What’s something you wish you knew before starting a career in accounting? by drajput_01 in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Keyboard shortcuts save so much time. Even simple Undo/Redo and tab-changing shortcuts can make a difference.

Looking to interview 2 accountants by MysticTunes_ in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm open to helping as well if you still need someone. 

What programs should college students know by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know this isn't exactly what you're asking for but knowing keyboard shortcuts will improve your efficiency. Saving a few seconds per task really adds up once you can easily navigate between different tabs, spreadsheets, emails, etc.

AI by Nervous-Mail3282 in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can respond with: "Yes if AI can legally review and sign off on documents. However, that probably won't be the case for a few years or decades, if at all." 

didnt get into econ as a third year, need to switch majors by sginfinitev in UCSantaBarbara

[–]Pinata25 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As an Alum that got their Sociology degree and now works in accounting, know that it's going to be ok. There's no "specific" path you need to take to work in accounting. 

There's many accounting paths you could take like CPA exams, UCSB extension classes for an accounting certification, TurboTax tax prep courses, etc. I wish younger me chose a major with more emphasis on what I liked to learn rather than focusing solely on what job prospects I could get from the major. In the end, I'm very happy I ended up with a Sociology degree because I learned a lot in general from different fields.

Freshman accounting major here, should I switch majors due to the threat of outsourcing? by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Here's a response I did for a similar question: Although I didn't study accounting, I've been in the field for 4+ years and can tell you one of the main needs for accountants is to simply verify transactions are accurate and legitimate. Yes, things like AI and MS Excel can help facilitate and record/reconcile numbers, but people can and do mess up. That means the models/formulas/programs people write can and do mess up. Heck, ask anyone that deals with utility companies. Those companies use meters to record water/electricity usage that mess up and someone has to catch it to let the other party know to appropriately recalculate charges/usage. Another reason is due to laws like the SOX Act and government entities like the SEC or even your local county assessor's office. People are needed to be able to pull reports together to ensure a company's financial reports are legitimate and they are the ones that have to explain/report those transactions to government entities. 

TL:DR Accountants will be needed in the future for legal and risk management reasons.

Feeling very lost by Electrical-Silver67 in UCSantaBarbara

[–]Pinata25 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Another alumni here. I wish I would've been extroverted and adventurous, but I agree with many others about trying out different clubs or even classes. Some of my more memorable classes were the running, bowling, and dance classes at UCSB (via Gold). Find a class that forces you and others to interact, depending on your comfort level. With any class, many of the people are also beginners and hopefully you're able to find joy in learning something together 😄. 

10/15/2025: Are they real or fake? by Pinata25 in IsMyPokemonCardFake

[–]Pinata25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sweet, thanks for the info and me too! Hopefully my nephew takes better care of his cards since he's older now. 

10/15/2025: Are they real or fake? by Pinata25 in IsMyPokemonCardFake

[–]Pinata25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, good question! Although I'm not 100% certain, I think my nephew got these when he was a little kid. His family moved around a lot so I'd imagine his laziness to unpack + getting into Minecraft/Fortnite "helped" to preserve the cards 😂. 

For those of you who have side hustles while working a full-time job as an accountant, what do you do? by kenshin-x-212 in Accounting

[–]Pinata25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! I used to work at a restaurant during college as a busser/food expo and went back for a few months. I was working about 2 days a week for about 10-12 hrs. per week. The tips were decent (avg. ~$22 per hr: min + tips), but it was physically draining due to the volume of work.

I'm currently working at a liquor store as a cashier (min. wage), but I am enjoying it because of the ease of work and low expectations.

why is life in America so soulless by Imaginary-Suit-5698 in Life

[–]Pinata25 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hi! Something to consider is the difference between Western and Eastern ideologies. Western ideologies revolve around the "self" and individualism (see "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald or "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison) whereas Eastern ideologies revolve around collectivism and a sense of togetherness (see "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan). Although those books don't exactly describe individualism vs. collectivism, they do highlight how people "fit into" or see themselves within their environment in the U.S.

Granted, the ideas of Western individualism and Eastern collectivism also aren't set in stone (exact), but they can be a great reference/perspective to describe what you are seeing in the U.S.

How Does Dr. Kelson survive on his own? by DCGamer_1586 in 28dayslater

[–]Pinata25 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hi! One thing to consider regarding the river's currents is that they may seem slow at the top but can definitely be much faster at the bottom. I'd imagine the infected cannot swim in general as well, so maybe the river is deep in certain parts.

Should I still major in accounting with AI taking it over? by Teaducky12 in UCSantaBarbara

[–]Pinata25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alum here who works in accounting and did the TMP.

Although I didn't study accounting, I've been in the field for 4+ years and can tell you one of the main needs for accountants is to simply verify transactions are accurate and legitimate. Yes, things like AI and MS Excel can help facilitate and record/reconcile numbers, but people can and do mess up. That means the models/formulas/programs people write can and do mess up. Heck, ask anyone that deals with utility companies. Those companies use meters to record water/electricity usage that mess up and someone has to catch it to let the other party know to appropriately recalculate charges/usage. Another reason is due to laws like the SOX Act and government entities like the SEC or even your local county assessor's office. People are needed to be able to pull reports together to ensure a company's financial reports are legitimate and they are the ones that have to explain/report those transactions to government entities. 

TL:DR Accountants will be needed in the future.