<p>How hard would be a accounting/chem, accounting/econ combo, or maybe even a pharmacology/accounting?</p>
<p>Accounting is easier and less stressful than ibanking, or consulting, or any finance-related jobs. However, it is more difficult than marketing jobs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
why are people saying that you make like 150k or something out of this job??
[/quote]
</p>
<p>People who are considering accounting as an alternative to investment banking or consulting are students with great credentials. Therefore, they aim to start off at a Big Four accounting firm which pays much more than the figures stated in Salary.com </p>
<p>Actually, Salary.com understates the salaries of management consultants and investment bankers (financial analyst) as well. The "average" salary is much lower than the salary + bonus offered by the top investment banks and consulting firms.</p>
<p>Partners can make mid to high six figures at a Big Four firm. Likewise, Controllers at Fortune 500 companies can make mid six figures as well. Fortune 500 CFOs can make millions. Even CFOs at very small firms can make over $200,000. In conclusion, people who are qualified enough to work for a top investment bank but choose to start off at a Big Four accounting firm instead have the potential to make a lot of money later on, just not as much as the top bankers, money managers or venture capitalists.</p>
<p>California_love, I don't give a crap about salary.com I'm making around Mid 50's starting my first year with a 5k signing bonus.</p>
<p>Partners do make a lot of money, but do you have any idea how much talent/luck/who-knows-what it takes to become a partner at a firm? It's like the highest position someone can hold, other than an executive position...</p>
<p>Just to add: Accountants in the private sector (e.g. internal auditor, controller, CFO of F500) generally make more than their public counterparts (e.g. Big 4). And they both pay well, just not as much as banks and top consulting firms. The choice between public and private, however, is a matter of preference, much like the difference between financial accounting and managerial accounting courses. Even if you want to go private, it's always good to start in public and have the CPA before making the switch. Some decide to go the partner track, and if they don't make it, join their F500 client on the private side.</p>
<p>yeah but how many people get to the level of internal auditor and such? Lets say I want to work at a F500 like Nike, what are the chances that I'll get that high of a position at a company like that. And even for big 4s, how likely is it that someone will get a job there, and then become a partner or such there?</p>
<p>LMAO @ wanting easy money. No such thing. Regardless of what you do, you have to be talented and must work hard. If california_love keeps tryng to chase the money, he will never be successful. The most successful people are those that love their work. To most of us, accounting is quite boring. So, if you go into accounting and don't like it, not only will you not be successful but your 40-60 hours a week at work will suck too.</p>
<p>BTW, my friend is just over 3 years removed from college and he is an IT Audit manager (CPA) for a Big 4 firm, and is well on his way to partner. How easy has the road been for him thus far? Quite easy, because he's talented. If you don't feel you have what it takes to make partner, I don't know why you would think you could reach an equal level of success in any other line of work.</p>
<p>Internal Auditor is not a special level, it's a type of accounting position, as I've mentioned before accounting entails a lot more than data entry Accounts Payable jobs.</p>
<p>If you want to get a high finance position at Nike, then Big Four is a great way to start your career. While you slave your first years of your life after college, get your CPA. CPA and Big Four experience are highly demanded credentials when apply for a higher level finance position at a F500 Company. </p>
<p>It's not that likely that you are going to be a partner, but there are tons of great opportunities that you can transition to if you become a manager at Big Four (which makes a lot of money 100k+).</p>
<p>I heard from somewhere (maybe here) that only 1% of entry level accountants will make partner at a Big 4. Dawgie, can you confirm?</p>
<p>vector: you're so idealistic. There are plenty of people like me who are interested in money that are more successful than you and I will ever be. True, people who enjoy their work will be happy in their own way, but perhaps happiness for me IS getting that E-class or something I've always wanted, and that will be enough to push me to work hard and be successful. Quite frankly, it will eventually be a job, just like school is school. As long as I'm being compensated, I dont give a crap what my job is quite frankly. Call me a money whore or what have you, but thats the truth, and although you may be in denial that people like me are successful, thats your own problem because it does happen in the real world for better or for worse.</p>
<p>I don't know the statistic, it's probably slightly higher than that. Lots of turnover in the early years that's why.</p>
<p>california_love, if you just want money and you should pursue accounting. Today's statistic stands at 98.34% I believe for those on this board that will not get into IBanking @ BB, so that's not really a realistic job option. Not to mention you will get a heart attack from it, and will not be able to enjoy your E-class.</p>
<p>I went into the private sector as an internal auditor straight out of college. I made more than my friends that went the public route and they worked a lot more hours than I did. Some of them did well over the years and made a good salary at publics, most ended up taking lucrative offers in the private sector after about 5 years in public.
