Everything you wanted to know or should know about accounting

College Majors Business Major
1921

<p>samantha, I’m with the earlier poster that, for accounting, CPA+experience matters, MS in Accounting doesn’t have an edge over BS accounting, other than the 150-units. Of course, MS in taxation is another story.</p>

<p>Since you mentioned AACSB accounting accreditation and you’re from SF bay area. I think you are aware the fact that Santa Clara Univ, one of the most respected accounting program in N. Calif, doesn’t even offer master degree in accounting, but the program is AACSB accounting accredited and it has great placement in public accounting. While all other programs that offer MS accounting in bay area, SJSU, SFSU, East bay are NOT accounting accredited.</p>

1922

<p>thank you very much samantha. both programs are accredited and UF is especially good and highly recruited for big 4. Unfortunately, none of the universities are really near where i want to work but I guess ill just have to wait until recruiting season to ask more questions.</p>

1923

<p>Hi a_mom, thank you. Yes, I noticed that Santa Clara U, a private school, is the only one in the Bay Area who is AACSB accreditied. I’m at UNLV, a public school at about 30% the price, which is also AACSB accredited for Accounting (bachelors and masters, if I decide to go that far). </p>

<p>For this reason, I find it hard to believe I’d make that much more in entry level in the Bay Area to justify moving my family (I’m a mom too- of 3!) and incuring the additional education expenses just to go to school there in the hopes of being recruited. I feel like I’m in a catch 22. Any thoughts or recommendations?</p>

1924

<p>Hi Count, I can relate :slight_smile: Good luck!!</p>

1925

<p>Samantha, frankly speaking, if between accounting accreditation and campus location, I would choose the campus that close to the area I’d like to work and has jobs. It would make the job hunting easier. Having accounting accreditation is great, but is not that critical in recruitment. If you intend to find jobs back in bay area, for big-4 , as long as they recruit in your campus, you can always ask them to refer you to the office you desire. For regional firms, local government or private companies in the bay area, you have to be proactive to reach out the employers by other means instead on-campus recruitment.</p>

1926

<p>a_mom, Thanks for the advice. Makes the most sense of everything I’ve read. I’ll keep it in mind. Since most of the positions I’m looking at are wanting big 4 experience, that’s where I plan to start. I’ll most likely be asking the recruiters for a referral to the Bay Area. I’m also going to look into MS taxation because I want a job/career that starts off with higher earnings.</p>

1927

<p>This seems like a pretty active thread so I was hoping you guys could give me some guidance.</p>

<p>I have a BA in political science from UC San Diego and my goal is to become a CPA. My degree is not going to get me anywhere (I’m currently a project coordinator for a non profit). I don’t have any work experience in accounting.</p>

<p>I am considering
A) A certificate from a distance learning community college like Santa Monica College (best looking CC program I’ve seen).
B) A certificate from a local community college but the classes don’t look as good
B) A post bacc cert from a distance learning university like LSU.
C) Going straight into SDSU’s Masters of Accountancy program.</p>

<p>I am hesitant to go straight to the MSA because I don’t have any work experience and I don’t want to be overqualified from the entry level-ish positions. Plus the extra debt. I am concerned about getting an education that is too theoretical and not practical enough (again!). I don’t need it for the 150 credit hours; thanks to my BA I will have enough with whichever program. </p>

<p>I honestly really like Santa Monica College’s curriculum but am concerned that a certificate from a community college just won’t look that prestigious. Would a post bacc cert look better? And does recruitment even exist with distance learning? Would the big 4 recruit from any of these programs?</p>

<p>Lastly, is there any program or certification that would qualify me to be a financial analyst instead of just an accountant?</p>

<p>I would probably do all of this part time while working, pass the CPA exams, then job hunt. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thank you for your help!</p>

1928

<p>Hi panderso,</p>

<p>There’s a lot of good info all along this thread so check it out. </p>

<p>You may want to contact Santa Monica and find out if they have big 4 recruiting there or what career services they provide. My guess is that big 4 recruit mostly through UCLA, USC, or any of the numerous prestigous schools in the area. But, it’s worth looking into.</p>

<p>I believe a Financial Analyst normally gets an MBA. But, other’s may know better than I. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

1929

<p>ha,ha. And, now I see that it doesn’t necessarily start off higher</p>

1930

<p>Thanks for the quick response. I think you are right, I doubt there is much recruitment from any of those programs…</p>

<p>I am thinking I will start out with the certificate from a community college just to get my feet wet and see how I like general bookkeeping/accounting. If I want to aim bigger I will probably apply for a MSA, Masters in Taxation, MBA with Accounting emphasis, etc, at a UC for a firm career path and for the recruitment opportunities. It sounds like the big 4 recruit heavily from the state schools in CA. </p>

<p>Plus I might be more likely to get in to a good masters program after getting the certificate, having a better idea of what i want out of the program, and getting letters of rec from the certificate professors.</p>

1931

<p>panderso- bookkeepers and accountants do different things. If you go to a CC for bookkeeping, don’t expect too many of those classes to transfer to a 4 yr college. If you already have a bachelor’s, get your masters. From talking with my accounting chair, masters is taken to get to 150 credit hours and to help pass CPA exam.
Hope this helps.</p>

