[melonbread]

Hi all,

I need some advice if I need bachelor’s degree in accounting.

I live in one of Asian countries.
I graduated from college with BA English there.
For the CPA exam, I earned those required accounting credits from a college in America online but they are from non-degree program.

I’m planning to move in America and find a job.
(don’t worry about my VISA!)
I’ve been checking job recruitment for a position as an accountant but most of them say I need bachelors in accounting.

Even if I’m a Licensed CPA, CFE and
I’ve been working at big4 for 3 years,
Do I still need that degree?

Obviously I could ask one of those companies but since almost all the companies included that they need someone with bachelors in accounting, I just wanted to know some general idea from professionals here.

[RB]

I really don’t think it matters, the actual CPA license is more important

My bachelors is in economics supplemented with the required accounting for the CPA, aka the equivalent of a bachelors in accounting. If you’re a CPA it won’t matter for 99% of companies

[melonbread]

@RB Thank you for your reply!
That's good to hear.
I was about to waste a ton of money for trying to get the degree I don't need!

[jenpen]

I agree with RB. I have a BS in BS (or organizational leadership, if you want to get technical) and an MBA with an “accounting concentration” (that only required 3 accounting courses, but obviously I had to get more for the CPA). As long as you meet the exam requirements, and it sounds like you have, I wouldn't worry about getting another degree unless you need to for something.

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[Mike J]

I wholeheartedly disagree with the advice given here.

Economics and Marketing are business degrees. Accounting is too.

Like the original poster, my undergraduate degree is a liberal arts major (print journalism versus english). I completed the minimal prerequisites for licensure and passed my last exam in December 2016. Since then I applied in vain to myriad jobs in public practice, non-accounting industries and with the government. Only after I matriculated in a Masters program last July did I receive a job offer in public accounting.

Yes, a degree should NOT matter if you have the CPA exams completed. In short, firms need to be able to bill you out. Also, it's supply and demand.

Get the (second) degree. It sucks but do it.

[A]

No, but you will be competing against plenty of people who do have a degree in Accounting. After looking at the educational requirements in my state, I determined that I could earn a second B.S. in Accounting (first B.S. was in Biology, all of my non-core classes transferred) by adding just six more credit hours to my curriculum. It might be false economy to stop short if getting the actual degree only requires a couple more classes. If you are in the US, this approach also allows for full leverage of campus recruiting, Beta Alpha Psi, etc.

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[TommyTheCat]

good advice Mike, I agree with you. It shouldn't matter but it does. You'll likely still land a gig eventually since the CPA is very desirable but it sure would come quicker and be easier if you had a BS in a college of business type field (in which I lump econ).

I have my BS in economics and I elected to do my field of expertise in accounting, ie an accounting concentration or minor depending on what your school calls it, and i had a job offer from big 4 a year before i graduated.

[melonbread]

Thank you everyone for all the advice!

Well… I guess I knew the CPA license wouldn't be strong enough to compensate for my BA degree. And of course, life is always harsh on me…

Do you all have any recommendation which online school is good for me?
If I can choose either a BS or a MS, should I get a MS?

I know I'm asking too many questions but I appreciate your advice a lot!

I'm working full time in Tokyo now and I don't have much money saved (I started working this year) so I prefer the cheapest way possible!

[mad max]

I disagree with the people who say you need BA/BS in Accounting, the replies here are anecdotal at best. If you can put CPA after your name, and have years of PubAcc experience, I do not see why people would turn you away for having your Bachelors in a different field. I say use your English degree to your advantage (you have above average communication skill most likely) and apply to any jobs that you like! If a job says required BS in Acc, apply anyway!

I agree that it may be hard for someone if they didn't have the work experience, but you say that you do. One of the examples above seemed to be from someone with no prior experience at all in accounting. You can always get degree in the future, but unless money is truly no issue to you, you may want to do more research and cost evaluation.

[Missy]

I disagree with the advice to seek another degree.

The reason many entry level jobs say an accounting degree is “required” is to discourage candidates with NO accounting education from applying. You'd be shocked how many resumes I'll get for a position with NO education or experience relevance. People who are desperate for jobs and figure despite their associates in Women's studies they'd just be superstars at accounting.

It is true that some positions will think a candidate with an accounting degree is more qualified than you but the sad truth is even getting that second degree won't necessarily make you more desirable, check out this forum alone and how many with accounting degrees AND passed exams are struggling with their job search.

My first three jobs said an accounting degree was “required” and I didn't have a degree at all. What I did have was the ability to convince an employer that I was a better candidate than the others they were interviewing at the time.

Unless you can get a 2nd degree VERY inexpensively please don't waste your money.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[ellejay]

I personally feel you'd have a much easier time if you had a degree in accounting or another business-related field. It's not impossible to get into it if you lack the degree title (but have the education), but I do feel it will be more difficult for you. If you already meet the educational requirements to do the CPA chances are you probably don't need to take that many courses to get the degree, but you will want to check with your university. Some require you take X amount of credits before you can obtain a degree through them.

[melonbread]

Thanks you all for the comments!

In the first post I said I've been working at one of Big4 for 3 years but it's not true yet: it's my first year now and that was just a hypothetical idea of myself in 3 years because that's when I'm thinking of moving out of Japan.

I have time until then so I wanted to know if I definitely need another BS or MS in accounting so that I can think of getting it while I have time.

So after all, it depends on each person…? I should get it, but I don't have to if I can't???

Do you all also have any other idea of what I should do now to make myself more “marketable” in the US?

I'm currently working on my CFE and testing in this month. Also I'm thinking of studying Excel VBA soon. What else can I do?

[56_Moves]

@melonbread,

Being able to put CPA after your name and list Big 4 experience on your resume will make you very marketable. A masters degree in accounting is not a bad decision (it is only 10 classes in many colleges) but it is not necessary either, not with Big 4 experience.

[Author]

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