CPA's

I have recently graduated with my B/S in Business Administration. I've been working as a bookkeeper/accountant for the past few months and I'm starting to enjoy it. I always thought accounting was the last thing I would want to do, but it is growing on me. However, the only way I'd want to stay in this career path is if I go back to school, get my masters, and then get my CPA.

I'm looking for advice on the best way to do this. My concentration was in management, not accounting. I want to go back and get my masters. The school I graduated from offers an M.B.A program in professional accountancy, which gives you the credentials to take the CPA exam. Does not having an accounting degree hurt me when applying to masters accounting programs? What is the best thing I could do at this point? Keep working and get more experience, get right back into school, or something else? Any advice from someone who has gone through the process would be great.

Originally Posted by Jbreen1

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I have recently graduated with my B/S in Business Administration. I've been working as a bookkeeper/accountant for the past few months and I'm starting to enjoy it. I always thought accounting was the last thing I would want to do, but it is growing on me. However, the only way I'd want to stay in this career path is if I go back to school, get my masters, and then get my CPA. I'm looking for advice on the best way to do this. My concentration was in management, not accounting. I want to go back and get my masters. The school I graduated from offers an M.B.A program in professional accountancy, which gives you the credentials to take the CPA exam. Does not having an accounting degree hurt me when applying to masters accounting programs? What is the best thing I could do at this point? Keep working and get more experience, get right back into school, or something else? Any advice from someone who has gone through the process would be great.

If you want to do taxes you need a masters degree but for accounting, I do not really see the point. Just pass the CPA exam. If you have an undergraduate accounting degree a masters would be a complete waste. Masters of Accountancy are for people who have never taken an accounting class before.

Originally Posted by SirWilliam

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If you want to do taxes you need a masters degree but for accounting, I do not really see the point. Just pass the CPA exam. If you have an undergraduate accounting degree a masters would be a complete waste. Masters of Accountancy are for people who have never taken an accounting class before.

Or if your in one of the 45 states that require 150 hrs to get a CPA license. I'm graduating with my bachelors in accounting this May and doing the masters at the same school I got the bachelors at. From what I've been told just get it as cheap and as quickly possible, generally in the city or geographic area you want to work in. If you are interested in certain firms you may want to look into if they recruit on campus at the school as a better school would increase your chances with certain firms.

I'm guessing you've only taken intro to financial and managerial for accounting in you undergraduate is in business admin so you may want to look for a program geared to that. I know our program it would be very difficult for a non-accounting major as its mostly continuing undergraduates who are assumed to know the undergraduate accounting material.

Originally Posted by SirWilliam

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If you want to do taxes you need a masters degree but for accounting, I do not really see the point. Just pass the CPA exam. If you have an undergraduate accounting degree a masters would be a complete waste. Masters of Accountancy are for people who have never taken an accounting class before.

This. A friend I went to school with is doing her MBA, but already has her CPA and was made partner at a small accounting firm her first year out of undergrad. The only reason she is doing her MBA is because she wants it... it will server her no purpose in her current and quite possibly future endeavors.

I work for big 4, hours are extremely hectic and real money doesn't come until you make to a manager. Many people I work with have CPAs and now they're studying for MBA or CFA so don't think getting the CPA will guarantee your career path. If you want to work in auditing or taxation, your chance of making a manager will increase significantly if you have other designation beside CPA. So if you're willing to put in time to get your MBA, I highly recommend you get it but at least get a job first so that the company will subsidize the cost. Big 4 offers you bonus when you pass your CPA and actually subsidizes with CPA prep course tuition. Good luck!

Originally Posted by katiedaddy

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I work for big 4, hours are extremely hectic and real money doesn't come until you make to a manager. Many people I work with have CPAs and now they're studying for MBA or CFA so don't think getting the CPA will guarantee your career path. If you want to work in auditing or taxation, your chance of making a manager will increase significantly if you have other designation beside CPA. So if you're willing to put in time to get your MBA, I highly recommend you get it but at least get a job first so that the company will subsidize the cost. Big 4 offers you bonus when you pass your CPA and actually subsidizes with CPA prep course tuition. Good luck!

I work in audit at a big 4 and worked at GT in audit and I don't know a single manager in audit that has another designation other than a CPA. In audit, that's the only designation that matters in order to make manager.