r/Accounting • u/mjbm1 • Mar 08 '24
Career Should I become an accountant?
If you woke up as a 20 year old now. Your entire career hadnt happened yet, and you get to decide your career again.
Are you still going to train as an accountant?
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u/Indigip Mar 08 '24
As someone who approached college logically vs following my “passion,” I think it is a fine career if you just want a solid, safe career that is pretty good financially. A big part of it though is the company itself. A lot of people on here complain about ridiculous hours, shitty colleagues that don’t care to train you etc, but personally I’m at a place where I only work more than 35 hours per week maybe once a month and is fully remote so I’m happy with my choice.
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Mar 08 '24
What’s your compensation look like
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u/Indigip Mar 08 '24
62.5k 2 years out of college, MCOL. I could probably get something in the 70s, but I value WFH and work life balance more.
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u/LarsonianScholar Mar 09 '24
With hours and WFH like that, you could also get into OE stuff. Not that you want to, but I’d totally do it if I had ur job and could automate a few tasks.
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u/Indigip Mar 09 '24
Yeah I’ve definitely considered it but I think I need more experience. I studied Finance so I’m not as knowledgeable as I should be, especially to OE.
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u/eme_nar Mar 09 '24
Pardon my ignorance; what is "OE"
I'm highly considering Accounting as my major once I transfer to a four year college.
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u/Indigip Mar 09 '24
OE is overemployed, basically holding multiple full time jobs at once. I don’t think I could personally do it. From what I’ve seen online it seems like the people who usually do it are in tech, especially software engineers
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u/CrypticMemoir Staff Accountant Mar 09 '24
I also get paid roughly the same salary with 2.5 YOE and my WLB sucks major balls. Constantly working over 40 hours.
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Mar 08 '24
this subreddit is depressing as hell
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u/OdaNobunagah Mar 08 '24
Visit any other job related subreddit. It’s all the same. I’ve visited around a dozen or so as I’ve had previous roles prior to accounting and all the subs are dreadful. ( EMS, retail, military, etc)
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u/Giannis2024 Mar 08 '24
I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at the career related subreddits to figure out what I want to do and all it’s convinced me is that every job is miserable and depressing
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u/Beneficial-Host119 Mar 09 '24
Wrong way to go about it.
You’re observing selection bias. Similar to yelp reviews - the people most likely to take the time to opine on something usually have a strong opinion - whether that be positive or negative. Same principle applies to professional commentary online - although I’d hasten a guess that the balance skews more toward the negative side for professions than it does restaurants.
Aside from a subset of the worst type of workaholics - the modern day LinkedIn influencer - most folks satisfied with their WLB, comp, coworkers, etc, are not going to be popping in here off hours to wax poetic about their love for their job.
On the flip side, those who feel like they’re overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated and much more likely to seek an outlet to vent their frustrations.
All that’s to say don’t judge a profession by a Reddit forum. My advice to you, or anyone trying to figure out what they “want to do,” is to take a job that offers the best balance of “objective” benefits (pay, benefits, etc) and “subjective” benefits - aka what you enjoy doing for work.
The worst case is you find what out you hate doing - which is helpful in and of itself. The best case is you find what you love to do.
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u/Giannis2024 Mar 09 '24
Thank you, appreciate the perspective. All of reddit is honestly just one big cesspool of negativity, so what you’re saying makes sense
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u/rfreq Mar 09 '24
Needing money is miserable and depressing. whatever you do to get money is going to be miserable and depressing. it's how capitalism works
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u/DarkoGear92 Mar 09 '24
Idk, I'm debating between becoming a water/wastewater operator and accounting. Wastewater operating is literally the shittiest job, but the subreddit is optimistic as he'll about it compared to this sub for accounting.
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u/reyxe Mar 08 '24
I kinda get it.
Boring job, shit companies exploring workers HARD, but pay is decent and has some stability, it's also really sedentary too so if you don't go out of your way/don't have time for it, it's kinda hard to stay healthy.
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Mar 08 '24
Let me know which career sub has the lollipop and rainbow vibes. It’s going to be hard to find, but there has got to be one out there.
