<p>Lusitano: One more thing, it does not make sense to make the additional investment in a MST when you haven’t started in doing tax in a public accounting firm. One of the reasons why is that you will gain MUCH more from a MST program after 3-4 years in a Big 4 firm. Why is that?</p>
<p>1) You spend the first 2 years of your Big 4 career learning about general tax return concepts. A MST won’t benefit you as much because you won’t be doing much technical work as an associate.</p>
<p>2) Once you are promoted to senior after 2-3 years, you will be expected to be much more technical from the perspective of research and writing technical memos/position papers. This is more so once you reach the 5 year mark and make manager. This is why the MST, in a way, is similar to a MBA degree. The more experience you have, the more meaningful the MST classes will be. </p>
<p>3) Why make the additional investment when you don’t know if you will enjoy doing taxes as a career? You should only invest in a MST once you are POSITIVE that taxation will be your career for the rest of your life. This decision is usually made once you become a heavy senior (close to manager).</p>
<p>One more thing Moss. Is working at a Big 4 firm such a big deal versus working for a local small firm or even IRS?
As an older student (45 years old) I was already given the death sentence here in this forum as not having a change to make it in accounting much less being hired by a Big 4.</p>
<p>As a older student, I would not suggest going to a Big 4/national firm. Would you want some 24-25 year old hot shot senior to be your boss and making you come in on a Saturday? I definitely wouldn’t want that! </p>
<p>I think you will do best at a local firm. Local firms are more family friendly and have a better work-life balance during busy season. Local firms are also known as a place to settle down and start/maintain a family.</p>
<p>I would not go to the IRS. One of my friends, an older gentleman, is working for the IRS and trying to get the heck out of there because its not challenging enough. I think going to a local firm will keep you challenged, allow you to grow as a professional, and also allow you to spend time with your family.</p>
<p>That is very good advice! I will take it very seriously.
I was also interested to know what school you attended, how long ago, and do you practice here in California? Also what is your opinion about someone getting an undergrad accounting degree in school like Brandman University and Golden Gate University, that are non-traditional schools, but cater to the working student. Their undergrad curriculum looks very similar to any other top 10 ten accounting schools in the nation, and they are regionally accredited. I think I might just survey some local accounting firms to get their opinion.</p>
<p>I’m planning on taking 5-6 online community college courses to meet the 225 unit requirement. Does anyone know if I take duplicate courses online as those I’ve taken before (such as Principles of Accounting or Tax), if the units received will still count toward the 225 unit requirement?</p>
<p>I have a couple friends that work at Moss Adams. It is a good organization. At my friends offices they aren’t horribly overworked. I work at a smaller firm than Moss Adams and I work more hours than they do.</p>
<p>Moss the new pathway 2 in 2014 will be a modified pathway two. They haven’t yet decided which courses will satisfy the new requirements but we do know that you will need for the extra units. We do know that you will need 20 units of accounting and accounting related topics and 10 units of ethics. </p>
<p>I am lucky all I have to do is pass the cpa exam within the next 2 years and I get my license under the old pathway two. My extra community college courses count towards the extra units! =P</p>
<pre><code>I have a question to ask you accounting guys. I am 31 year old and I have a BS in Business and I have working in IT for about 6 years. I am currently getting my MBA in Accounting at University of Dallas. What would I need to do to switch to accounting career before or right after I get my MBA?
</code></pre>
<p>Lusitano: I honestly would do some independent research to see where you can go with those universities. It might be a lot more difficult coming out as an undergraduate because the market is getting flooded with plenty of new undergrads with accounting degrees. You’ll definitely be facing more competition on the job front. </p>
<p>With that said, if you are planning to go local, I would do like you suggested and seek out local firms to see if they would consider your application and go from there.</p>
<p>Thanks Moss. I am also considering a finance degree, and i need to make a decision within a month. Since I have had a decent job the past 15 years, I have time to work on getting a new job when the time comes. You probably ask why I need a new job if I have a decent one, and I can tell you I am a little burned out, and I need a new challenge since I don’t have a degree.</p>
<p>Heres my situation. Im in my mid 40s and two years ago decided on changing careers. I have a BS in Math from when I was a kid and since then got my CCNA and CCNP Cisco networking engineer certifications. Two years ago I decided I was tired of tech and wanted to go back to school to become an accountant. I am in an AACSB certified college and have 5 more classes to take before graduation and of course 5 more after that to be able to sit for the CPA exams. How beneficial will my previous tech experience be in me getting recruited and hired? I currently have a 3.3 GPA at my college and a 3.57 including my time spent at community college before being accepted into my present college. Im worried about being in my mid 40s though. Will it be hard for me to get hired at my age? This is a very informative thread btw, thanks!</p>
<p>So I am only a few weeks away from starting my upper division accounting coursework. It has also been a year and a half since I took managerial and financial accounting. Assuming I remember nothing (close to it), what should I know going it? In other words, what should I relearn before I take Intermediate Accounting?</p>
<p>I think you will be fine. Remembering beginning accounting will be helpful but NOT necesasary for intermediate accounting. It will all come back to you anyway.</p>
<p>bazzip, just out of curiosity, what made you decide to switch careers? it seems you have lots of experience in engineering and also good certifications.</p>
<p>Yes it will be difficult for you to get an entry level accounting job in public accounting at your age. It is almost impossible for you at your age to make it to manager or partner at any point in your second career. It takes imo around 3-5 years public accounting experience just to become a competent public accountant that can be a stand alone.</p>
<p>You could probably find a position in a local firm or company. Smaller firms are more likely to hire someone of your age. National firms wouldn’t hire you unless you have experience or you can bring in clients.
5
Keep in mind your starting wage will probably be less than your wage working in IT. No offense but if you have a nice salary in IT 45k< then it makes no financial sense for you to switch careers now. Even in SF or NY you will only make 58k starting at a firm.</p>
<p>In areas with a low cost of living your starting wage in accounting could be from 35-40k. In my area starting salaries range from 40-46k. That isn’t a very good starting wage.</p>
<p>The big 4 offers you the ability to move up fast since people burn out quickly and quit. The big 4 gives you exposure to the largest and most prestigious clients in the world. Big 4 senior associate experience can be gained in 3 years and it looks excellent on a resume. You also travel a lot depending on what area of accounting you work in.</p>
<p>The top of the pyramid at the big 4 earns from 400k->2million.</p>
<p>Regional firm partners earn from 150k->400k in my area.</p>
<p>“The big 4 offers you the ability to move up fast since people burn out quickly and quit.”
Most people burn out and quit, only 1 to 3 % actually make partners. </p>
<p>“The big 4 gives you exposure to the largest and most prestigious clients in the world.”
Depends on the office and industry. There are only so many prestigious companies out there so the odds are, the clients you deal with are not really that well-known.</p>
<p>“Big 4 senior associate experience can be gained in 3 years and it looks excellent on a resume.”
Every year, there are probably thousands of big 4 senior associates counting on the golden exit opportunities. In this economy, let’s just say, a lot of them will be disappointed. </p>
<p>“You also travel a lot depending on what area of accounting you work in.”
For tax, usually not much other than conferences or workshops. For audit, it’s usually in the middle of nowhere. It also requires hours of driving each way. Traveling for work is so much different than travelling for vacation. People need to realize that.</p>
<p>I work in public accounting for a regional firm. I have several friends that work in the big 4. Also if you interview and network well you can still have excellent exit opportunities if you reach senior status and get your CPA certification.</p>