CPA + MBA = Corp Finance?

cmw0421
Tue, 25 May 2010 10:29:11 +0000

I’m an undergrad Econ major going directly into the MBA program at a mid-level school. I have recently taken an interest in the CPA certification - yet I have only had a couple classes in accounting. If I choose to get the CPA I will have to jump through some hoops to get the education requirements (not an undergrad acct major). Because my school isn’t a top business school, the CPA will really compensate for that. My delimma is:

I don’t know that I am interested in accounting! I have no intentions of doing public accountancy, and my limited exposure to acct in classes leaves me questionable to whether I will just drop the CPA because of boredom and lack of interest. I do like finance and analysis and see myself in a corporate finance/ fin. analysis position. I enjoy critical thinking and problem solving, so I think this might be an area I enjoy.

I have lately realized the importance of accounting in understanding business. I just had an interview for a mutual fund accountant position and I think it will be a big benefit in the long run.

My game plan is work full time in this quasi accounting/finance position and do the MBA in 2-3 years. For my state’s CPA reqs. I need to work 4 years in an acct position (or 1 year under a CPA)- OR fulfill the education requirements which means (since im non-acct major) concentrate in tax or take online classes from devry/keller ect.

I have a free CPA review course from Becker that will help out with the exams.

Is this a crazy plan? How difficult is the CPA exam? I did well on the GMAT with limited time to study. Will not having the undergrad acct classes really make it difficult or me? The other option I have is to switch to the MSA - but I don’t want to sacrifice the business knowledge for tax, auditing and forensic accounting ect. classes

Also… a large percentage of CFO’s have CPA and MBA.