[usernamegreen]

This Monday, I started a MAcc program and immediately after starting it I got a job offer from a local university to work as an accountant to begin immediately. I will have to effectively stop the MAcc program all together to be able to take the job. My undergraduate cumulative GPA was 2.8 and major 3.3. I was out of school for a year and managed to pass all four parts of the CPA exam and this is my first offer after searching for a year. My question being if I take the job would anyone ever hire me to work in public accounting (my path of choice) after working taking this type of job? The pay isn’t great but its an offer and jobs are hard to come by these days and I’m not sure I could compete very well with the competition even with a MAcc with good grades if I don’t have any experience and not so great undergraduate GPA. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

You are going to be a MAcc student that has passed all four parts of the CPA exam. You will have no problem finding an internships and full time employment if you are personable, have a decent G.P.A, and hit the ground running in networking.

If I were in your place I would network through on campus recruiting into a public accounting role. Your career progression will be much faster if you start out in public as opposed to a university roll.

[Anonymous]

I would take the job at the college. You've been looking for a year now, this is your first offer. Take it! This doesn't mean you have to stay there. You can still continue searching for your public accounting job. I would not put the accounting job on the resume that way it doesn't make you look bad. Maybe after half a year to a year I would put it on my resume. At least by then you can say you learned that you didn't like it and want to go into public accounting.

As for masters, can you change it to part time? If you can, I would still continue with the masters program as that will only give you more knowledge which makes you more marketable. If you can't change to part time, I would still take the job and cancel the masters plan. Jobs are harder to find than a college willing to accept you into their masters program.

[masa_inn]

Any chance you can work on your degree at the same school you've been offered the job?

In my school, if you work for it, you get a degree for free.

I'd say, go for a job. In my opinion, CPA beats MACC anyway.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

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[usernamegreen]

cpham4: No, part time is not an option night classes are very rare. The school won't work with me go figure, haha.

masa_inn: No, the school has no business majors period much less a MAcc. They will pay for education with the state university system but, not for professionals or executive level schooling (which is strange considering).

Thanks everyone for the advice. But, if anyone else has any keep it coming. I am still really on the fence about what to do.

[See Pee A]

What is your financial situation? Obviously, we would all prefer to make money sooner rather than later, but do you have any demands on your wallet at the moment (kids, loans due now, etc.) that you can't put off or get help with for another year or two so you can just stay current? I would encourage you to do the MACC, not because you'll learn anything special there, but because it is worlds easier to get a job in public as a campus hire (which is a very structured program that they put tons of time and money into) as opposed to experienced hiring (which is a nebulous process that isn't so straightforward).

Now that you have passed your CPA, your other credentials won't matter as much. The MACC won't help your candidacy much, but of course being in school grants you access to employer socials and networking and that sort of stuff (which is significantly more important since you won't have that kind of access to recruiters once you start working).

Given what I've said, take the MACC if your financial situation permits, but having your exams passed so far is a great achievement. Congratulations!

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

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[Author]

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