[Anonymous]

So, here is my debate. Why people are so stubborn to not understand the difference between designation vs. a degree… People are so confused putting MBA after their name (which is incorrect since this is NOT a designation) and that bothers me because we are working hard to be recognized for this designation (CPA) and thus we actually deserve to use it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying MBA is not an accomplishment (it is), I am just saying that this should not be included after your name because it looks silly… I also hate the fact that in the corporation I work for, they hired a new senior accountant (with an MBA) and he puts it in the email signature (I guess he wants to feel special)… Also I would look silly if, for instance, put MAcc after my name (because I do have Master in Accounting)…

I founnd the following article interesting: https://watchyourwallet.blogspot.com/2008/06/should-i-put-mba-in-my-title-on-my.html

---

FAR: PASSED

AUD: PASSED

REG: PASSED

BEC: PASSED

EXPERIENCE: Done

* My CPA journey took 1 year and 2 months but it felt like an eternity

** Applied for the license on 06/17/14

[Mayo]

“the issue has quite frankly been beaten to death here and there isn't much more to say about that”

I'm eagerly awaiting the CPA vs CMA thread now.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

@Mayo there wont be a threat “CPA vs CMA”….. CMA IS a designation (no question about it)… CMA is regulated just like CPA … CPA is general, you can work in any industry…CMA is useful for corporation….like a said many people “believe” that MBA should be after your name… AND NO ONE SAID THAT MBA IS WORTHLESS…. WE ARE just stating that MBA IS NOT A DESIGNATION….

find an article (or something that states that MBA is a designation) it's ridiculous to argue about this …. this is just like saying that any degree should be after your name…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_designations_in_the_United_States

[John Tucker]

A better thread would be the CMA v.s. the CGMA lol.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[How many letters do you need]

I'm gonna have them both! Can I still get the CGMA without testing??? Lol

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[philb]

If I eventually want to be CFO, is it worth it to buy an MBA down the line?

[Mayo]

“find an article (or something that states that MBA is a designation)”

Challenge accepted….see below

1. https://www.ehow.com/how_8037124_use-mba-designation.html

2. https://webs.wichita.edu/?u=emba&p=/FAQ/

“The designation of ‘Executive MBA program' just gives additional differentiation to the type of degree program you completed. “

3. https://mypenniesmythoughts.com/2013/07/mba-vs-cpa-battle-of-the-buesiness-designations.html

MBA = designation is in the title

4. https://myoptimalcareer.com/blog/?p=3421#.U8_m_vldV1Y

“An MBA is a professional designation just like a JD, MD or CPA and is something to be extremely proud of.”

5. https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/studentblog/index.php/10-reasons-to-mba-or-not-to-mba/

“The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out scientific approaches to management.”

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Science_in_Management

“Persons admitted to the degree of MSc in Management are entitled to add the designation MSc or MSM after their names (e.g. Domeng Gomez MSc), while those holding an MBA can add the designation MBA (e.g. Domeng Gomez MBA)”

Let's put aside the fact that posting a few blog posts/article/ etc. from the internet does not give it any kind of credibility. Point is, there is no steadfast rule that the entire field adheres to. Which is my point..it's cultural. Some people are ok calling it a designation…some people think it should only be a degree..etc…etc..

Same goes for putting it behind your name in a title. There's no steadfast rule. Personally, none of that matters much. Your own personal brand will make the difference, and not some title. So let's just let it go ok?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[samdiegoCPA]

I laugh when I see people list MBA after their names in emails. Cool story, bro. While I am not trying to throw the degree under the bus, anyone can get a MBA whether they have an accounting degree or biology. I value my actual accounting bachelors degree more than I would an MBA. Maybe I am naive.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Anonymous]

someone has a day off work today…

[WeWillSee]

@Aguirre81 on the wikipedia page for professional certification that you posted there is a link to the “Post-nominal letters” wikipedia page which states:

“Order in which qualifications/awards and honours are listed

The order in which post-nominal letters are listed after a person's name is dictated by standard practice which may vary by region.

In the US

In the United States, standard protocol is:

1.Religious institutes

2.Theological degrees

3.Academic degrees

4.Honorary degrees, honors, decorations

5.Professional licenses, certifications and affiliations

6.Retired uniformed service

“Etiquette for deciding which higher educational qualifications may be listed post-nominally

In the US

In the US, common practice is to name only the highest degree in a particular discipline (e.g., if one had earned one's BS, MS, and PhD in Biology – even from different schools – as well as an MBA in Management, then the preferred listing would be John Doe, MBA, PhD).”

[Mayo]

“@Aguirre81 on the wikipedia page for professional certification that you posted there is a link to the “Post-nominal letters” wikipedia page which states:”

Oh snap!

🙂

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

Officially OVER this conversation…let's just keep beating that dead horse!

[Anonymous]

@samdiegoCPA- haha.. I agree with you sir.

@Mayo – do you want to hear something really sad? I work with an MBA who is in the Financial Reporting Team, one day he asked one of my colleague how the debit and credits work… I am not making this up- Sadly, this is a true story… so here is the power of the MBA… I think Mayo is going argue now that MBA is more valuable than the CPA… did you read the link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_designations_in_the_United_States

Where is the MBA? jeez, I guess they forgot to add it…

[Mayo]

” I think Mayo is going argue now that MBA is more valuable than the CPA.”

Not so much….

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/cpa-or-mba

“@OP, before you choose either or, just realize that an MBA is completely unnecessary RIGHT NOW to have a good career in accounting. If down the line you need it, you might be in a position to A.) Have your company pay for it, or B.) Have a better chance of getting in to a better program than you do now”

“getting an MBA without adequate experience to maximize the rank of school you can be accepted in is a complete waste IMO.”

Let's not confuse the issue here. I am saying an MBA specifically is a designation. So if you get it then I'm ok with you putting it in your signature. Beyond that though, my opinion of you is based on your own personal work. Not your title.

Guess what? I've met incompetent CPAs as well…really bad ones. Doesn't mean the CPA isn't valuable.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

“Officially OVER this conversation…let's just keep beating that dead horse!”

+1

Yay, we're accountants that can wikipedia and google completely inconsequential points! Threads like this make me almost embarrassed to be a part of this profession. Children, the lot of you. Get back to work.

[stoleway]

@Aguirre81

I supported you about the notion of not using the MBA as a title, but you shouldn't judge someone by the kind of questions they ask.

In my opinion, MBA does not only focus on accounting, there are various focus on MBA courses aside from accounting.

For example, you can have MBA in management and wouldn't focus too much on accounting. If an MBA grad wants to know how debits and credits are done, its only fair that the person be taught how to do it. Accounting is very much repetitive and I doubt if this MBA grad will be asking the same questions after a year.

I see some psychology students who have become very good in accounting over the years, Remember the theory of learning curve? One becomes more efficient and successful after doing the same task over and over again.

I have a classical example, I have an MBA, I just passed FAR but I have no accounting experience. A recruiter called me yesterday about an accounting job I applied and she started asking me some basic GAAP questions, I was able to answer all of them with the exception of one question that tripped me up because it was never mentioned in my CPA review course and it was a word that businesses use a lot.

She wanted me to tell her what is EBITDA, I knew EBIT which is Earning Before Interest and Taxes but I struggled with the DA and she told me what it is. It was funny but I started to question myself for not knowing what the DA stands for. I've heard it a lot but I never paid attention to what the DA is. sad…right?

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Author]

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