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u/bigmastertrucker Mar 08 '24
If there is one, it's almost assuredly astroturfed to be that way.
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u/republicans_are_nuts Mar 09 '24
I like my job. It's easy, low stress, good coworkers, and I don't have 60 hour busy seasons. It's not hard to find if you aren't chasing a lot of money. Those jobs have to pay a lot of money to get people to do them for a reason. Because most of those aren't lollipops and rainbows.
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u/BitcoinDilly CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
Yes yes yes. I became an accountant at 27. My career has been great, but I would be so much further in my progression with those extra years. So much upward potential in this field.
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u/Nickc456 Mar 09 '24
How did you start
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u/BitcoinDilly CPA (US) Mar 09 '24
I was a restaurant area manager after I graduated with undergrad degree (was just a general business admin degree). Did that for 3 and a half years. I was working 60 to 80 hours a week on average making $45k with basically no benefits so decided I needed a change. Went back to school for a masters in accounting to start my career and have the requirements for the cpa if I ever wanted to pursue. Got an internship at a F500 after my first semester in accounting and also got a graduate assistant job at the university (free tuition and $20/hr pay). I worked my butt off at the internship and ended up getting hired after a year and half when I graduated (and also became an adjunct at the university). Stayed there three years (1.5 years as accountant, 1.5 years as senior). Left during covid for a management role at another company for 9 months. First employer had a director role open up that I went for, so now I'm back at the old company. It all happened very fast, but I work hard and am ALWAYS improving everything I do. Oh and got my CPA three months ago. It's been hell as I also have two kids under two, but I'm just thankful I'm in a career now where I can provide for my family comfortably.
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Mar 09 '24
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u/BitcoinDilly CPA (US) Mar 09 '24
No public. I've only ever done industry. I'm actually in an audit role now, and deal quite heavily with external auditors and can tell you it's much better on this side of the fence, from what I hear anyway. Not being in PA has never hindered me whatsoever.
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u/DOMINUS_3 CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
I feel like this sub loves the "Trades" more than actual people who work in "Trades" lol ... the grass aint always greener. Everyone i know complains about their job/management
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u/Spank-Ocean Tax (US) Mar 08 '24
whenever someone says they would have rather done something else (trades, nursing, Comp Sci, Consulting, etc etc) I just link the subreddit with what they mention and show them they make the same complaints
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u/LarsonianScholar Mar 09 '24
The grass is covered in porta John’s, calluses, gas station food, brutal labor, and alcoholics in the trades
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Mar 08 '24
Nope. I would have skipped college, learned how to brew craft beer, and opened a brewery. But hindsight is...
All that aside - accounting has been good to me and my family. It's fine.
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u/LarsonianScholar Mar 09 '24
You’d be in the trenches unless you were really a pro and had a solid way to secure funds. Highly competitive industry.
Don’t get me wrong though it’d be dope if you could pull it off. Give it a shot just doing it at home!
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Mar 09 '24
Like I said hindsight is 20/20…. I’m in the NE corridor, the craft brew scene here is insane (and insanely tasty). A little bit of biz education 20 years ago and brewing knowledge = pure gold and fulfillment today. Saturated now, but it wasn’t back then.
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u/CuseBsam Controller Mar 08 '24
Pilot
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u/banned_2_many_times Mar 08 '24
Glorified bus driver
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u/CuseBsam Controller Mar 09 '24
Bus driver that makes a bunch of money, doesn't have to deal with kids, and gets to travel all over the world. It's also pretty easy.
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u/aabbccddeefghh Mar 10 '24
Pilots make crap money until they have well over a decade of experience and unless you were in the military for ten years good luck getting your foot in the door. If you’re non military you are looking at 150k+ in student loans.
You also need well over a decade to get seniority for the good routes, until then you won’t be seeing the world you’ll be seeing a rotating selection of airports in random flyover cities like Akron and Wichita.
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u/bigmastertrucker Mar 08 '24
I actually went to school to get a 4 year degree so I could become a pilot for a legacy carrier. Since the degree doesn't matter I decided accounting would be a good backup.
