[Last Chance CPA]

I have always wanted to learn how to code, and am now learning the basics of programming languages – e.g,. HTML, JavaScript, CSS. I know SQL but haven’t applied it too much in practice. And I know that I need to learn VB for Excel if I am going to be a solid CPA.

What language should I learn?

I don’t know what I am going to do with my coding knowledge, but being an IT guy, I think I need to finally learn the programming side of things. I would love to help build financial systems, go into IT audit, or maybe do something related to cyber security/forensics?

Thanks…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[monikernc]

try some R stats. it is open source. i used it for analytics when i was in IT. built a fraud detection system that interfaced with it and other queries through a .net front end.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Anonymous]

Learning any “real” (not just web) language will give you the “building blocks” for learning all others in the future. The language I learned was Java (not Javascript, Java) and while it's not as complicated as the more classic languages (like C# or something like that), it still taught me the basics of programming languages and has enabled me to adapt to and “read” other programming languages I have encountered without having to learn them all. I'd haveto learn them to write my own code from scratch, but I can read them and trouble-shoot in them without learning them.

SQL and VB are very applicable to accounting, but other than that I'd pick one that you have good resources to learn (for example, a community college Intro to Programming course that covers the language) and start from there.

[Last Chance CPA]

Thanks monikernc. I am interested in that kind of stuff, building/strengthening financial systems to detect fraud, be it in healthcare or otherwise. It sounds like what you are doing is interesting.

@lilla – I will probably stay away from Java for now and stick with JavaScript. Java being an Oracle product is great to learn for anyone looking to get into server-side database applications.

I may stick with HTML and JavaScript for now, and get into deeper stuff once I master these languages…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[monikernc]

R can be tricky to learn but easier if you have some stats and programming background. lots of books and Coursera offers free courses in programming. data files for practice can be downloaded from Bureau of Labor Statistics site. large communities online full of people way snottier than accountants and people preparing for cpa exams. beware, getting flamed is part of their hazing.
i started with an R book and an OReilly statistics books. for the project i referred to i did the R/stats work to design the system and in building a basic prototype, programming staff did the interfaces and the bulk of the heavy lifting on programming. i am an awful programmer but for what i needed to do R was ok for me. there are lots of user groups with people doing absolutely incredible things. big data type stuff…
i plan to go back to it, and frankly it has been quite awhile since i did any real work in it, when i am done with these exams – i am strongly interested in fraud and forensics

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Last Chance CPA]

Good info. Thanks. I will look at Coursera after Code School and Code Avengers prob. I do need accounting specific technical experience, so this is all good to know. Fraud/forensics would be fun stuff, especially for a large, international firm…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[monikernc]

coursera offered a fraud course and accounting analytics. i am hoping it will be offered again when i am done with these exams. they go at a rapid fire pace so i download all materials and self study at my own pace. i would get more out of them if i tried to keep up but time estimates posted are low. they take awhile to get through. for me, anyway.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[klmc]

I'm just getting into IT audit right now and I feel like knowing a language like that would definitely be useful. I personally don't know code but I'd imagine looking at a client's software code especially for in-house software would be very beneficial to actually performing the IT audit.

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[Author]

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