Accounting Advice

[Ubuntu_user]

I've heard from many people that a masters degree with no experience to back it up can actually go against a person. A book worm with no practical carry-through is the last person companies want to hire. Therefore, it's inestimably important to get relevant work experience.

[Publius]

I would take your bachelors in accounting, then jump in the workforce and let your employer pay for your masters and CPA both.

Good point (even though more and more employers are either reducing or eliminating tuition assistance) it's definitely worth a try. The biggest thing, though, is gaining the right experience. Irancel mentioned they have been managing AP for a while and wants to take the next step. Obtaining your bachelors, or even masters or CPA, still will not give you the real-world experience so keep in mind to get the right experience.

That's an awesome point and what I plan to do as well. A lot of times companies and employers will look for someone who (already has a bachelors and) wants to obtain their Masters and CPA prior to them actually getting it. It's cheaper for them to hire an accountant and have the account become a CPA, then it is to hire a CPA right off the bat. It's great for that individual cause they're getting their Masters and CPAs, usually getting it paid for, and getting that much needed experience.

[Yenisei]

I've heard from many people that a masters degree with no experience to back it up can actually go against a person. A book worm with no practical carry-through is the last person companies want to hire. Therefore, it's inestimably important to get relevant work experience.

Exactly-even public accounting boards realize this by generally requiring at least a year of relevant work experience prior to licensing someone as a CPA (in addition to the educational and exam requirements).

[cannoda]

I've heard from many people that a masters degree with no experience to back it up can actually go against a person.

True in many situations, but generally not true in public accounting. There is no expectation that entry-level candidates have experience, but candidates that have earned 150 semester-hours, including those with a masters degree are highly preferred. In most states, an accountant cannot sit for the CPA exam until they have earned 150-semester hours. A candidate with an appropriate masters degree is CPA exam eligible and can take the exam and accumulate the required one year of experience concurrently.

A masters degree usually means that they can bill a staff accountant's time at the higher rate for a CPA sooner rather than later. Few public accounting firms are interested in paying for the courses to get an employee up to 150 hours.