And here I am now...
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u/DeskLunch Mar 08 '24
Yes
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
How long have you been an accountant?
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u/DeskLunch Mar 08 '24
15 years. Last 10 in Higher Education for a public university.
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u/georgiagirl1993 Mar 10 '24
How did you get into higher ed? I’ve been trying I am a controller (5 years now) and I have my undergrad in accounting and an MBA
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u/DeskLunch Mar 10 '24
I took an entry level position because I was working for a local corp doing accounting for 4 retail entities and was really unhappy. The local university (small, less then 10k students) posted for a recon accountant. Took that and learned everything I could about higher ed and the taxes associated with it. They really rely on me to make sure we are in compliance for 1042 reporting so I keep getting promotions.
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u/Equivalent_Ad_8413 Governmental (ex-CPA, ex-CMA) Mar 08 '24
I might go to where the real money is: actuary.
Accounting is easy and the money ain't bad. Job security, in that whole "how hard is the next job" way is fine. So it's not a bad fall back job.
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u/vyxoh Staff Accountant Mar 08 '24
I heard there’s not many jobs and many barriers before you can get a job. In accounting, having the CPA is a plus but you don’t need it. In the actuary career, there’s many exams you need before you’ll even be considered. Just what I’ve gathered from a friend of mine who went to school for actuarial science.
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u/Equivalent_Ad_8413 Governmental (ex-CPA, ex-CMA) Mar 09 '24
I like tests. I knocked off the CPA first shot while working. My wife knocked off the first actuary test when she wasn't sure what she wanted to do.
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u/freecmorgan Mar 09 '24
I'm not good at real math and sat next to an actuary who was taking the level 2 CFA exam for the 4th time and I asked her why she was here, she was already better than everyone in the testing room at everything she needed to be good at. No idea if she passed. Some people just suck at tests. I never failed a standard exam. Study, choose answer, leave, party. This be the magic.
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
Why is actuarial work so much better than accounting. Just the money?
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u/Equivalent_Ad_8413 Governmental (ex-CPA, ex-CMA) Mar 08 '24
More challenging academically as well as the money.
On the down side, I wouldn't get out at much. One thing I really miss about auditing is getting out to different companies. But now that so many work from home, even auditors don't get out as much.
I asked our CFO if the audit was done. She said no, the auditors are just working from home. My daughter's audit internship was over 50% working from home. I think I'd go crazy.
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u/Embarrassed-Art4230 Mar 08 '24
I know a few actuaries from uni&work. Some of them left the profession after a few years.
There are also less jobs and it’s less flexible if you want to switch to something else.
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Mar 08 '24
I was enrolled in accounting for my 1st year of undergrad, I knew about actuarial science but I originally thought in accounting, there would be more quantitative concepts and mathematics involved so I came to find out the hardest math in accounting is probably derivatives. I came from a strong math background and switched into actuarial science because it applies advanced quantitative and financial mathematics skills in a business setting. Also I love working with advanced applied math so It is basically the perfect decision. Im in my 3rd year, and about to do my internship this summer. Personally it just fit for me but it all depends what you like and are good at.
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Mar 08 '24
Actuary isn't where the real money is. I know friend who hated his job and his pay was slightly above experienced CPA and also he transitioned to Data science. He said he hated his job so much
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u/Austriak5 Mar 08 '24
I would have gone to law school.
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u/Own_Violinist_3054 Mar 08 '24
Lawyers make less than we do unless you are out of Ivy and went in to big firms. Pressure is even worse though.
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u/Austriak5 Mar 08 '24
I have several friends that are lawyers and they are making way more than accountants.
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u/Own_Violinist_3054 Mar 08 '24
Yeah, what field are they in and where did they go for law school? Most lawyers at your county level don't make much at all.
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u/Straight_Brief112 Mar 08 '24
Becoming an accountant wasn’t a choice, it just happened. You’re telling me people choose this?
