All big goals require strong discipline and a commitment; sometimes, the process can feel lonely and grueling. Nathan Liao, CMA Coach is one of my favorite coaches - having him guide and encourage you along the way can definitely change the game to not only make exam prep journey much easier and fun, but also to finetune the skills you acquired would benefit you for life in anything you do. In this episode, we chat about the many career options in accounting and so much more!
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. YOUR NETWORK IS YOUR NET WORTH
Seeking out mentors, building relationships in and around your company, and networking throughout your career will set you up for success. Nathan advocates for a give-first mentality; one in which you ensure to give value first when networking with others. What can you give to this person? Is there a connection with another individual they may benefit from? An article in their field they might enjoy? If you consistently place priority in giving value to others, it will come back to you in many ways as you build this network of professional support.
2. THE ROLE OF AN ACCOUNTANT IS AN EVER-CHANGING POSITION
Accountants’ roles in business are integral to effective management and strategy. Nowadays, the role of an accountant is moving towards a strategic advisor and away from a number cruncher; that is, accountants are expected to have a good grasp of the overall business and how everything interrelates, to serve as executive team advisors, and to shape the business culture throughout their work. As automation becomes more and more advanced, specialized knowledge and clerical accounting will bubble up as integral traits of accounting professionals.
3. DISCIPLINE AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BOOST YOUR TEST SCORES
Nathan works extensively to prepare individuals to become Certified Management Accountants; his program, CMA Academy, assists with knowledge acquisition and builds a framework of preparation which ensures that procrastination won’t win. Weekly accountability ensures that test prep is prioritized, and guided programs to ask instructors for help stimulates the importance of turning to others to build an effective career.
4. DON'T BE AFRAID TO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR BOSS
Building up the courage to bring forth a difficult conversation with your boss can be incredibly intimidating, which Nathan recognizes. At the same time, he advocates that talking up to your boss always pays off in the end. Tough bosses in particular will appreciate precision and frankness; bring conversations in from the “I” perspective, focusing on what is or isn’t working for you in the company, and asking for advice on what might be worth changing to better fit in the work environment.
🎧 To learn more about these ideas, dive deeper into the concept of accounting positions, learn about discipline and accountability, or find yourself a mentor in Cece, head to the Dear Accountant Podcast here.
🎙 “Dear Accountant” podcast is a uniquely insightful and entertaining podcast for aspiring young business professionals. Each episode is packed with actionable advice to help young finance professionals get ready for whatever challenge they may face next. Aside from all of the many cool things in accounting (technical topics and trends), we bring in industry experts and influential leaders to share their journey, insights and perspectives. We will also cover topics that were not taught in school - life essential skills such as personal finance, emotional intelligence, mentorship, networking, body language and human behaviors, and so much more!
💬 About our guest, Nathan Liao: Cece's guest is Nathan Liao, the founder of CMA Exam Academy, a top Certified Management Accountant exam review program. As a CMA and CMA coach, Nathan mentors accounting and finance professionals in over 80 countries to earn their CMA certification in as little as 8 months. The unique review framework in CMA Exam Academy has proven to be the key to his students’ outstanding success in attaining their dream of earning the Certified Management Accountant certification. To connect with Nathan: https://cmaexamacademy.com/contact/
📖 Get the amazing advices from the 20 mentors in the “Dear Accountant” Book: The book offers a unique immersion into the lives and careers of 20 inspiring leaders in finance from different disciplines - their backstories, pivotal moments, career trajectories, and hiccups along the way.
🎧 Listen to Cece’s interviews about her passion and mission in writing this book and paying it forward to help young professionals to find meaning and fulfillment in their life and career: