[John G]

I’m a CPA with no big-4 experience, but I have accounting experience in both private and government (a state university system). This experience was gained over 7 years ago (and longer). I passed the CPA exam in 2012.

For the past 7 years I have been in data analytics / business intelligence, etc. It’s mostly been a lot of SQL, some Python coding, hardcore Excel, a little bit of R, quantitative analytics and reporting etc.

In the next 2-3 years I would like to transition back into accounting – preferably taking a role as a senior accountant somewhere and working my way up to controller (ideally). I have a graduate certificate in management accounting that, with 6 extra classes I could turn into an MBA with a management accounting concentration. However, I am not sure that would be enough to get me into an accounting role because I have been out of the accounting field for a little while. I have kept my CPA license active, though. Things working against me are:

* Graduate Certificate is from an unknown university outside of the local area where I got it from.
* No Big 4 experience.
* Not sure how applicable my analytics experience is to a vanilla accounting environment.
* Not sure if the MBA would be worth it to try and get into an accounting position
* accounting experience is from several years ago – may not be on top of all the new systems/developments.
* undergraduate degree is not technically in accounting – it was an arts degree that I supplemented with accounting courses after graduation. But I never truly got an accounting degree – not sure if this would be held against me as many accounting jobs explicitly state “accounting degree”. I suppose my graduate certificate + extra accounting courses should count, but I am not sure if it will get past ATS algorithms in the application process. Essentially, my story is not typically what employers want to see.

I was curious if anyone else’s career path has meandered a bit and how to get back into accounting from a non-accounting role.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,
Great info. Based on that, I think if you are open to starting at the entry level you should be fine. I am not sure how much difference the pay cut will make.
Just curious to know as to what made you transition to accounting from analytics. From what I have heard and seen it has a great future outlook with the skills that you have mentioned and may be pays a little more than accounting.

[John G]

I was wondering if I would be able to start at the senior accountant level rather than starting at the bottom again. Maybe even assistant controller?

With accounting experience in the past, an active CPA license and some graduate work (maybe even an MBA), how could I spin it to try and get into a position like that?

[Anonymous]

What level are you at in your current position? I would say with the right job you might be able to make a lateral move into accounting…

[John G]

Analytics Manager, also was a Senior Risk Analyst

Both were non-people leader roles. It was called ‘manager' because I designed and managed a real-time analytics program.

[Anonymous]

Senior level or assistant controller could be achieved only if someone refers you.

[Aspiring CPA]

John G – you may want to look into risk advisory. I work in the Carolinas at a mid tier firm and we have been hiring specifically for a data analyst. I believe the position we had open was a senior level and it seems you would be a fit for that. We definitely have a need for people with the skill set you described; python, Excel, analytics, and a CPA. I think you would make a great asset to a Risk Advisory practice.

[Anonymous]

I'm only going to answer this on something that happened in my life recently. The Controller at my job was a cpa who came out of an analyst position. He worked over a decade doing that.
He was EXCELLENT at excel. I never seen someone work excel like that, and he was absolutely amazing at pulling the information needed from certain programs to keep our accounting software going.
And, he was fired.
The guy couldn't fight his way out of a journal entry, couldn't analyze the financial statements, couldn't figure out 941 taxes and had no idea what to do to find an error in the statements. He never reconciled bank statements and literally had no idea what RECLASSIFY meant when I said it to him.
He didn't have big 4 experience either.
If you understand accounting, the flow and the financials, then go for it.
If not…start out as an assistant. Learn from a controller.

[Josh]

Do you like taxes? Consider benefiting your community through VITA, AARP or if it's worth it, retail tax (certain organizations look favorably on Circle 230 Holders like yourself.) I don't want to sell you on a particular one, but there's good free/cheap hands on training out there for tax and bookkeeping, etc, you should consider.

Or financial analysis? It's probably not hard to get that experience as a CPA. I am a financial securities candidate, myself, so

..I can relate in a similar way. I'm not traditional myself, and it's difficult to find a good fit not being “traditional.” Many recruiters have suggested join a small firm or partner with one being a business owner (which is a lot easier than how hiring managers act like it can be. It's not that hard to be a tax preparer or QuickBooks Advisor, almost as easy as I've heard it is to open a lemonade stand. One night my Becker instructor said he opened a business live in front of class. It can be that easy to be a sole proprietor and not much harder to get some asset protection like a LLC.) A suggestion of mine is to weigh the advantages of each business structure. I've heard some financial advisors suggest S-Corp's for payroll and tax benefits especially if you hire or contract others. Partnerships as Ninja suggests can be made even with a nod (as long as 2 partners have an intent to make a profit.)

Personally, when I was let go from a top 10 accounting firm, my managing principal suggested that I improve my people skills. I've been working in customer service since and learning as much if not more about helping people from associations like my state society and community organizations like church where I do my best to encourage others and put my psychological skills to use in recovery from difficult habits to overcome.

There's a lot of other places to learn social skills as well such as volunteering for a zoo or hospital or being a Toastmaster or as I've read in “Business of the 21st Century,” by Robert Kiyosaki network marketing, which often uses direct sales.

I personally got a lot out of “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie; “The Compound Effect,” by Darren Hardy (publisher of Success Magazine); and “How to Make People like You in 90 Seconds or Less,” by Nicholas Boothman.

There's a lot of sources out there for learning to lead others including books or audios/pdf's, etc. at FexEx, Google and library systems. Finally, if I could offer a place to start I've heard from a counselor in training as well as other places. “Be authentic” with people. That's a good way to say start by knowing and being yourself. Don't forget about resources out there on careers for accountants such as this blog, Gleim's blog, Becker's “The Pinnacle” and other blogs on career advice for accountants from others who coach people through the exam.

I believe you have the ability to manage people because you have the discipline to lead yourself into passing this exam! You can do it! (.. and if it seems hard, you're doing well to reach out to others who have a desire to see you succeed, champion you and want to see you develop in accounting). Keep up the good work! It's not too late to grow even in places others may not be willing to set foot, such as a local Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) or Economic Development or Chamber of Commerce. Even recruiters can be good resources for career development.

[Author]

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