[Anonymous]

Okay so I just want to explain my situation as briefly as possible and hopefully get a little feedback.

I graduated in ’09 with a BS in (general) Business Administration from a small state school in NY. Unsure of really what to do, I wound up working mostly customer service type jobs for a retail bank for about 4 years. Then, not having a significant other or any children tying me down, I decided to pick up and move to Tennessee to be closer to my mom who was having some health issues. Now that I’m here in TN I feel like I am really ready to do whatever I have to do to break into accounting (preferrably public, I believe, for the broad exposure).

I’m 29, will be 30 early in 2017, and I don’t want to let any more time pass me by before I start to take the necessary steps to succeed in this field. I feel a little bit underqualified as my undergrad GPA was around 2.8 (though my accounting classes were all A’s and B’s), and I honestly didn’t do much outside of class. I am a hard worker, and again I have nothing tying me down, so I feel like I can do whatever I need to do. Being that I was not an accounting major during undergrad, I am pretty sure I’ll need to take some prerequisites before I’ll be able to begin a MAcc program (which I assume would be the best route to take to get the exposure to the accounting firms).

I’m just wondering if anyone here would be able to give me any words of wisdom as to where to go from here, and if this is a feasible type of plan? Would love to talk to anyone that has either done something like this or has seen people be successful taking a similar kind of route that I am looking to take. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and any guidance you may be able to provide!

[wcn825]

im in the same boat as you beancountingbob. have been in retail banking for years and decided to get into accounting at 30. we'll see what happens once im finished with the exam. i went the junior college route and now im one section away from passing the exam. it's been almost 2 years since i started the whole process. so you definitely have to give it some time.

[Anonymous]

I also graduated with a BSBA, and I didn't want to pay for a master's degree in accounting. I enrolled in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program at a large public university located in the city I work in and got a certificate in accounting. I was able to get the 27 hours I needed, from a reputable university and while working full time. And since my company reimbursed for tuition it was free.

It doesn't have to be a choice between a master's degree or community college. I think certificate programs are a really great way to get the credit hours you need if you didn't do it while you were in undergrad.

[theunexperienced]

I went ahead and got my MSA because my current employer paid for the majority of it. I have zero accounting experience at age 29. However, I have two degrees and (hopefully) all these exams passed. I am hoping that this plus my interviewing skills will get me in somewhere. I have conceded to the fact that I need to work my way from the ground floor in whatever entity I get employed at. I'm hoping that becoming a CPA in a year of my employment will fast track my career.

I don't think it's about age to the employer (to a certain degree). It's about getting that interview for something that would be a good fit for you in the short term.

FAR - 75 (2/25/16)
AUD - 80 (4/8/16)
REG - 80 (6/10/16)
BEC - 79 (7/19/16)

You only get one shot with the spirit bomb.

[Pete]

I wouldn't mention it as a “short term” fit for the employer, nor think that way. If they even detect you plan to jump ship, you won't get the job.

Also, i'm reading the CPA will help you get a job, but it won't necessarily help you advance faster; you merely need the license to advance pass the senior level. Not having the license will merely blockade your growth. Also, as i'm experiencing, the actual job related EXPERIANCE you have is far more valuable than the license.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

So here's my story…

Graduated from High School in May 1986
Started College in August 1986
Dropped out of college in May 1991
Went back to college at nights while working all day in August 2004. I had zero business classes at this point.
Graduated from College in 2007 with a degree in Accounting
Started taking the CPA exam in 2008
Got sick… Got Really Really Sick
CPA license issued in 2013 (Yup, it took me 5 years to pass all four sections, but I passed FAR and BEC twice)
Now, I own my own firm. I take the clients I want to take and I send the others packing. I'm not rolling in money, but my bills are paid and I don't have anyone taking credit for my work anymore!

If you really want to do this, you can do it.

[XinChow]

It's never too late to get into accounting!! and 30 is yooooung!

[Anonymous]

At 30 you still have almost 40 years until full retirement age for SS benefits.

.

[danner]

I was 28 when I decided to go back to school for accounting. Prior to that, I had earned a liberal arts degree that ultimately turned out to be useless. It took me about three years to get my master's degree in accounting.

I will, however, share my experience on the age issue, as I feel it did set me back a bit when I was looking for internships. I went in thinking that being a grad student with a solid (albeit non-accounting) work history would make me an attractive candidate, but that wasn't quite the case. One interviewer flat-out told me that they like to hire younger students and acted like my previous degree was somehow a hinderance to my ability to be an accountant. Thankfully, I did land an internship that eventually turned into a permanent offer, so everything worked out just fine.

FAR - 74 (7/20/15), 81 (10/12/15)
AUD - 72 (11/30/15), 81 (1/18/16)
BEC - 87 (6/6/16)
REG - 8/8/16

[Author]

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