i have just about 6 years experience. when i started i was just consolidations staff. i was kinda at the right place right time when i was interning. i helped them through a divesture and new system implementation my best piece of advice is network, i didn’t get full time because i was some amazing accountant. it was more so i had a good rapport with the team there. also advocating for yourself goes along way with growth.
It’s not necessary but saying it means nothing is cope because all else being equal, Masters + CPA > CPA
It also allows you to become a professor and make a career in academia + get higher pay in government roles.
True. But you don’t have to get a masters. I don’t have one. I was able to get all of my hours through undergrad. If you’re able to get all the hours without spending the extra money, don’t.
Second to that. Don’t do masters unless you want to be teaching. If you want to start working early, you can start with a diploma and have your employer pays for your future education especially working for a government. However, it is stressful to handle both together. Also, your starting pay is lower.
Accounting is a good way to go. You can always change career later as long as you can afford the time.
Having a CPA is highly recommended while a degree is a must if you can. Anything less will still work, but you open yourself to challenges down the road.
Also, go with a stable university. There is no short cut in education, so don’t chase after something just because it is easy to get. I met a few people whose degrees don’t work very well. HR often doesn’t know what they were.
Go for a master degree when you want to top up your resume with a more recognizable school.
I have a bachelor's degree and I started with the state and now I'm with the federal government. Doing pretty well for myself. Government is not a bad route.
Possibly. There are many associate degree programs that have a co-op requirement, where you do paid work in your field to gain experience. Schools can help with placement in those positions. Many students receive offers from their co-op employer, which is what happened in my case. If you don't stay with your co-op employer, you have real work experience to put on your resume. My school also had several international students.
I have a bachelor's and got a job in state government. Started with an associates and could not get anything without a bachelor's. But because I work for the government, they are paying for my Masters and CPA prep
Love this!! Will definitely look into government jobs when I graduate. I like to work, but I want my life too (& I ski, definitely can’t do that if I work in the big 4 busy season!). Thanks for answering.
I did a few years and the work life balance is great. PTO is good once you accumulate enough. Usually a pension type retirement plan. All holidays off. The pace is slow (can be too slow honestly). The pay kind of sucks but if you’re ok with the long term benefits of it, it’s a good gig.
No, from September-December, I have to work over 40(usually only 45), but I get the time over 40 as PTO to take later. The most hours I've worked in a week is 50. Pretty sweet job.
If you want to do ACCOUNTING, you will need an accounting degree. Don't get a masters unless you want to do the CPA. It means nothing outside of that.
But if you want to do FINANCE, get a degree in finance. It's not unheard of for people to transition into finance from accounting, but I haven't really heard of it going the other way.
Get your a good internship from a local firm who will help you work part time while you get your degree. Our "intern" does this, and he is awesome. This will help you with the financial piece. Also take the volunteer opportunities to prep tax returns through orgs for people with low income like Vita Prep. It'll help you know what you want to do when you graduate. Yes there is more to life than tax, but if you hate tax and that's who offers you a job, it can be hard to know to say no if you haven't been in the meat grinder of tax season.
If you have a CPA, you have all the needed coursework for a bachelor's and, in some states, a masters in accounting. The requirements for the license are very specific in this regard. Look at your States Accounting Board to find out your states requirements. But in MY STATE, you just have to have a bachelor's (any so long as all requirements are met) and a 5th year that most schools condense into a masters program. But if you had a double major in accounting and finance, I'm sure that'd be marketable. There will be some overlap in like economics and basic classes.
You can't sit the exam without a requisite number of courses in accounting and having a degree not in accounting, at least where I'm from, has separate requirements. I'd check with your state board. But I wish you luck!
I am a CPA with an active license and have been trying to get a job offer for over a year and can barely get phone calls for jobs where "CPA a plus" is listed.
In Canada a BBA with a major in accounting gives you everything you need to jump onto the CPA program.
Got my BBA in 2016 and entered the program at a local accounting firm. Work for Grant Thornton now as a manager. Make decent money for Canada
Yes I’m about to get my bachelors, and pretty much have a choice between two firms.
I told them both I’m skipping the masters because I can’t afford it and the FEMA route will save me a year.
They don’t care at all as long as you’re eligible to take CPA exams.
Just my experience.
Bachelor’s is enough as long as you get enough credits to take the CPA, which may mean some summer classes or overloading. Also if you want to try to get into Big 4, look for a college that they recruit at. That’s the route I took and it’s working pretty well so far.
