Quote: (11-26-2015 08:11 PM)Stoolio Wrote:
This thread should be read by every undergraduate in accounting.. Thank you for the insight Cobra. For my first post I at least had to tell you this was a very helpful read.
I'm curious on what you think about entering the Big4 Public accounting game late? When is it to late?
I'm 1.5 years out of a state university, double majored in MGT/ACC, GPA > 3.5, met the 150 hour CPA requirement, Beta Alpha Psi officer, and have worked in finance at a luxury hotel brand since graduating. Most of it has just been bitch work (income audit/accounts receivable), but I did get some decent experience opening up a property. Reason I went this path is because I originally failed to get an offer from any public accounting firms coming out of college. Didn't get any internships early on in college, and no offers my last year from Big4 or mid sized tiers.
I just quit my current job, and I'm about to do a spring travel stint in Europe. When I get back.. it's back to the corporate world.
Will job experience help land an associate level Big4 position? Would you recommend passing portions of the CPA first? At this point, is there an edge I can take or are they looking for more directly out of college?
I would probably say no. Realistically, you should be looking at mid-tier to regional public accounting firms. You can get access to these companies by getting involved in organizations like your state's CPA society. California, for example, has CalCPA. Nobody young is active in these things, I have seen people pick jobs up pretty effortlessly with decent networking skills. Easiest way to transition is do two years and go in as a senior. Not sure what your long term goals are.
You will look better passing parts of the CPA. Pounding pavement without on-campus recruiting is difficult but not impossible. Big 4 will always have an endless stream of talent from the best universities coming in as associates.
Quote: (11-27-2015 03:53 AM)trojans10 Wrote:
i work in the digital marketing industry. got a MIS degree and minor in accounting...
think i could switch careers and go into accounting with my degree now? (i honesty don't remember jack shit)
or
should i go get a masters, and try and get enough credits for the CPA and continue to work in my industry to see where things go?
Can you sit for the CPA as of right now? Personally, I'm not a fan of masters level accounting programs ($$$$$$$$), but they have their uses - getting into the local big firm of your choice is pretty easy as long as you go to the right school.
Nothing of what you learn with an accounting degree is really applicable to what you do in public accounting....unless you forget what side a credit goes on.