DiscoverBig ThinkMore accountants are leaving the field than joining. What’s going on? | Kelly Richmond Pope
More accountants are leaving the field than joining. What’s going on? | Kelly Richmond Pope

More accountants are leaving the field than joining. What’s going on? | Kelly Richmond Pope

Update: 2025-09-18
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More CPAs are retiring than are joining the field. What’s going on? Forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope explains.

Imagine a world without accountants – it's not as distant as you think. Over 300,000 accountants have left the field in the past two years, and fewer students are pursuing accounting majors or the CPA exam.

Forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope explores this alarming decline in interest in accounting. Pope believes the difficulty and cost of getting an accounting degree have drawn prospective students away, along with shifting career interests driven by social media, ESG, cybersecurity, and IT.

However, some changes could attract new learners and, thus, save the field. Pope shares a few ideas for how to revitalize a very necessary profession.



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More accountants are leaving the field than joining. What’s going on? | Kelly Richmond Pope

More accountants are leaving the field than joining. What’s going on? | Kelly Richmond Pope

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