[Anonymous]

Hey everyone! Just thought I’d reach out for some career advice. I have a few years of experience in Finance at a very large multinational and now one year of experience as just a general Accountant. After doing some research, taking both the GMAT and the LSAT, I decided I want to do International Tax.

It is my understanding the best way to do this is to go the Tax Accountant route by getting the CPA. My question is will simply taking the classes I need to sit for the CPA while working hurt my chance at being picked up for this type of position? I have a relatively lower GPA but I think that is offset by solid work experience, references, and relatively good test scores.

I just am considering borrowing the money to go get my MST as I have a relatively good GMAT score – between a 650-700.

Thanks so much for your help and suggestions.

[Substantive Testing]

I believe MST is now a must to get you started in tax in the big firms specially if its international tax. CPA not so much to get started, but in order to progress through your career, you might eventually need it. If international tax is really what you want, I believe you should focus on MST and maybe get some tax experience on the way.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your thoughts. That was my general understanding of the process as well- that more often than not you have to go through the MST programs in order to get picked up even as an experienced hire, even if you get your CPA independently.

That makes sense as I guess no one would ever pay for the MST program otherwise.

[Substantive Testing]

And you have to also consider that you are also competing with JD people that want to get into international tax issue, so it can really become very competitive.

[Anonymous]

I have a relatively good LSAT score as well….. 165+. I just don't think law school is worth the time+ money in order to make it to biglaw. I mean what would you do? 3+ years in law school+LLM in tax for 400k or take CPA classes at night for 2k and try to apply to MST programs that take 1 year and take the prereq accounting courses while working as an accountant?

[Substantive Testing]

I totally agree with you. Spending 400k while studying full time = student loans of over 300k, besides it doesnt feel right to spend 400k while not having any income. I do not think its worth it, and JD should go practice law instead of accounting/tax, but currently the job market for international tax in the big firms is JD>LLM>MST>CPA according to my JD friend at the big 4. Consider also that people who get JD/LLM might also get MST if they want to get into tax, but people who have MST might not want to get a JD or LLM. I do not want to discourage you by any means, I just want to make sure that you do your due diligence right before choosing your path into international tax.

[Anonymous]

No, you are fine. This is exactly what I wanted- candid answers so that I can do this right. What I am looking to do is not take on debt, or as little as possible, get a skill set that is valued, make a fair amount of money, and have whatever it is I study transfer directly to my job that I can do for the next 40 years, in other words I don’t want to sit around doing hypothetical math/ logic problems for four years that aren’t relevant to my job and I’d like this to be the last thing I am going to focus on and learn.

It is my understanding that International Tax, for the most part, fits the above and the cheapest most direct path to doing that is to get the Master’s in Tax.
Do you know by chance how difficult it is to get into International Tax and what the pay range is starting from your perspective? And how many jobs are out there in International Tax? It was my understanding that firms need Tax people and not enough people go into tax; which, is one of the main reasons I chose it.

[ultrarunner]

bp0 or is anyone else starting MST soon? I will start MST in a local state university in January. The school is heavily recruited by CPA firms. I took all my accounting classes from local community colleges, so I am not sure how difficult the classes would be compared to CC or Bachelor programs.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Author]

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