[findingthepath]

Hi guys,

I’ve recently been considering doing a career shift because I feel as if the goals and what I wanted to learn are shifting because I’m in the accounting field. I was at a Big 4 firm as an auditor for 1.5 years and recently resigned. I realized auditing wasn’t for me and also, for some reason, I was never put on a specific client long enough to truly understand it as my schedule wasn’t being handled properly even after multiple requests to have it be more stable; I was being taken off clients left and right every week or so while the majority of my other colleagues would be on one client for a while. Yet I very much enjoyed my clients in which I worked for 3 or more weeks, since I had time to learn the business. (I thought this shifting around might be due to something with my work performance- which would have been a shocker since I’ve received a good reputation for my work – but it turned out that it wasn’t). Anyways, I resigned and joined another Big 4 firm to become part of their accounting advisory services group in transactions and restructuring. So far, I’ve appreciated the projects I’ve been assigned in advisory and hope it’s a worthwhile.

Overall though, I’m thinking accounting is not for me. I graduated college with a business admin degree and only took accounting courses to learn about business essentially. I’m figuring out now that this path is much different than I realized: I’d much rather transition into a finance role (which is why I chose to do advisory, since it’s more transaction and buy-side/sell-side based).

In this case, although I attempted the CPA, I’m not seeing much benefit if I don’t plan on using it. I’m actually studying very hard for the GMAT, as getting an MBA has been a big goal for me, and am even looking into a CFA afterwards. I understand the CPA is important for an accountant, but for someone transitioning out, I would like any input on the matter. Is this even feasible, to transition out slowly? Would MBAs even consider me? Thank you.

[Study Monk]

Just to give you a fair warning:MBA does not equal executive job. While it may open doors it mostly helps people move up in careers where they are established. You might get more interesting advice if you told us what you want to do with the MBA.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Just to give you a fair warning:MBA does not equal executive job. While it may open doors it mostly helps people move up in careers where they are established. You might get more interesting advice if you told us what you want to do with the MBA.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Mayo]

I'd say that having a Big 4 Transactions & Audit background is a good start to getting into a good to great MBA program. Just make sure all your other pieces are in place (e.g. extracurriculars, GMAT, recommendations, etc.). I think you'll see the same repeated in other finance-based forums (i.e. Wall Street Oasis or Analystforum for the CFA).

I would recommend learning as much about the Finance side as you can. You might get there and realize it's not your cup of tea either.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

I'd say that having a Big 4 Transactions & Audit background is a good start to getting into a good to great MBA program. Just make sure all your other pieces are in place (e.g. extracurriculars, GMAT, recommendations, etc.). I think you'll see the same repeated in other finance-based forums (i.e. Wall Street Oasis or Analystforum for the CFA).

I would recommend learning as much about the Finance side as you can. You might get there and realize it's not your cup of tea either.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mathgirl7]

CPA's and MBA's are pretty interchangeable in corporate finance. As long as you have one you should be fine. I wouldn't spend 100k on an MBA (and as prior poster said its only meaningful if its from a top school). I currently do financial planning & analysis and am pursuing a cpa because I have already met most of the requirements (same with cfa actually). Having a good reputation and people wanting you to work for them is the key once you have any of these professional designations.

AUD - 2/1/2014 - 92
BEC - 2/8/2014 - 79
REG - 5/17/2014
FAR - 5/21/2014

CA Ethics Exam - Passed

[Mathgirl7]

CPA's and MBA's are pretty interchangeable in corporate finance. As long as you have one you should be fine. I wouldn't spend 100k on an MBA (and as prior poster said its only meaningful if its from a top school). I currently do financial planning & analysis and am pursuing a cpa because I have already met most of the requirements (same with cfa actually). Having a good reputation and people wanting you to work for them is the key once you have any of these professional designations.

AUD - 2/1/2014 - 92
BEC - 2/8/2014 - 79
REG - 5/17/2014
FAR - 5/21/2014

CA Ethics Exam - Passed

[Tncincy]

@mathgirl,

How did you feel about taking two test in one month? How did you study? I know you are waiting for scores but I am really curious.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Tncincy]

@mathgirl,

How did you feel about taking two test in one month? How did you study? I know you are waiting for scores but I am really curious.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[UNC MAcc]

OP you are confusing what employers value. I graduated from both MBA and MAcc programs from comparable schools. Every CPA in my MBA program had multiple offers, but not every MBA had offers. Your best bet is the following:

1. Get another job. I'd suggest internal audit at a larger company. They are more flexible with scheduling than Big 4 and the work load is A LOT more balanced. Audit isn't sexy or fun, but I promise you will like it a lot more as an internal auditor than as a public one. Your MBA is pretty worthless without a strong background in something. Audit is highly valued as a great stepping stone to other avenues as well by mega corps.

