[memmy29]

I worked as the manager of accounts receivable for a small company while I completed my Masters in Accounting and obtained my CPA license. I landed a job as an internal auditor for a major university, and have since been promoted to senior auditor. I love my job, but the pay is not great and I mostly work on operational audits.

I see many jobs opening up in the university for accountants (assistant controllers, controllers etc), but I do not feel that I have much financial statement experience in order to be ready for that kind of work.

Has anyone made the switch from Auditor to Accountant? If so, how did you get the experience you needed? I’m worried I’ll be stuck in operational auditing forever.

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[Anonymous]

Just curious- what kind of operation audits could a University possibly need?

[memmy29]

Payroll, purchasing, youth protection, asset management, athletics programs etc.

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[hampster]

Just wanted to chime in that we're in similar situations. I worked as an auditor for Big4 then left accounting for a year and am now looking for accounting positions at universities/colleges.

Would you be interested in working as an accountant at your current university? If you are, you might want to talk to the accountants at work. I'm guessing you already know some of them, and maybe they can give you some tips over coffee.

[krschneids]

I interned in the internal audit department of my alma mater during my senior year and loved it. I'm an audit associate for a top 15 public firm now and I feel like it really prepared me for my career. We always got to do an audit of the athletics department for the NCAA every year, so it was interesting to see the frivolous spending that went on over there.

I know I didn't answer your question, @memmy29, sorry!

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[memmy29]

@krschneids –

I know, I love audit and I would do it forever if I could get some good $$$ out of it. Are you happy with your compensation?

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[memmy29]

@hampster – Have you been able to find a good position or are you having difficulty transitioning from audit to accounting?

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[hampster]

@memmy29, lol just posted about my job situation seconds ago. I left accounting to work abroad in a completely different line of work and just arrived back in the U.S.

I'll let you know how it goes if you're interested. I'm planning to (1) send out my resume cold; (2) ask friends/relatives for job leads; and (3) use LinkedIn.

How long have you been looking for an accounting position and have you sent out your resume?

[krschneids]

@memmy29, Yeah I'm really happy with my compensation. I think it's really good for someone fresh out of college!

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[tomq04]

I can't imagine that transition would be difficult…but I have no experience to substantiate this claim.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Anonymous]

@memmy I think that transition from Auditor to Controller could be difficult to sell (probably could do the work, but hard to convince someone else of that); however, switching from Auditor to an Accountant position at the college and then from there to Controller etc. would probably be much more attainable.

Even then, though, compensation at colleges is generally lower, so you may find you run into the same caps in accounting as in audit.

[Anonymous]

My boss just switched from audit to controller. We are a mid sized logistics company, but it seemed to be a pretty easy transition for him.

[memmy29]

I guess I'm worried that if I don't use my financial CPA knowledge that I'll lose it. Anyone else have that fear?

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[Author]

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