If you go with a big successful company, the opportunities for an accounting major are much wider than you may imagine. If you prove yourself as a smart decision maker you can find yourself moving up the ranks into quite high paying positions. And the fact that there are always job opportunities for accountants helps.
And I agree that the major resembles law much more than math....I always laughed when people would comment that I must be good at math as an accounting major. Most of the math involved is what you learned in elementaery school LOL</p>
<p>California,</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money. However, you obviously lack the comprehension of what it takes to be successful in business. You can certainly go into a line of work that you don't enjoy, but you will not be a star. You will be an average employee leading a very average life. You will be consistently surpassed in salary and job grade by fellow employees who have a passion for what they do.</p>
<p>There are a thousand different lines of work that one could get into in order to afford an E-class. So, I don't know why you wouldn't look for a line of work you enjoy, rather than one where salaries are high.</p>
<p>Listen to VectorWega, this applies to you foolish ones who think IBanking is the best profession out there because of the salary! Pursue a job you know you will enjoy and can excel at, you are guarenteed decent compensation as long as you are good! Also you won't be angry and bored all day knowing that the job blows, but the money is good! 98.34% TODAY!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Accounting is easier and less stressful than ibanking, or consulting, or any finance-related jobs. However, it is more difficult than marketing jobs.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>such naive comments</p>
<p>southpasdena +1</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money. However, you obviously lack the comprehension of what it takes to be successful in business. You can certainly go into a line of work that you don't enjoy, but you will not be a star. You will be an average employee leading a very average life. You will be consistently surpassed in salary and job grade by fellow employees who have a passion for what they do.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>again, way to be idealistic. I'm sorry, but at the end of the day, the people with the brains and who are able to get connections and such are the ones that come out on top. The business world is full of ass kissers that do w/e it takes to be promoted, so dont give me that. The CEOs of sooo many companies will do whatever it takes to make a buck, thus they are money hungry, but they're still CEOs!! They're at the top of the world, and although I disagree with some decisions they make (because they are morally wrong), they are like it or not the boss. Your idealism really does not prove correct in the real world, so sorry. If this was medicine, perhaps I could kinda see your point, but given this is a business forum, your idealism is kind of annoying because there are plenty of people besides me that like money (and trust me, I'm not the worst about it either, but I do enjoy making money). Sorry if I'm sounding like an a-hole, but I'm just defending myself, so don't take it personally.</p>
<p>Btw, accounting is ACTUALLY something I might be able to like (I know little about the field, but according to career tests I've taken, it has said that accounting or similar jobs in finance would be good fits). I like doing math and am pretty detail oriented, and as people have said, it gives insight into how a business works. I gave up on the field though when I saw the numbers on salary.com because as it has been established, I would like to make at least 120-150k after around 7 years of working or so. That doesn't seem possible in accounting according to salary.com, which is why I'm asking you guys. So sorry, again if I'm sounding rude, but please don't take it personally. I'm trying to defend my personality and dig up some information at the same time.</p>
<p>Salary.com is retarded to go by, also Accounting has nothing to do with math it's only simple arithmetic.</p>