2. Knock out your CPA. Is is valuable in, and valued by employers, in just about every career you could possibly be interested in. Just about any white collar role of any sort in finance, accounting, auditing, risk, credit, insurance, banking, tax…. I could go on and on. Do it BEFORE your MBA.

3. 4-5 years of work experience + CPA + 650+ GMAT will get you into a good school with a career you are likely to enjoy afterwards.

4. Cut me a check for just saving you about $150,000 in career fuckups.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[UNC MAcc]

OP you are confusing what employers value. I graduated from both MBA and MAcc programs from comparable schools. Every CPA in my MBA program had multiple offers, but not every MBA had offers. Your best bet is the following:

1. Get another job. I'd suggest internal audit at a larger company. They are more flexible with scheduling than Big 4 and the work load is A LOT more balanced. Audit isn't sexy or fun, but I promise you will like it a lot more as an internal auditor than as a public one. Your MBA is pretty worthless without a strong background in something. Audit is highly valued as a great stepping stone to other avenues as well by mega corps.

2. Knock out your CPA. Is is valuable in, and valued by employers, in just about every career you could possibly be interested in. Just about any white collar role of any sort in finance, accounting, auditing, risk, credit, insurance, banking, tax…. I could go on and on. Do it BEFORE your MBA.

3. 4-5 years of work experience + CPA + 650+ GMAT will get you into a good school with a career you are likely to enjoy afterwards.

4. Cut me a check for just saving you about $150,000 in career fuckups.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[UNC MAcc]

“CPA's and MBA's are pretty interchangeable in corporate finance. As long as you have one you should be fine.”

This is criminally false.

The CPA is universally acknowledged as a high standard. The value of an MBA degree depends largely on where you went to school. Sorry, that is the reality. It isn't a reflection of the material learned, because most schools teach largely the same thing, but it is a reflection of the caliber of student that attends those schools. No, you are not a special flower that employers will recognize your genius and you can not get away with a University of Phoenix online MBA.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[UNC MAcc]

“CPA's and MBA's are pretty interchangeable in corporate finance. As long as you have one you should be fine.”

This is criminally false.

The CPA is universally acknowledged as a high standard. The value of an MBA degree depends largely on where you went to school. Sorry, that is the reality. It isn't a reflection of the material learned, because most schools teach largely the same thing, but it is a reflection of the caliber of student that attends those schools. No, you are not a special flower that employers will recognize your genius and you can not get away with a University of Phoenix online MBA.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Anonymous]

@OP I think you are very honest in your post, and are expressing openly that the accounting field is not fulfilling your career desires, in my point of view the fact of writing that is the most important step of your transition.

What I would do in your case, is to consider career coaching/counselling and explore all the alternatives that you have in front of you. Probably it will take some time, but it will worth.

Now, you mention just few, and these are good options. As per CPA, if you are already in the middle of the program, I would encourage you just to finsh.. you are here, just few steps and done. If not, then is not relevant.

Follow your intuition and you will be fine!

[Anonymous]

@OP I think you are very honest in your post, and are expressing openly that the accounting field is not fulfilling your career desires, in my point of view the fact of writing that is the most important step of your transition.

What I would do in your case, is to consider career coaching/counselling and explore all the alternatives that you have in front of you. Probably it will take some time, but it will worth.

Now, you mention just few, and these are good options. As per CPA, if you are already in the middle of the program, I would encourage you just to finsh.. you are here, just few steps and done. If not, then is not relevant.

Follow your intuition and you will be fine!

[UNC MAcc]

“Just to give you a fair warning:MBA does not equal executive job. While it may open doors it mostly helps people move up in careers where they are established”

Correct.

“I'd say that having a Big 4 Transactions & Audit background is a good start to getting into a good to great MBA program.”

Correct, but 1.5 years isn't enough. He/She needs to go back to work and get the CPA first.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Author]

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