accounting career

[YoquieroHBs]

I'm thinking about going into accounting, but is an accounting career worth all the long hours for a little more than $40,000/yr income? What do you guys think? What if Im not interested in MBA. (for those who are actually accountants)

 

[MetalFortress]

Well, do you think you'll enjoy it long term? Can you see yourself doing it 10 years after you start? What will your salary be then?

 

[DrMetallica]

Hey, I'm an acc major and I've had an internship at a small firm for almost a year now. I have a Big 4 internship set up nxt summer which I'm looking forward to, but I don't see a career in it only because I see more interesting opportunities out there. I will get my masters in it and a CPA & CA though.

The profession is pretty lucrative (what other entry level position gets you $50,000- starting?). The hours are pretty long and it's shíte you get the same flat salary whether you work busy season 8am - 11pm yet still get paid the same when you're working 9am - 5pm. It's a pretty safe profession, but you arn't going to get rich in accounting. As for the major it's pretty mind-numbing, although not as bad as some advanced maths or finance or law. It does teach you a lot about business especially about running your own business and how to keep it fiscally sound.

Hit me up if you have any other questions or check out the forums at www.accounting.com, pretty knowledgeable blokes there.

 

[Demon]

What if I'm not interested in MBA?

You don't need an MBA.

It does teach you a lot about business especially about running your own business and how to keep it fiscally sound.

Unfortunately, accountants can say very little about how to grow a business.

 

[Helter Skelter]

You don't need an MBA.


Unfortunately, accountants can say very little about how to grow a business.

Are you the same Demon that was Diesel's best friend?

 

[Demon]

Are you the same Demon that was Diesel's best friend?

Was there ever any other?

 

[diplomatic_lies]

Half my friends either did accounting, or work as accountants now, and according to them its very lucrative. It's not that boring either, compared with other corporate jobs. But the question is, do YOU want to do it? No sense doing a job you're going to hate for 40 years!

Unfortunately, accountants can say very little about how to grow a business.

That's not their job.

 

[YoquieroHBs]

I could see myself in accouting 10-20yrs down the line. I tend to work hard and don't mind working with excel and crunching some numbers if the compensation is good. I also need stability in my life, and accounting feels right.
I am psych major at University of Michigan with HR experience and a decent resume. But from on campus recruiting so far its been difficult to penetrate the accounting/finance field competing with business majors and no finance/accounting experience. What would you say are good reasons to go into accounting?

 

[Demon]

That's not their job.

Right, it's not their job, so they should stop cutting marketing budgets simply because they don't understand how to grow a business. Accountants need to trust that the people who do understand how to grow businesses are competent and experts at what they do. Many accountants believe that business is all about submitting proposals, but the truth of the matter is that a lot of business is done away from the office, on golf courses, during special functions, etc. The point is that if you're going to be an accountant, learn how to work as part of a team to achieve the objectives of the business. Don't work against the people who are trying to do good.

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

Working with accountants and have a degree in it, I can say...

[] It pays well, but you'll kill yourself during tax season.
[] It's very technical and requires a thorough understanding of tax laws.
[] There's lots of lateral opportunity within the accounting field, to private or public accounting work.
[] So long as taxes remaing, so too will accountants.
[] Accountants understand the language of business, but rarely can RUN a business. If you can run a business, then you can make alot of money RUNNING your own firm, since accounting as a field is on the decline.
[] An Accountant who does Financial Planning and Advising can make millions.
[] There are 2 types of accountants...those who are BUSINESS people working in the accounting profession, and those who are ACCOUNTANTS doing business. The former makes millions, the latter makes thousands.
[] Accountants are uniquely positioned to be investors in their own community, by aligning with other professionals requiring their services, they can obtain clients and refer clients to other professionals. Many local accountants who are savy invest in R/E and other enterprises. Accounting, for them, was a place to start and understand numbers, not a graveyard where their career ended.
[] If you elect private work as a CPA in a public firm, being good with people is a plus, and will pad your pay, and enable you the ability to breakaway someday. Working with people will always be of value, and being only technically minded, aside from being an inventor or scientist, will religate someone to only being an Economic Unit, rather than a person. If you are highly technical and want to remain so, then just acquire and ever growing base of knowledge.


A-Unit