Career Advice

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>I graduated back in 1998 with a B.S. in English (ha ha...I know). Right after college I accepted a position in Accounts Receivables where I stayed for 5 years. I then moved on into a financial analyst role for the same company and I've been doing that for the past 5 years. Recently, I decided to move ahead I'd need something more so I enrolled and am now working towards my MBA. I think I can do more, though, to help my chances of progressing my career and would like some input on my plan, which basically goes as follows:</p>

<p>MBA - will take about 2 more years then...
take undergraduate courses in Accounting at another college where I'll get a post baccalaureate accounting certificate (will take about a year with accelerated semesters) then...
go back to where I got my MBA and take remaining courses for a MS in Accounting then...</p>

<p>sit and study for CPA then also study and go for the CFA</p>

<p>All in all, the education portion should take, everything working out perfectly and classes available when I need them, about 4 1/2 yrs.</p>

<p>Does this sound like a decent, feasible plan? I plan to stay in corporate accounting/finance and would like to eventually move up to an executive role. Unfortunately, being out of undergrad for 10 years and picking the wrong major may have hampered me quite a bit. Thanks for any input.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>Perhaps you should have put this plan together prior to going back for your MBA. Your plan seems to make your MBA irrelevant.</p></li>
<li><p>Why do you need a CPA?</p></li>
<li><p>Seems like a long drawn out plan to go nowhere fast.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<ol>
<li><p>How does it make a MBA irrelevant?</p></li>
<li><p>Most executive roles, around here anyway, are filled by people who have a CPA. It looks good on a resume...that combined with an MBA may look better.</p></li>
<li><p>elaborate? how is getting an education combined with experience a "long drawn out plan to go nowhere fast"?</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>I think that you're taking a lot of unnecessary steps. The MBA is not needed. With a B.S. in English you could get into some MAcc programs, and from there you'd be eligible for the CPA.</p>

5

<p>I see your point. some of the required courses for the MBA are also required for the MAcc program so it'd be only 6 additional classes to have both.</p>

6

<p>I have to agree with that the MBA seems unnecessary given your intentions to go for the CPA/CFA. Then again, I'm a bit confused as to what your goal is. Is the MBA from a good school? If not, it's even more questionable.</p>

7

<p>JH76, pokey is saying that you should skip the whole "year for accounting certificate" also.</p>

<p>It's clear that the MBA is not from a good school. CPAs go into MBA programs, not vice versa. Given that it is not from a good school, I don't see what value you are getting from it. It would be much better if you could go right into a MAcc program and then determine whether you need an MBA in the future. At that time, you could then either enter a full-time program or more likely enter a part-time executive program.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
1. How does it make a MBA irrelevant?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's just pointless. You use an MBA to switch careers or move up in position. You don't use an MBA to go back to school some more.</p>

<p>
[quote]

  1. Most executive roles, around here anyway, are filled by people who have a CPA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't know where "around here" is. However, if you are talking about a general area and not a specific firm, then I disagree.</p>

<p>
[quote]

  1. elaborate? how is getting an education combined with experience a "long drawn out plan to go nowhere fast"?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You are spending 4 and 1/2 years to do what should be done in 1 and 1/2 or two years.</p>

9

<p>Ok, thanks for the critique. The school is University of Delaware, which from what I've read certainly isn't horrible but it isn't top 20 either. I guess the reason for looking into the certificate and such is because I don't have the necessary accounting classes needed to even sit for the CPA as my undergrad degree is non business related. I figured having a CPA combined with an MBA would boost my resume and help upward movement in my company. I also figured going for the MAcc would help fill the educational requirements needed for the CPA and whatever is missing could be fufilled in that certificate program.</p>

10

<p>It certainly does seem like a lot of credentials to get. CFA and CPA are totally different things, and perform totally different functions. I understand that you want to strengthen your financial background with some letters after your name because you want to stay in corporate finance. Did you ever consider an MS Finance instead of an MBA? I think it would help you out more than all those other letters, and help prepare for the CFA.</p>