[findingthepath]

Hi guys,

I’ve recently been considering doing a career shift because I feel as if the goals and what I wanted to learn are shifting because I’m in the accounting field. I was at a Big 4 firm as an auditor for 1.5 years and recently resigned. I realized auditing wasn’t for me and also, for some reason, I was never put on a specific client long enough to truly understand it as my schedule wasn’t being handled properly even after multiple requests to have it be more stable; I was being taken off clients left and right every week or so while the majority of my other colleagues would be on one client for a while. Yet I very much enjoyed my clients in which I worked for 3 or more weeks, since I had time to learn the business. (I thought this shifting around might be due to something with my work performance- which would have been a shocker since I’ve received a good reputation for my work – but it turned out that it wasn’t). Anyways, I resigned and joined another Big 4 firm to become part of their accounting advisory services group in transactions and restructuring. So far, I’ve appreciated the projects I’ve been assigned in advisory and hope it’s a worthwhile.

Overall though, I’m thinking accounting is not for me. I graduated college with a business admin degree and only took accounting courses to learn about business essentially. I’m figuring out now that this path is much different than I realized: I’d much rather transition into a finance role (which is why I chose to do advisory, since it’s more transaction and buy-side/sell-side based).

In this case, although I attempted the CPA, I’m not seeing much benefit if I don’t plan on using it. I’m actually studying very hard for the GMAT, as getting an MBA has been a big goal for me, and am even looking into a CFA afterwards. I understand the CPA is important for an accountant, but for someone transitioning out, I would like any input on the matter. Is this even feasible, to transition out slowly? Would MBAs even consider me? Thank you.

[jeff]

I used to work for a Fortune 1000 company…the finance people were all MBAs…the accounting people were all CPAs for the most part.

[jeff]

I used to work for a Fortune 1000 company…the finance people were all MBAs…the accounting people were all CPAs for the most part.

[CPA soon]

LOL seems like a fun thread going on over here.. I must agree with UNC Macc, I do not think MBA's and CPA licenses hold and equal value. If you want to be a corporate controller or CFO you need to be a CPA, if you want to be a CEO you probably will need a MBA. But I think the CPA license is way more valuable than an MBA, anyone can get a MBA but not anyone can be a CPA. One of my old school professors said once that people were complaining about how much studying was involved in the Phd Program he was in and he laughed saying this does not even compare to studying for the CPA.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[CPA soon]

LOL seems like a fun thread going on over here.. I must agree with UNC Macc, I do not think MBA's and CPA licenses hold and equal value. If you want to be a corporate controller or CFO you need to be a CPA, if you want to be a CEO you probably will need a MBA. But I think the CPA license is way more valuable than an MBA, anyone can get a MBA but not anyone can be a CPA. One of my old school professors said once that people were complaining about how much studying was involved in the Phd Program he was in and he laughed saying this does not even compare to studying for the CPA.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[ssiegri]

I have an MBA, it's worthless unless it's from a top ten school, which ultimately is for the alumni connections and brand name recognition. CPA is a professional certification and is not really comparable.. Most highly successful people have an MBA, CPA, and CFA. CPAs tend to stay in accounting and the latter tend to leave accounting and go into some type of analyst position.

[ssiegri]

I have an MBA, it's worthless unless it's from a top ten school, which ultimately is for the alumni connections and brand name recognition. CPA is a professional certification and is not really comparable.. Most highly successful people have an MBA, CPA, and CFA. CPAs tend to stay in accounting and the latter tend to leave accounting and go into some type of analyst position.

