Is accounting a stressful job?

I believe Roger is an accountant, perhaps he will see this thread and answer your question.

You would need to ask a real accountant.

First of all, are you passionate about becoming an accountant? Or is it that your family wants you to become that? In order for you to be "happy" like you said as an accountant, you need to have the feel for it. Are you good with numbers? Have you liked your accounting classes? Are you passing your accounting classes? If the answer to these questions are yes, then more than likely you will enjoy doing that for a living.

If you're called before congress for something like the Enron scandal and are threatened with life in prison, I'd think it could get quite stressful.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2003-03-24-watkins_x.htm

One of my good friends was an accountant--he became one because it was his family business, but we first met in an undergraduate Abstract Algebra class we were both taking outside our majors (I was an engineering undergrad, he was business).

When we were graduated we both followed our majors and went to different cities only seeing each other when we'd vacation at the same Greatful Dead concerts.

Finally He admitted that accounting wasn't his baliwick even though he was a good accountant (passed the certification and licensing exams easily) but it seemed he had to sit in the back room as Reagan era businesses didn't like to see accountants with dreadlocks and tie dyes.

He also hated the 90 hour work weeks leading up to tax time.

So he went back to school and got a PhD in discrete math and became a market analyst, game theorist and part time calculus teacher.

OK in answer to your initial question as an Engineer and applied physical mathematician--

Life is a word problem.

Rap

As a CPA, all you need to know is how to add and subtract, balance profits with loses to arrive at the bottom line, net profits or net loses.

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. Mark Twain

Good description - of a bookkeeper.

That thread tittle reminds me of the add: "I was once an accountant, then I discovered Smirnoff."

The stress in accounting comes from all the deadlines. Deadlines to produce monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, submit taxes, submit annual budgets and forecasts, etc.

I go along with everything you wrote, except taxes, budgets and forecasts.

“You want people walking away from the conversation with some kernel of wisdom or some kind of impact.” Henry Dean Stanton