The “Sexy” Career Path of Real Estate Accounting

By Wiss Associate

I got into the field of real estate accounting for one good reason: I was majoring in accounting at Rutgers-Newark, working nights at a warehouse and looking for a part-time job that would let me use more of what I was learning at school. The first offer I got was for an internship with a real estate accounting firm. That turned into my first career job out of college and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 15 years.

If you’re just starting out and exploring career paths, you might be considering what you think to be sexier fields: hedge fund management, technology, game development, or perhaps, well, anything besides accounting.

But I invite you to take a second look at the accounting profession, and real estate accounting in particular. Here’s why.

It’s an excellent foundational degree

Real estate accounting is great training for other professions. Within your first three years on the job, you’ll learn about payroll management, property development, working with municipalities, asset management, tax law and countless other areas of expertise.

You’ll meet important people

Your day-to-day job as a real estate accountant will put you in regular contact with developers, landlords, lawyers, architects, engineers, contractors, bankers and real estate investors. You’ll go to networking events, meet people and get countless opportunities to slowly build your reputation.

You’ll get out of the office

There is a very stereotypical — and very wrong — image of accountants working solo in boring jobs. The truth couldn’t be more different. You’ll get out of the office more than you will be in it. The profession of a real estate accountant actually requires an outgoing personality and the ability to work well with others.

You’ll have job security

Or at least as much as anyone has today. The work will vary, but there’s always something important to do as a real estate accountant – especially in New York City, which is unlike any market in the world. Manhattan is the height of real estate glamour.

As a real estate accountant, you’ll meet and work with intriguing people and use your talents, ingenuity and creativity to help develop spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. What’s not sexy about that?

Did you know? Wiss & Company, LLP offers professional real estate accounting services

Get in Touch

Thank you for your interest in Wiss. Please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch shortly.

X