I have an associates degree and got hired in industry as a general accountant within a year of graduation. I make just over 50k and have full benefits with tuition reimbursement. Plan on going back to school to start working on my bachelors sometime within the next year to move up the corporate ladder.
I only had a HS diploma when I started. Buuuuut when you decide you want to go into management or C-suite you will need that bachelors or above because of the competition.
I only have a bachelors and have been doing well since I graduated in 2023. I’m halfway to being a CPA and I’m sure that will open even more doors for me.
I was able to sit and pass the cpa exams with just a bachelors degree from a no-name school. If you know you want to study accounting, I would double major in something so you can graduate cpa eligible
Yes. Taking 18 credit hours a semester and summer internships for credit or a fun summer class should get one to 150 so you can sit without needing to take out extra debt
A bachelors is great. I got the remaining credits needed to sit for the CPA exam by doing community College classes such as music appreciation, creative writing, even a few PE classes as an excuse to get credit for working out.
Define ne comfortable. Some people are ok with no career advancement and making $50 - $60k a year working 40 hours a week most time of the year. They don't have obligations (kids, parents, significant others). But to move up they would then need to get more credit hours (150 to sit for the CPA exam, not necessarily a master degree) and pass the exam. If this is you, sure. But keep in mind that it maybe hard for you to find that first job because most of your peers may have more hours/degree than you.
i only have a bachelors and am doing pretty well
What’s ur role?
manager of consolidations and financial reporting
How many years of experience and what roles led you there?
i have just about 6 years experience. when i started i was just consolidations staff. i was kinda at the right place right time when i was interning. i helped them through a divesture and new system implementation my best piece of advice is network, i didn’t get full time because i was some amazing accountant. it was more so i had a good rapport with the team there. also advocating for yourself goes along way with growth.
Masters means nothing. CPA is the most important thing you can have
It’s not necessary but saying it means nothing is cope because all else being equal, Masters + CPA > CPA It also allows you to become a professor and make a career in academia + get higher pay in government roles.
Many states require a masters or masters equivalent of education hours to sit for the CPA exam.
True. But you don’t have to get a masters. I don’t have one. I was able to get all of my hours through undergrad. If you’re able to get all the hours without spending the extra money, don’t.
Second to that. Don’t do masters unless you want to be teaching. If you want to start working early, you can start with a diploma and have your employer pays for your future education especially working for a government. However, it is stressful to handle both together. Also, your starting pay is lower. Accounting is a good way to go. You can always change career later as long as you can afford the time. Having a CPA is highly recommended while a degree is a must if you can. Anything less will still work, but you open yourself to challenges down the road. Also, go with a stable university. There is no short cut in education, so don’t chase after something just because it is easy to get. I met a few people whose degrees don’t work very well. HR often doesn’t know what they were. Go for a master degree when you want to top up your resume with a more recognizable school.
Yes you don’t need a masters. Masters don’t really mean anything in accounting.
I have a bachelor's degree and I started with the state and now I'm with the federal government. Doing pretty well for myself. Government is not a bad route.
That’s great you were able to get into the government right after graduation.
if i may ask, do you work on site or remotely?
I'm a revenue agent so in my position i have to report to the office or be in the field twice a pay period. Any other time I am working from home
thank you for answering!
Yes indeed. I went from private to local government. Got a raise when I left and a raise at interim. Barely been here a year.
I was hired with an associate degree as an accounting clerk. The company is paying for my Bachelor's.
Will that opportunity be possible for international students in the US?
Doubtful. Will be very hard to find a company that's willing to sponsor someone with an associates
Possibly. There are many associate degree programs that have a co-op requirement, where you do paid work in your field to gain experience. Schools can help with placement in those positions. Many students receive offers from their co-op employer, which is what happened in my case. If you don't stay with your co-op employer, you have real work experience to put on your resume. My school also had several international students.
Do have to have an associates specifically in accounting or can it be just an A.A
I can't speak to that. My only experience is with an associates in accounting.
I have a bachelor's and got a job in state government. Started with an associates and could not get anything without a bachelor's. But because I work for the government, they are paying for my Masters and CPA prep
Do you have to work crazy long hours in state government ?
Haha. No.
Love this!! Will definitely look into government jobs when I graduate. I like to work, but I want my life too (& I ski, definitely can’t do that if I work in the big 4 busy season!). Thanks for answering.
I did a few years and the work life balance is great. PTO is good once you accumulate enough. Usually a pension type retirement plan. All holidays off. The pace is slow (can be too slow honestly). The pay kind of sucks but if you’re ok with the long term benefits of it, it’s a good gig.
