Associations for Accounting Professionals

Five Great Associations Accounting Professionals Should Join

  • American Association of Finance and Accounting (AAFA)
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Association for Financial Professionals (AFP)
  • American Accounting Association (AAA)
  • National Society of Accountants (NSA)

All accountants and financial professionals should consider joining professional organizations. Finance is an ever-changing field. Membership in an accounting association allows professionals to stay current and participate in the development of new knowledge and practices. Membership also creates opportunities for career advancement and getting to know others in the field. These five organizations for accountants offer all of these benefits.

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1. AAFA

Established in 1978, the AAFA supports financial professionals at every step of their careers. They offer services for:

  • finding jobs
  • advancing careers
  • recruiting employees

Career hunters can enter their resumes into the AAFA website, and AAFA will populate with opportunities in a wide variety of financial roles across the United States and Canada. They assist with comparing different roles in terms of job description and compensation packages.

2. AICPA

AICPA is a professional development and networking organization home to about 400,000  accountants. AICPA even offers services to assist students with choosing and succeeding in the right accounting degree program. They offer services for:

  • job searching and hiring employees
  • continuing education
  • connecting current events to the field of finance
  • networking with peers and colleagues across the nation

One of the best perks of AICPA membership is the wide variety of conferences and webinars.

3. AFP

The AFP seeks to build a sense of community within the finance field. They focus on publishing and disseminating the most current research and hosting networking events both large and local. Their annual conferences are particularly popular. They’re a great way to both have fun and expand one’s professional network. They aim to bring professionals together frequently for ongoing discussions on a wide range of relevant topics. They also offer career and employment services.

4. AAA

The AAA seeks to create and utilize effective leadership in the field. They hold annual national and frequent local meetings to discuss:

  • current knowledge
  • problems
  • solutions
  • prevention

The annual meetings are great opportunities to explore new places and meet new people, as well. They put into action the results of those conversations through a great deal of national and community outreach. AAA also offers career and employment services.

5. NSA

The NSA is a one-stop professional organization for students through seasoned accountants. They offer:

  • scholarships and academic planning services
  • career and employment services
  • continuing education credits
  • networking opportunities

They offer a search database to connect members with potential clients. They host a wide variety of national and local conferences and webinars.

Each of these five organizations has a slightly different focus. They allow accountants to hone their unique passions and skills and build well-rounded practices. These organizations contribute seriously to the field while enjoying collaboration across the country. Joining professional organizations such as these is the surest way to take one’s career to the next level.

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