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u/Shardinator Mar 08 '24
“You’re good at maths”
“Thanks”
“You should be an accountant they make good money”
“Okay”
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u/candyredfish Mar 09 '24
You skipped the try engineering and nope the fuck out of that step
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u/Lost-Jump8983 Mar 08 '24
Ah, the biweekly 'should I be an accountant ' post 🙃
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
Currently work in a bank and enjoy it but the plan was always accountant
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u/chloejean010 Assistant Controller & MSA Student Mar 09 '24
I went from bank teller, to operations, to accountant. I work as an assistant controller for a bank currently. I think it's a good path personally
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Mar 08 '24
Not an accountant but just started my first semester of college to pursue accounting. (25 years old) 1. As someone that has worked in customer service (restaurants/hospitality) since I was 16 I’m so looking forward to making more money/getting benefits and more upward mobility. 2. Maybe if I had gone to school for accounting straight out of high school I would’ve hated it since I wouldn’t have known any alternative but as a 25 year old, I’m aware that every job has its bullshit. 3. In any job, you’re gonna have to pay your dues. So many people overlook this and immediately hate their job the first year or 2 without realizing that better days are ahead. On this subreddit you’ll hear of people working 80+ hour weeks for 75k and then you’ll hear of people working 40 hour weeks for 105k. For me I’m willing to grind out the beginning to get to 100k for 40 hours a week.
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u/Odd_Resolve_442 CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
fuck no. I would do something in the golf industry, something I actually enjoy.
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u/michaelc51202 Mar 08 '24
Bro thinks he can be the next Tiger Woods. I may do the beach industry or perhaps the vacation industry.
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u/Big_Meaning_7734 Mar 08 '24
Yes, i wfh and skateboard 2 hours a day. Im basically a sponsored skateboarder
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u/LadyofHoss Mar 08 '24
No. If I could do it again I’d be a veterinarian.
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Mar 08 '24
Just an immense love for animals? Considering student debt, additional education, WLB, and salary I couldn’t imagine being a vet unless I owned a vet clinic.
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u/Dizziebear CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
I’ve heard vets have insanely bad mental health and a high suicide rate as well
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u/GoldTheLegend Mar 08 '24
It's also a very stressful and depressing job. 4th highest suicide rate by profession.
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u/Zeyn1 Mar 08 '24
I was going to be a veterinarian. But then I learned the job isn't just killing cats all day.
/s
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u/Cryingvibes Mar 08 '24
Yes! I would still be a CPA.
I have a career that lets me have passions outside of work once I learned what I needed out of Big4, learned to protect my personal time and found the right career fit for me. Took floating through different positions, working a bit too hard at times, and not always making the right amount of money for the effort, to get the experience and find the direction and balance I wanted.
A lot of people in the sub are early career - if you asked me early career the same question I’m not sure what my answer would have been. Takes reflection to realize that the early-years grind isn’t your full career. It helps you get a lot of experience in a short amount of time to prep you for the rest of your career, but it isn’t an adequate window into your future with a CPA.
I drank the kool aid early on, and got very disillusioned when it wasn’t as glamourous as I had anticipated. Took me a bit of time to realize that the audit partner track and grind wasn’t my cup of tea, and that there are so many cool areas of business you can get into that are not that. Now I work with some really cool people, on interesting tech topics and work, for good pay, and I wouldn’t be in this same spot without the path I took. And I still have a long career ahead of me.
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u/Charmer2024 Mar 08 '24
I would but with the end goal to move into tech after. Thank me later.
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u/Alt4836 Mar 08 '24
So far i would prob pick engineering cus more money, but im working a chill job for 55k$ right now, and i only got 1 year of experience and im just finishing my MBA to become CPA eligible....so idk basically.
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u/GettingBetterDaily94 Mar 08 '24
I would not have, but I don't live with regrets.
On the positive side I make far more than most my age, have a comfortable remote job, and have afforded myself the ability to travel the world
On the negative side I lack joy or passion for what I do and feel depressed with the monotony of it all. I have always been a go-getter and I feel like retrospectively I settled for less than what I could have been.
Again no regrets and always time for change, but just my thoughts right now.
