Advice needed, MBA or CPA

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Hello Guys.</p>

<p>I am looking for some advice. </p>

<p>I decided to take advantage of the very generous tuition reimbursement that my company provides which makes me pursing an MBA with a dual concentration in Accounting and Finance close to free. </p>

<p>I am wondering whether I should put a pause to my MBA studies to pursue the CPA. I was considering perhaps after I take all my accounting courses to pause the mba and bang out the CPA. Only issue is that I don't know how long I will be with my company and I would like to prefer taking full advantage of the tuition reimbursement offered (with no requirement to stay after completing it).</p>

<p>Should I complete the MBA first, or pause it to complete the CPA? Do you think the MBA accounting classes will help me in passing the exam?</p>

<p>A little more background on me:</p>

<p>I have enrolled at the local university for part time MBA with a double concentration in Accounting and Finance. It is an okay but not top school (Rutgers University).</p>

<p>I have a undergrad with a double major in Accounting and Finance. I work doing Financial Reporting in the 10Q and 10K at a fortune 500 company. I've been doing this for about a year and a half. Before that I was floundering looking for an accounting/finance position beeing a 2009 graduate from a school with no good career services and campus recruiting and me not having any network having always been moving around and no family. Would have preferred working at an accounting firm to get that experience but didn't happen even though I had outstanding grades in my accounting classes and thorough understanding of the material.</p>

2

<p>From what I know(based off reviewing of both and Taxguy who is a very knowledgeable accountant himself), CPA is always the way to go. MBA is a business task and therefore it depends on whether you want to work for different positions. CPA is recognized and is the gold standard for accountants. Having one will always assure customers of your high position. Go for CPA.</p>

3

<p>Depends what you want to do. Do you like your SEC reporting work?
But I will say this- The unemployment rate for CPAs seems FAR below MBAs. CPA is just the way to go if you like the work. I am biased although :)</p>

4

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>If you are 100% sure that Accounting is what you want to do, go with the CPA. However, if you would like to switch careers, especially to finance, the MBA at from a top school would be far more resourceful. </p>

<p>Hope this helps
Kevin J
Admissions Advice Online (dot) com</p>