[findingthepath]

Thanks for the responses. I apologize for creating a rather useless thread on a CPA-biased forum. Despite that, I am not seeing myself as an accountant, unfortunately, although it is clear that many of you are to say the least. Many of you mentioned that if I'm not interested, then I should go for something outside accounting. I'm considering either high finance or corporate finance, so I think its best if I just get the MBA instead and then consider my certification options. I wouldn't do an MBA if its not a top school because then yes, it truly is worthless and a huge waste of time for anybody. And I don't think I'm taking the “easy way out.” I just can't wrap my head around doing accounting for long and would rather do the equally-arduous CFA after an MBA, as I stated. And saying “anyone can get an MBA but not anyone can get a CPA” seems a bit farfetched seeing as a worthwhile MBA requires money/experience and a CPA requires accounting units and one year experience. Both seem equally weighted. I want to finish the schooling early when it is a viable and good option before its too late to even consider it. If it is true that MBAs and CFAs leave accounting for analyst positions, it seems I should shoot for that.

[findingthepath]

Thanks for the responses. I apologize for creating a rather useless thread on a CPA-biased forum. Despite that, I am not seeing myself as an accountant, unfortunately, although it is clear that many of you are to say the least. Many of you mentioned that if I'm not interested, then I should go for something outside accounting. I'm considering either high finance or corporate finance, so I think its best if I just get the MBA instead and then consider my certification options. I wouldn't do an MBA if its not a top school because then yes, it truly is worthless and a huge waste of time for anybody. And I don't think I'm taking the “easy way out.” I just can't wrap my head around doing accounting for long and would rather do the equally-arduous CFA after an MBA, as I stated. And saying “anyone can get an MBA but not anyone can get a CPA” seems a bit farfetched seeing as a worthwhile MBA requires money/experience and a CPA requires accounting units and one year experience. Both seem equally weighted. I want to finish the schooling early when it is a viable and good option before its too late to even consider it. If it is true that MBAs and CFAs leave accounting for analyst positions, it seems I should shoot for that.

[impska]

I don't agree that an MBA is useless – even from somewhere that's not a top 10. But I don't think the value is there for you. You will spend 12-18 months on an MBA program if you go full time. Is that going to be more worthwhile to you or open more doors than just staying in your current position for 12 to 18 months? Probably not.

I think that if you want to do finance, then you should apply directly to the kinds of jobs you're interested in.

If you're going pursue something, you should look at becoming a CFA. And you should finish the CPA.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[impska]

I don't agree that an MBA is useless – even from somewhere that's not a top 10. But I don't think the value is there for you. You will spend 12-18 months on an MBA program if you go full time. Is that going to be more worthwhile to you or open more doors than just staying in your current position for 12 to 18 months? Probably not.

I think that if you want to do finance, then you should apply directly to the kinds of jobs you're interested in.

If you're going pursue something, you should look at becoming a CFA. And you should finish the CPA.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[findingthepath]

I think for me, since I'm young, an MBA will allow me to pursue a career by starting at a higher rung in the career ladder. And 12-18 months in my current position will be valuable but, again, it is still accounting based and more of a transition out of accounting. I attempted the CPA but haven't broken any ground with it, having failed several exams. I struggled to stay motivated as it is not the business path that I wanted to pursue. Maybe after the GMAT, I should look into the CPA again.

[findingthepath]

I think for me, since I'm young, an MBA will allow me to pursue a career by starting at a higher rung in the career ladder. And 12-18 months in my current position will be valuable but, again, it is still accounting based and more of a transition out of accounting. I attempted the CPA but haven't broken any ground with it, having failed several exams. I struggled to stay motivated as it is not the business path that I wanted to pursue. Maybe after the GMAT, I should look into the CPA again.

[Guti]

Unc, she edited some of the insults. Devry (Becker) is also offering MBA programs and your CPA studies can go towards the MBA.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

Unc, she edited some of the insults. Devry (Becker) is also offering MBA programs and your CPA studies can go towards the MBA.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you have already made up your mind, so why are you still posting to a CPA forum? Except for getting 150 hours, my MBA isn't worth much to me. I would think a CPA could get hired at whatever job he wants. It is still the most respected and well known license there is. Many top executives have a CPA and MBA. My suggestion is to find your dream job and get any licenses or classes while you are working.

[Author]

Replies