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I am a little nervous about being able to find a good job within the accounting field. I have a bachelor's degree in a healthcare field but recently decided to get my master's degree in accounting instead. I've noticed many jobs have a bachelor's degree or a 4-year degree as a requirement. Will I have a tough time finding jobs since my bachelor's degree is unrelated? I still plan on obtaining my CPA license after graduation and had hoped to work in public accounting for at least a few years following graduation as well. Anyone who has any information or advice please share!
Yes, getting into an accounting job with a BS in healthcare will pose some challenges. But, I think you're on the right track with getting your CPA. However, check with your State Board of Accountancy as there's more than likely some additional Acctg classes that you'll be required to take before sitting for the exam.
I believe as long as I have my master's degree I am able to sit for the CPA exam in my state. Is it pretty much out of the question to get a job in public accounting, specifically with the big 4?
To even qualify for the Masters you will have to take enough core accounting courses that it won't really be a concern. Why are you so intent on working big 4 ?
80% turnover and you may spend the first year shuffling cash confirmations..... drone work
I'm not really intent on working big 4, I just want a few years experience working in public accounting after I graduate. And yes, I am taking the core accounting classes for the prereq's for my master's program right now.
In some states, in order to sit for the CPA exam you need to have x number of accounting classes that may or may not be met with a Master's in accounting so you would want to double check what the rules are for your state. Take the test ASAP after finishing school, don't wait years to take it. It is miserable to try to work a mentally demanding professional job all day, then spend your nights and weekends for a year or two studying for 1,000 - 2,000 hours for a very difficult test that has a low pass rate.
As far as age discrimination, accounting is actually a great field for older people. People are far more likely to trust a 50/60 year old with their taxes than a 30 year old in my experience. In my continuing ed classes for CPA licensing, in my 30's I'm one of the youngest in the crowd; most are 45 - 70. Of course, once you pass 50 as a new grad you could have problems but I would say accounting is one of the easier fields to get into as an older person assuming you're smart enough and have the right abilities to do the work. Of course having a CPA license makes it much easier. However, what I just said as far as age discrimination would apply only for small to medium size firms.
Where there would be age discrimination is if you want to follow the Big 4 career path. Because of the travel and long hours, I would imagine they mostly prefer new grads in their 20s and would not be too thrilled with a new grad in their 40's. When I worked for a small office in a Big 4 15 years ago during college, the only people in their 30s and older were the more senior managers, directors and partners. There was maybe one or two people out of 60 employees who even looked like they might be over 50. There's not many CPAs who make it a full career in Big 4; virtually everyone jumps for greener pastures sooner or later; mostly sooner. Greener pastures meaning fewer hours, less stress, fewer weekends spent working, more flexibility, better salary, etc. etc. etc.
I'm 23 now and will be 24 when I graduate w/ my master's degree, so I will be a little older than others but hopefully not by too much. I spoke with the director of the accounting department at my school and was assured that I will be eligible to take the CPA exam upon graduation. It just seems to me that every job posting I've looked at states that applicants must have a bachelor's degree and that is what is worrying me most. I know that to get the CPA license I need so much experience and I'm afraid I won't even be able to find many good job options to get that experience.
I'm 23 now and will be 24 when I graduate w/ my master's degree, so I will be a little older than others but hopefully not by too much. I spoke with the director of the accounting department at my school and was assured that I will be eligible to take the CPA exam upon graduation. It just seems to me that every job posting I've looked at states that applicants must have a bachelor's degree and that is what is worrying me most. I know that to get the CPA license I need so much experience and I'm afraid I won't even be able to find many good job options to get that experience.
Age will not be a factor for you. As long as you have a Masters in Accounting no one is going to care what your bachelors degree is in. Depending on the state, you need one to two years experience working under a CPA to get licensed so really not that much work experience at all. Most people struggle far more with passing the exam than the work experience. If you want to go Big 4 keep your grades high as you will need to be in the top tier of your class to be recruited. Smaller public firms don't care quite as much about grades although they still need to be above a 3.0. What will help you a lot is to find an internship or some type of accounting job while you're in school; experience helps a ton in getting hired for your first professional job.
BTW, what type of college is this and is their accounting program accredited?
No, its not too late. Just make sure you get an internship or two (at a big 4 if you can, if somewhere else thats ok too but get accounting experience) before you graduate. If you graduate with a masters but no practical accounting work experience outside of the classroom, it can be hard to get a job.
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