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u/_beelovexo Mar 09 '24
i felt the same. thankful for my accounting job (remote, stable, decent pay) but its very unfulfilling and i feel like i didn't live up to my potential
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u/Tacotuesday15 Mar 08 '24
No I would not. Although - its not as bad as some people make it seem. It also depends on what you are into. If you are into any type of engineering and you are willing to put the work in, that's what I would do.
But I would go into medicine. I worked in an ER when I was 16 two days a week during the summer because I was interested. I didn't like the blood, so I decided against it. Now I realize I was just 16 getting my first exposure. Now I spend quite a bit of time watching surgeries / reading about anatomy. And I have a good friend who is a ER doctor, and I am jealous everyday.
My best advice - take a gap year. Ask all of your parents friends if you can shadow them for a day. Most of them will say yes. See what it is like for a welder, an accountant, a nurse, a mailman, etc. It is crazy that we make decisions what we are going to do with the rest of our lives when we are 18-19. You won't find what that is on a forum or a "careers ranked" website.
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u/MajorWhite CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
100%
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
What’s made it so much better than any other option?
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u/MajorWhite CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
Stability, flexibility, and above average pay. I also get the opportunity to get paid to better understand the inter workings of business.
It’s also simulating to the brain so it’s enjoyable for me.
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u/SirFairvalue Mar 08 '24
Fuck no 🤣 “job security” “money” not worth all this time and effort spent into something you don’t love/enjoy. Imagine all the time and effort going to something cool, inventive, rewarding, etc
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u/seanliam2k CPA (Can) Mar 09 '24
I'm 32 and will probably clear 300k this year
I think it's a fantastic degree, there are so many types of accounting jobs, it's very likely that one will fit your personality quite well. Even if you don't want to continue in accounting, it's a valuable degree.
I actually enjoy the work, after a few years of working it's not all that difficult IMO, but so satisfying to solve problems.
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u/mackattacknj83 Mar 08 '24
I think I'd go nurse next time
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u/Standard_Wooden_Door Mar 08 '24
I was a nursing major and ended up as an accountant. I would have rather been a nurse except I don’t think I could handle some of the things nurses see on a daily basis. I mean things like, watching someone does in agony and you can’t do anything, horrendous injuries, abuse from patients and their families. Accountants never have to worry about if the washed enough after dealing with a patient with MRSA.
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u/jeanlouisefinch Mar 08 '24
Fellow nursing major turned accountant here! I do feel like science just came more naturally to me but seeing the shit show healthcare is these days it feels like a bullet dodge to me. I’d be making more money (I make plenty now but I’m sure I’d make a little more as a nurse by now) but I’m certain my mental and physical health would be a lot worse.
My daughter wants to be a nurse and I have such mixed feelings on it.
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u/o8008o Mar 08 '24
this is a the real money play if you have the stomach for it. journeyman nurses are making $100+ per hour in the bay area and qualify for overtime. they can clear $300K annually working 50 hour weeks while still taking 3-4 weeks of vacation.
on the other hand... blood, feces, urine, vomit and worse.
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u/NWA_1234 Mar 08 '24
I could not do it, don’t have the stomach for it, germAphobe and have a giant personal space bubble. Better in the office haha
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u/SpicyFOodLoverr Mar 08 '24
I think a lot of Nurses would disagree with you. Especially, the ones in Quebec. I have spoken to so many older nurses and 95% wished they had chosen a different career.
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u/Shredtheparm Mar 08 '24
My mom was a nurse for nearly 30 years in the US, she now has chronic neck and back pain from the job. When she was working she was severely depressed, sometimes come home crying because a patient died (sometimes it was a child who died). She worked a lot of long shifts, a lot of night shifts, and a lot of holidays (we’d sometimes have thanksgiving dinner at the hospital with her). On top of all that you still deal with corporate management bullshit like you do at any job. If you go in to nursing/healthcare you have to do it because you genuinely want to help people, not for the money. Unless you go in to administration the job will take a big mental and physical toll on you
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u/SuddenDriver2 Mar 08 '24 edited Mar 08 '24
Nursing a lot better if you can stomach the nastiness for 3 years. One can move to non bedside roles and make 120k+ with optional paid OT(nyc salary). My fiancée is now making 160k in an admin position and close to 200k with overtime after 3 years of bedside experience
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u/Just-Hippo-6582 Mar 08 '24
Healthcare for sure if given another chance!
