The short answer? Absolutely. Having not gone to college at all, the founder of MrTaxes.ca Inc. is living proof of it himself. Unless you are interested in positions like Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director, or Accounting Manager, there are several great opportunities available for candidates without an accounting degree or professional designation.
WHAT CAREERS ARE THERE, EXACTLY?
- Tax Preparer: you do not need a degree,
but filing taxes can be daunting if you have minimal experience, so it is
highly beneficial to obtain some education in tax preparing. If you are
interested in becoming a tax preparer, we highly recommend becoming a Certified
Tax Preparer by completing the www.CTPCanada.ca
course. This online course has been certified by the Government of Canada and
only costs $599.00 to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of tax
filing in Canada. As a tax preparer, you will be responsible for filing
personal and/or corporate taxes, GST and other filings and connecting with
clients throughout the process. Common traits of a successful tax preparer include
being meticulous and accurate in their work while keeping up with changes in
taxation laws.
- Bookkeeper: the bookkeeper is responsible
for recording all the transactions made by the company into their general
ledger, which is often done through software. These transactions include both
expenses and income, and it is imperative that the data is entered accurately.
Bookkeepers are often also responsible for using this information to prepare
financial statements, such as the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow
statement and statement of changes in equity.
- Mortgage Broker: although you do not need
a degree, you will need to get your mortgage license. In British Columbia, this
is done by completing the Mortgage Brokerage in British Columbia course at the
University of British Columbia. As a mortgage broker, your role is to connect
clients who are looking to get a mortgage with the most suitable mortgage
lenders for that client. You apply for the loan on your client’s behalf by
gathering and submitting the required documents.
- Insurance Broker: similar to becoming a mortgage broker, you need to be licensed. To obtain a license in British Columbia, you must pass the Fundamentals of Insurance exam or the Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker 1 (CAIB 1) exam and then the LLQP qualifying exam, administered by the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia (IBABC). As an insurance broker, you assess the insurance needs of your client and connect them with insurers that provide coverage and rates that best suit the client. Successful insurance brokers possess excellent interpersonal and customer service skills to sell plans and maintain long-term relationships with the client.
WHAT NEXT?
Our list is definitely not exhaustive, as there are many more opportunities out there that do not require a degree. If you are interested in working with a leading financial services company, we would love to hear from you – whether you have a degree or not! Check out www.MrTaxes.ca/opportunity for our current openings.