Addressing the talent shortage through hands-on education

The accounting industry is at a crossroads. Reports indicate there are 340,000 fewer accountants now, compared to 2019. For years, fewer people have been entering the field, creating a significant talent gap that impacts firms, businesses, and the economy overall. Organizations like the AICPA, the New York State Society of CPAs, CPA.com and Intuit have all raised concerns, highlighting the decline in accounting program enrollments and CPA exam candidates. 

In the Intuit QuickBooks 2024 Accounting Tech Survey, 94% of respondents said hiring has been an issue across the board, up eight points from the 2023 survey. At the same time, the profession is seeing a wave of retirements. There just aren't enough new professionals coming in through traditional pathways to replace them.

Why is this happening? The perception of accounting hasn't evolved fast enough. Too many students think accounting is boring (32% actually report that a lack of interest or passion for accounting is a major reason they didn't pursue the degree), that success requires excessive hours, and that tax and audit are the only career paths. Add to that the complexity of becoming a CPA — earning a master's degree, racking up thousands of work hours, and tackling a notoriously difficult exam — and it's no surprise people are choosing other careers in finance, tech, and consulting.

A new approach

Recognizing this challenge, I, in partnership with Brittany Brown at Ledger Gurus and Utah Valley University professor David Waite, created an accounting course that connects education with real-world experience. We created a curriculum that teaches students the skills they need to succeed in the accounting profession — whether they pursue a CPA or explore alternative pathways like advisory, technology-driven roles or specialized financial services. And with the support of Intuit QuickBooks, we're using the free training and certifications through the ProAdvisor Academy and providing students with access to free QuickBooks Online accounts through Intuit for Education.  

I'm personally invested in this because my own path in accounting has been anything but traditional. I never had an interest in tax or audit, and I never pursued a CPA. Instead, I built my career around working directly with small businesses, helping them solve real financial challenges. Over time, I became passionate about the role of technology in accounting and how it can drive efficiency and better decision-making. This program is an extension of that passion—an opportunity to show students that accounting can be dynamic, creative, consultative and deeply impactful.

How we structured the program

We designed the course with a clear mission: to equip students with real skills and meaningful takeaways. Here's how we structured it:

1. Industry-recognized certifications
We wanted students to walk away with something tangible on their resumes, so we built the course around Intuit's Bookkeeping Certification and the Intuit QuickBooks ProAdvisor Level 1 Certification. These credentials give students a head start in bookkeeping, financial operations and advisory roles.

2. Hands-on case study
Instead of just covering theory, we built a real-world case study where students work through the full accounting cycle of a small business. This program focuses on the transactional side of accounting — creating invoices, processing expenses, issuing checks and reconciling accounts. By using QuickBooks Online, students gain practical experience in financial workflows and develop an understanding of how money moves through a business. This hands-on approach ensures they build a strong foundation in core accounting functions, preparing them for bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable and financial operations roles.

3. Real-world business scenarios (Mastery Minute)
One of the most significant gaps in traditional accounting education is the lack of exposure to real-world business challenges. As part of the program, we created the "Mastering Minute," where students work through actual problems accountants face — like distinguishing between contractors and employees, understanding 1099s, and advising businesses on financial decisions. This component focuses on client interactions, teaching students how to translate financial insights into strategic decisions and articulate accounting concepts to business owners. By developing problem-solving skills and learning to navigate advisory conversations, students gain the confidence needed to step into client-facing roles beyond traditional bookkeeping.

4. Communication and articulation skills
Knowing accounting is one thing, but explaining it to a business owner is another. Too many students graduate without the ability to communicate financial concepts in a way that makes sense to non-accountants. Our program emphasizes articulation, helping students develop the confidence to translate accounting insights into real advice.

5. Technology and efficiency in accounting
Modern accounting is powered by technology. Throughout the course, we introduce students to automation tools, cloud-based solutions and real-world workflows that improve efficiency and decision-making. Showing students how accounting is using tip-of-the-spear, next-generation technology like generative and agentic AI creates excitement and evolves the overall perception of the work those in the profession do for their clients. 

Why this matters

The UVU pilot program isn't just another accounting class — it's about reshaping how we prepare future accountants. By focusing on real applications, industry certifications, real-world problem-solving and communication, we're producing graduates ready to make an impact from day one.

What excites me most is the potential to change the way people view accounting. If we can show students this profession is full of opportunities — not just in tax or audit, but in advisory, tech and business strategy — we can inspire more people to pursue it. That's how we start solving the talent shortage.

This program is just the beginning. Our goal is to refine and expand it, bringing in more educators, professionals and organizations to help shape the future of accounting education. This pilot program, coupled with Intuit's recent announcement about the expansion of its free QuickBooks Online curriculum to educators, has the ability to expand potential career opportunities.   

If we want lasting change, we need to take an active role in redefining what it means to be an accountant and ensuring the next generation sees this profession for what it truly is — dynamic, impactful and full of opportunity.