1932

<p>I want to go back to school for accounting and I have some questions for the knowledgeable people in this thread. Please skip to the end for the cliff-notes if this is too long!</p>

<p>I earned a BA in English in 2008 and have since been working random temp jobs (taught community college for a semester, did data entry work, administrative work, “service industry” aka restaurant work…), so my resume is all over the place and I want instead to have an actual career. </p>

<p>I thought I would originally pursue law school, so I studied for the LSAT and actually did well (>90%), but I found out that law is not the industry for me and that $100k in student loans and a low-paying/non-existent job did not sound great to me.</p>

<p>Confused, I took a few random courses at a local college (Calculus I & II, some computer classes), just to give myself some quantitative experience to add to my liberal arts degree. I did well in those, but science/engineering/computers is ALSO not for me. </p>

<p>I now would like to go back for accounting, and had planned on getting a second undergraduate degree (BSBA in Accounting) from a college here in the South. Here’s where I am getting frustrated: I hate the South. I don’t want to live here, but I am not the best off financially and out-of-state debt is a turn-off (although I’m 25, independent, and in some states might be alright). I’d rather live in the NE. I’m afraid that I’ll be stuck in the South working for a firm if I go to school here. </p>

<p>Also, I don’t know if it would be better just to go to get an MS in Accounting or even an MBA with an Accountancy concentration (at somewhere like Baruch–I’d MUCH rather live in NYC. Then again, I’d have to take the GMAT (although I did well on the LSAT…still, they are different) and that would push back my plan of going back to school in January. No matter the path, I DEFINITELY will have the 150 hours for CPA completed and it will take me more or less 2 years. I would also get a re-do with GPA (first go around only ~3.0). Should I apply to schools in the NE instead or take the cheap route in a local school in the South and hope to transfer when I get a job? I want to work for the Big 4 and then move on to either another firm or some other area in finance (such as financial analysis). Finally, does the Big 4 look down on someone who will be 27-28 and just entering the field?</p>

<p>I apologize for so many questions. Basically, I want to live in the NE not the South, but I’m afraid of taking the financial risk. Will I be stuck? Which way (BA, MS, MBA) is the best into the Big 4 for someone who already has an undergraduate degree and will I face any age-ism? Thanks!</p>

1933

<p>second…</p>

<p>Age won’t be a problem. My firm hired a guy that was 36 last year…he was let go because he did not work well with others, but I DEFINITELY do not attribute that to age.</p>

<p>With Big 4 it is entirely dependent on the school. A less prestigious school will tend to place students at the offices in the area of the school. However, (since you said south) a top school like Ole Miss will have a decent shot at working in whatever city they want.</p>

<p>It is also possible to transfer. I know a girl who worked at Big 4 in Memphis, TN and just transferred to NYC. She was a good worker and smart (she was also 27 when she got hired!).</p>

<p>My suggestion is go for the MAcc at a school where the price is reasonable and recruiting opportunities are strong. Go talk to the Program Coordinator and ask for some tips to get ahead with recruiting. </p>

<p>If you want, PM and tell me what state you live in and I can give you an idea of what firms recruit at what schools in your area.</p>

1934

<p>second- I agree with workingATbig4 .</p>

<p>Definitely get the MA- should be less school and you’ll learn more than what’s taught at bachelors level. Good luck!!</p>

1935

<p>When would be the best time to look for an internship for a student transferring from a CC?</p>

1936

<p>Panderso - Why do you want a MS? I dont understand the logic. You will have more than 150 units by the time you graduate with a BS in Accounting due to your other degree. UC is not the way to go for accounting. UCR might have an undergraduate accounting program but it’s a low tier UC and I dont think it’s any better than SDSU or CSU Northridge for accounting. Id personally go to either SDSU or Northridge if you want to excel in accounting… assuming you are in SoCal</p>

<p>Samantha - UCLA doesnt have an accounting program. When speaking of accounting, UC is never involved. UCs are research based schools better suited for science majors.</p>

<p>Paragon - You should look into internships during your junior year, which is the year you transfer</p>

1937

<p>One concern I have with getting a MAcc over a BSBA is that an internship is required with the BSBA. I would think that experience would be invaluable, but I would assume one could land at least a summer internship when going the MAcc route?</p>

1938

<p>Just to correct ThumperSD, UCLA does have an accounting program and a very prestigious one at that. It’s not a major, but a minor, but it requires 9 classes and gives you enough accounting units to sit for the CPA exam. All of the Big 4, all of the midtiers and tons of local firms recruit very heavily at UCLA. In addition, UC Berkeley also has a great business/accounting program. During my summer internship at a Big 4 this past summer, about 20/100 people were from Cal. Finally, UCSB also has a great accounting program and the Big 4, midtiers and locals recruit from there as well. It doesn’t match up to the prestige of UCLA and Cal, but it is still considered a very good program.</p>

1939

<p>I meant major. I think UCI and UCSD have accounting minors also. If you want to go for an accounting major, look elsewhere.</p>

1940

<p>ThumperSD - the only reason I am considering an MS is for the recruiting opps. I am concerned that after getting an accounting certificate I will have trouble breaking into the field, even if I sit for the CPA and pass it. I take it you’re in SD – do you know which schools around here are recruited the most?</p>