[jseowon]

Hello,

I have been on this forum from time to time. I registered today to write this because I would like to get some career advises.

I had wanted to go for public accounting but could not. I should have had planned better for it but now I think it is too late. I am in my very early 30s already. In 2010, I graduated with BS in accounting and was lucky to have an internship at a corporation in the tough job market back then. I had worked there for 4 years and became a senior accountant but it laid off me because it was acquired and they wanted to consolidate the accounting team.

Before I was let go, I started studying for CPA exams and I passed the all parts by this August. Also I got a new senior accountant position at a private not-for-profit university, which its MBA program is ranked around 35-60 depends on various institutions.

They offer me almost free part-time MBA or MSA. I still need 18 more credits to be licensed so this is great although if I had to take, it probably would be online courses since I work full time 8-5.

Here is the problem. First, the new senior accountant role is not what I originally wanted to do. I am not in the comptroller’s office therefore I do not work on financial reporting or have a month end close. Instead I do accounting for a school division in the university and would work on some analysis, digging in expenses, forecasts and budgets according to my manager (Im still new). I think this role will not help my career and believe having experience in financial reporting will make me stand out more but teach me if I am wrong.

Second, If I decide to stay here, I need to choose MBA or Master, which I had never thought doing it before I took this job. What would be better for my career? I read that Master in accounting helps one to prepare for CPA exams but I already passed them. I also read MBA from non-top school is not worth doing, specially if it is online course. Many people who got MBA from this school go to consulting at Deloitte and that is interesting though.

So in short, would you choose experience or MBA or Master?

I appreciate the opportunity I have. I just want to plan better for next 5 years.

I also appreciate for any inputs you make here.

AUD - 75 8/23/13
REG - 73, 80 4/10/14
BEC - 74, 75 5/22/14
FAR - 88 8/29/14

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what the difference is between what you're calling an MBA and a Master. I have my MBA in accounting. It required your standard business classes (economics, finance, marketing, management (1 of each)), but it was still primarily accounting classes (7).

[stag]

I believe the master jseo is referring to is MSA. “They offer me almost free part-time MBA or MSA. I still need 18 more credits to be licensed so this is great although if I had to take, it probably would be online courses since I work full time 8-5.” At my school, MSA (30 credits) has less credit requirement than MBA (66 credits)

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Iggy1985]

MBA is a masters in business, Masters I think he is referring to a masters of science in accountancy, MSA

I feel like MSA would help you more in public while MBA would help you more in private but don't take my word for it lol

FAR - 89 (8/19/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Books from School, Ninja Audio/Notes
AUD - 92 (10/14/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Ninja Audio
BEC - 82 (5/8/15) Mostly Ninja MCQ, sprinkles of Becker lectures and Ninja Audio
REG - (8/14/15)

[jseowon]

Yes. I was referring to Master in Accountancy.

AUD - 75 8/23/13
REG - 73, 80 4/10/14
BEC - 74, 75 5/22/14
FAR - 88 8/29/14

[stag]

then it should be depending on which 18 credits you need for CPA. different state has different requirements. if you need accounting credits, i don't know how many classes in mba program will count toward that.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[jseowon]

I already have enough accounting course credits. I can take any electives to complete 18 credits. I just want to make it little more useful than that.

AUD - 75 8/23/13
REG - 73, 80 4/10/14
BEC - 74, 75 5/22/14
FAR - 88 8/29/14

[stag]

then i will suggest mba program. it adds a different value than msa/cpa. most of my peers did msa because it fulfills the 150 requirement, give them a master degree, and is only one year rather than 2 years such as mba.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Author]

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