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Accounting Career Outlook
Posted by ahlsseth on 06/28/2008 - 17:43
I am going back to school this fall to get a second bachelor's degree in Accounting. It should only take 2 years and after I want to sit for the CPA exam. I am curious if anyone has insight on the outlook of the profession and if there will still be a demand for new accounting graduates. How about job security/salary? I would really like to go to work in public accounting for either one of the big firms or a smaller regional firm.
Seth Ahlstrom
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Accounting in Great
I am currently going to school for my first bachelor's degree in accounting and i feel very excited about this career because the outlook for it is great. i recently read an article by CNBC online about which careers are the most demanded right now and surprisingly as i read all the different medical and other fields, accounting was in the first place for professionals demand so you should feel very confident that you will have a job and good pay when you finish your degree in accounting.
No Cape for This Guy
Dear Seth.
The accounting profession has never been better as a career choice. With Sarbanes and the IASB and with 80% of the members of the AICPA retiring within 10 years---hey, we could--things haven’t looked rosier since green eye shades faded into history. I just talked to my contact at Robert Half International and they are still placing accountants at places like new home builders! Imagine that? Accountants may not have the high profile exposure of indigent super drunks flashing across the screen at your local bijou, but we’ll always eat. And eat well, mind you.
David Burt
opinion
One question - why go for a second bachelor's in Accounting when you can get an MBA? You might have some perequisits to complete but most likely it will take you the same amount of time.
This is purely my personal opinion but with all the new pronouncements and requirements, I cannot see how the accounting professional will not grow.
My only real advise is make sure you get your CPA. Accountants in industry without a CPA do not make as much money and are not as sought after. As companies continue to reorganize, I have seen that the employee with the CPA is more likely to keep their position.
The value of a Big 4 vs a smaller firm is also an opinion. After leaving an audit firm, the CPA license is the important thing. I would make sure no matter which firm you work for that you are involved not only in audit but also tax. Many of the audit firms do not involve auditors in tax issues. The smaller firms do a better job of integrating these functions during an audit. Many of the work and decisions when working in industry are centered around tax implications.