it paid very poorly.

Fast forward to 2034. Today, the above description sounds like one is visiting an accounting museum. CPAs are now the barometers of innovation, creativity and strategic thinking. Accounting is now one of the top-paying professions in the country.

I very distinctly remember the first day of college and laying my eyes on the reformed accounting syllabus. Gone were the days of just dry lectures and monotonous calculations. Instead, throughout my college days, I did interactive simulations of real-life case studies and was delighted with the high-tech tools we were given. We had quite a few CPAs from leading firms who would guide and structure our foundational thinking processes so we could be one of them in the future. It felt like we were operating within real firms while learning. When I started my career with an advisory firm, I got paid well to enjoy a living standard that entry-level people in accounting firms in the previous century could hardly afford.

The focus on lifelong learning — and what happens because of what we do — to deliver measurable positive impact has gained a significant place in our profession.

The joy of diverse and inclusive workplaces

Probably one of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the workplace transformations we have been experiencing. In 2034, accounting firms are not only workplaces but places that celebrate diversity, inclusivity and collaboration.

While the profession attracts talent from diverse walks of life, it has also brought diversity into our work in many ways. Offshoring and outsourcing were mere words used during a talent shortage period. Now, every firm is diversified and has global talent — a typical way of doing business.

The profession is at the forefront of delivering opportunities to where the talent is, whether nationally or internationally, and not just bringing talent to opportunities.

A profession with a purpose

The most profound personal change I have experienced as a CPA in 2034 is that today our profession defines a deeper sense of purpose. The accounting profession is now much more than the services it provides. It is a means of making a difference in the world.

We are visionary strategists, success catalysts, innovation incubators, integrity stewards and guardians of the economic galaxy who have a huge role to play in guiding businesses, nonprofits and governments toward sustainable, responsible and inclusive growth.

I know that my work truly matters. This sense of purpose keeps me going, and is precisely what makes being a CPA in 2034 so fulfilling and rewarding.

Inspiration for infinite innovation

Innovation is at the heart of the accounting profession today, and this spirit keeps me excited and energized about the role. I love that my name is right in the middle of the word inNOVAtion! Technological integration is intensely ingrained in our daily work. It has truly revolutionized how we can work to bring greater value to our clients.

Artificial intelligence, for example, has become indispensable to our practice. It works in the background, constantly surfacing trends, patterns and needs from a critical financial decision for us CPAs to provide strategic, creative solutions for decision-making. With this AI power, today, CPA firms offer hyper-personalized services to thousands of clients. We have turned auditors into the likes of national intelligence professionals who protect our country — but in the economic world.

But that is not all. Due to the commitment of the profession to continuous innovation (not just improvement), we continue exploring new ways to bring our work to higher levels in terms of developing more sophisticated predictive tools and pioneering approaches to strengthen the world economy.

A future filled with possibilities

As I look ahead, I am filled with optimism and excitement.

The accounting profession has traversed some real distance from the challenges it faced in the 2010s and 2020s, and our progress is nothing short of astonishing. CPAs are social celebrities now; people put a lot of high regard, hope and trust in us. I would confidently tell anyone looking at an accounting career that there is no better time to join this amazing profession. The opportunities are fantastic, the work is deeply meaningful, and the fulfillment is unmatched.

I am proud to be a CPA in 2034. There is much about continuing this journey with a deep sense of purpose and enjoyment that lies ahead. The future of accounting is bright, and I am super excited to be part of it.

(This is a fictional but future-predicting account of a CPA from the year 2034. The name, firm name and business segment name all represent creative liberties on the author’s part.)