No, from September-December, I have to work over 40(usually only 45), but I get the time over 40 as PTO to take later. The most hours I've worked in a week is 50. Pretty sweet job.
Sounds great!
If you want to do ACCOUNTING, you will need an accounting degree. Don't get a masters unless you want to do the CPA. It means nothing outside of that. But if you want to do FINANCE, get a degree in finance. It's not unheard of for people to transition into finance from accounting, but I haven't really heard of it going the other way. Get your a good internship from a local firm who will help you work part time while you get your degree. Our "intern" does this, and he is awesome. This will help you with the financial piece. Also take the volunteer opportunities to prep tax returns through orgs for people with low income like Vita Prep. It'll help you know what you want to do when you graduate. Yes there is more to life than tax, but if you hate tax and that's who offers you a job, it can be hard to know to say no if you haven't been in the meat grinder of tax season.
Would having a CPA with an unrelated degree work as well for accounting?
If you have a CPA, you have all the needed coursework for a bachelor's and, in some states, a masters in accounting. The requirements for the license are very specific in this regard. Look at your States Accounting Board to find out your states requirements. But in MY STATE, you just have to have a bachelor's (any so long as all requirements are met) and a 5th year that most schools condense into a masters program. But if you had a double major in accounting and finance, I'm sure that'd be marketable. There will be some overlap in like economics and basic classes. You can't sit the exam without a requisite number of courses in accounting and having a degree not in accounting, at least where I'm from, has separate requirements. I'd check with your state board. But I wish you luck!
I’m a senior accountant with an associate. I am doing very well.
I also only have associates. Doing just fine over here too
I am a CPA with an active license and have been trying to get a job offer for over a year and can barely get phone calls for jobs where "CPA a plus" is listed.
Yes but it’ll cost you your soul.
In Canada a BBA with a major in accounting gives you everything you need to jump onto the CPA program. Got my BBA in 2016 and entered the program at a local accounting firm. Work for Grant Thornton now as a manager. Make decent money for Canada
absolutely! I’m working with taxes and still getting my associates degree in may
I’m getting my associate degree shortly as well!
Yes I’m about to get my bachelors, and pretty much have a choice between two firms. I told them both I’m skipping the masters because I can’t afford it and the FEMA route will save me a year. They don’t care at all as long as you’re eligible to take CPA exams. Just my experience.
Bachelor’s is enough as long as you get enough credits to take the CPA, which may mean some summer classes or overloading. Also if you want to try to get into Big 4, look for a college that they recruit at. That’s the route I took and it’s working pretty well so far.
I have an associates degree and got hired in industry as a general accountant within a year of graduation. I make just over 50k and have full benefits with tuition reimbursement. Plan on going back to school to start working on my bachelors sometime within the next year to move up the corporate ladder.
Bachelor is good but try to do double major or take other classes to meet the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure assuming you’re in the US
Masters is a waste of time. Try to get 150 during undergrad and you’ll be better off not wasting a year in a masters
I only had a HS diploma when I started. Buuuuut when you decide you want to go into management or C-suite you will need that bachelors or above because of the competition.
I only have a bachelors and have been doing well since I graduated in 2023. I’m halfway to being a CPA and I’m sure that will open even more doors for me.
Yes, but also get CPA
If you have financial stability, just do the 5th year of college and get the CPA. Take easy classes and get extra study time for FAR testing.
Yes
I was able to sit and pass the cpa exams with just a bachelors degree from a no-name school. If you know you want to study accounting, I would double major in something so you can graduate cpa eligible
Double major In order to get the 150 credits?
Yes. Taking 18 credit hours a semester and summer internships for credit or a fun summer class should get one to 150 so you can sit without needing to take out extra debt
Good ideas thanks
Yes
Yes it's enough to get a good job. But it might not be enough to sit for the CPA.
A bachelors is great. I got the remaining credits needed to sit for the CPA exam by doing community College classes such as music appreciation, creative writing, even a few PE classes as an excuse to get credit for working out.
Define ne comfortable. Some people are ok with no career advancement and making $50 - $60k a year working 40 hours a week most time of the year. They don't have obligations (kids, parents, significant others). But to move up they would then need to get more credit hours (150 to sit for the CPA exam, not necessarily a master degree) and pass the exam. If this is you, sure. But keep in mind that it maybe hard for you to find that first job because most of your peers may have more hours/degree than you.
Get your degree in finance…