[Anonymous]

This is not an interview 😛

Just curious why you decided to pursue accounting and if/why you think you made the right decision.

[Javilon]

I took an accounting class in high school that I found to be interesting and not too difficult. After graduating though I entered college as a computer science major, but got scared off by the math. I switched to accounting because I thought it would be easier, which it was, but I regret changing majors sometimes. I would not consider myself an accountant. I have never had “accountant” in any job titles. I am in finance, so understanding accounting is hugely beneficial, even if I am not the one doing entries and compiling financial statements. I finished a Masters in IT & Management in December of 2015, so I am pursuing my CPA as additional padding on the resume and as a potential side hustle.

[Anthony]

I didn't choose accounting..accounting chose me.

[Needs Advice]

I initially went to college to be an attorney. I was a late bloomer and didn't start till going till I was 25. Part of my gen ed requirements was an intro to accounting course. My professor went around the room the first night and asked everyone what they wanted to do upon graduation. After my first few weeks in class, he noticed I had knack for the homework and the concepts. Finally, one night after class he approached. Knowing that I was married and had a kid, he asked me if I loved my family. I replied that obviously I did. He told me that I should really consider changing my degree to accounting in order to preserve what I had. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE. Thank you Dr. Larry Matthews. I now work at a medium sized CPA firm. I love my job and even during tax season I am able to work from home a bunch so I can still see my family.

BEC: 7/31/16 (Awaiting Results)
AUD: 9/8/16
REG: 10/22/16
FAR: 12/3/16

[Jdn9201]

I love math but I started college wanting to be a math teacher. I did two stints of student teaching and changed majors to accounting because I couldn't stand all of the admin and political bull that teachers have to deal with. I wanted to do tax right away because I like the big picture and do not like doing routine tasks everyday. I took kind of an unconventional route – graduated college at 24 but waited almost 10 years before getting my cpa. I'm very glad I waited until I wanted it enough.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Bourne]

I came here to say the exact same thing is @Anthony. Thugz 4 lyfe maaan

[hasy]

I honestly thought of myself as ahead of the game when it came to what I wanted. But that's not true. I declared a literature major when I first applied to college, knowing SO well that I wanted to be a lit professor because I couldn't stand high school kids. After taking my first sociology/ethnic studies, I was so inspired to be a lawyer. So I focused my efforts for the next two year, doing JUST that.

But LSAT prep is expensive, my GPA was so low, law school is expensive. Litany of excuses for me to not do law. It just hit me that it would be so much longer until I could help my family bring money in (and we honestly needed money at the time). So in the beginning of my 3rd year, I was so lost and I went around doing a bunch of things. I went to business, marketing, and finally, in spring quarter, I was able to get approved for a computer science minor. Then I got fired from my school job (yes, it is as bad as it sounds). Luckily I rebounded with an off-campus job and worked there all summer.

It felt like fate, almost. Every worker there had an accounting minor and they were convincing me that it is the right move because there will always be accounting jobs. I literally started that year and I was so late in the game. People who started in their freshmen year, were already networking well and KNEW how to network well. But I kept trying and just forced myself out of my comfort zone to keep networking. Accounting slowly became something I didn't mind doing and I honestly didn't realize how much I liked making formulas on spreadsheets. Now I've finally became a CPA and I want to do more or what I CAN do more in this field. So I'm hoping to go far.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Mike J]

I have a similar story as @hasy.

Since graduating in 2004 with a Print Journalism degree, I worked as a paralegal for 5 years. I loved to research and thoroughly enjoyed applying that research in my writing.

And as Hasy can attest, law school is a big decision. Admittedly, I couldn't conquer the “Games” section of the entrance exam–LSAT. Plus, 6-figure debt from Law School is almost a forgone conclusion.

I would've kept at it but I also didn't love being a paralegal. In the legal profession, if youre not a lawyer you are viewed as less than no matter how productive you are. Think Meet the Parents, where Ben Stiller could do no right in the mind of Robert DeNiro's doctor friends.

I quit and took a job with the IRS in Collections. Before doing so, I noticed the highest level of qualification sought was CPA. I wanted to maximize my promotabilty so I enrolled in classes at a community college to obtain the prereqs to sit for the exam.

I stopped short of matriculating because I didn't want to incur more debt. I only wanted to take whatever I needed to sit for and pass the CPA exams. As a bit of an aside, that probably hindered my ability to get an Accounting job a lot sooner. But, I thought it would demonatrate my ability to make sound financial decisions. Instead, the firms probably just wanted someone they could bill out. That wasn't me, apparently–even after taking 90 or so additional credits above the 123 I had from my undergrad degree. But I digress.

I realized that a lot of what I learned in my Accounting studies I had already done as a paralegal. I OFTEN had to reconcile client records and perform incremental analyses–do we settle the case, is it worth moving forward and pay to get witness testimony, etc. I've also “audited” our firm's process to acquire evidence from opposing counsel and how we evaluated and organized it once received. Just because they were required to disclose whatever evidence they planned to use didn't mean they did so. We were a small firm so we needed better organization. I also had to compile many informal P&Ls while at the IRS to determine settlement terms or if we needed to impose a bank levy or tax lien. The Accounting and Business classes and the CPA exam prep gave me a proper framework.

Currently, I work for a small tax firm in Nassau County, New York. I often draw from my CPA review, IRS and VITA experience.

I'm also pursuing my Masters in Accounting. Although I passed the CPA exam, I feel I still need an actual Accounting degree to progress.

Career changes are never easy. But, I'm glad I did it. I enjoy solving problems and teaching others. The Accounting profession affords us MANY such opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I like numbers, being organized, $$$, and hoping to not have to work with incompetent idiots like I did when I worked in a restaurant!!

[Anonymous]

I got my AA degree after high school and ended up a licensed veterinary technician because I loved it. I got married, had children, and only made $15 an hour 15 years later. During the downturn of the economy, I became unhappy with my wage and upset at myself for not finishing an undergraduate degree. I have 2 daughters and it was important to me that I set a good example for them. I initially wanted to go back to school for a science degree so I could improve my veterinary career. We were barely getting by at the time, college was a huge deal. My husband was extremely supportive but nervous I wouldn't make much more money with a science degree. He was 100% right.

I was lamenting my indecision to friends, not knowing what to do. A great friend of mine said, “Isn't your mom an accountant? I've always thought you were more like an accountant than a vet tech.” It was like a big ton of bricks hit me – an utter epiphany I still vividly remember. To this day, I can't believe it took me 15 years to figure out I'd been an accountant all along. I started classes a few weeks later and the rest is history.

I still love it and I've been in the profession almost 5 years. I feel like I've finally figured out what I'm supposed to be doing with myself – In my late 30's and early 40's (haha!). My oldest daughter is going to college in a few years is excited to be the 3rd generation accountant in the family.

[Author]

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