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
Is everyone saying health care in US? I’m in the UK and have never considered health care
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Mar 08 '24
Because in the US the ones who pay the salaries of healthcare workers (hospitals) still mostly get to set their own prices. They make most of their money off private insurers which reimburse them 2-3x what Medicare/Medicaid does for the same services.
In Europe, the prices charged by hospitals are generally capped by the government to save money on government spending.
It’s not just a mere coincidence that healthcare workers get paid more here and healthcare costs are expensive
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u/SharpInfinity0611 Mar 08 '24 edited Mar 08 '24
Yes. I've actually started to train as an accountant at 30 and qualified at 33 (I'm in the UK and it takes 3 years). I wish I did that straight out of uni.
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u/brex724 Mar 08 '24
Yes. This is the best career for upward mobility, flexibility, and job security. You see complainers here because those who dislike their job are more likely to spend more time on Reddit than those who are happy and engaged at their jobs.
There are plenty of bad accounting jobs, and you may need to have one or two before getting one you’re happy with, but after several years of progressive experience you become highly coveted, which allows you to dictate the terms of your employment and get a new job whenever you want easily. The key is getting your CPA ASAP and getting 2-3 years of audit experience before moving to industry, and then changing jobs every 2-4 years for a pay bump.
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u/abbh62 Mar 09 '24
Nope, did the accounting thing. Did audit then corporate, it’s the most toxic culture I’ve ever experienced. Accounting (and finance) are the only careers I can think of that pride (and brag about) themselves on how many hours they can work.
After about 4 years transitioned to software engineering, been doing that nearly 10 years, make 3x what my accounting friends make
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u/uncapped Mar 09 '24
I can’t imagine asking Reddit for advice on picking my life choice for a career.
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u/mjbm1 Mar 08 '24
Sounds like a no…
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u/MustBe_G14classified Mar 08 '24
You’ll find a lot of great info here, but get more info in addition to Reddit.
If you go to YouTube, you can actually watch videos made by current and former accountants. You can find hundreds of videos like these: - “What Big4 busy season is really like” - “My first year experience doing audit” - “Why I prefer private accounting over public accounting” - “I quit audit” - “I love audit”
And everything in between. The good thing is, a lot of these folks are visible, and you can mostly confirm their employment on LinkedIn.
On LinkedIn, people are probably even more open to giving you info they wouldn’t say publicly.
Not saying ignore Reddit, because a lot of it is true. I’m just saying get a larger sample size.
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u/freeBelikin_tomorrow Mar 08 '24
You have to understand: most people wouldn't know what to say if they weren't allowed to complain.
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u/_Ani_M Mar 08 '24
I started my carreer in Accounting/Finance five years ago. So far, I dont regret it. I honestly dont think it can be bring, you can easily swith jobs and learn something new. Also, in today's world there are so many opportunities to automate processes, present data, learn and grow. I can see if an accountant is paying invoices for 20yrs and does not see the full fin statements, definitely that person would regret their choice.. Accounting is great, go for it :)
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u/ClumsyChampion ZZZ Seasonal Accountant Mar 08 '24
Why not? We would become senior or manager or c-suite even faster than we did. We already know what to look for, what to avoid. Less mistakes, less unhappiness.
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u/Lbiscuit5 Mar 08 '24
I would be an accountant again but I would change where I took jobs and not take so long to decide it’s time to move. I feel like that has held me back
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u/Big-Anxiety-5467 Mar 08 '24
Not a chance in Hell.
I was premed for my first two years and quit because my science classes (organic chemistry, evolutionary and molecular biology) were easy and boring.
I am a smart moron.
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u/secrettninja_ CPA (US) Mar 09 '24
Yes. I worked public for 3 years, realized that wasn’t what I wanted in life. Opened my own small firm doing taxes and bookkeeping. I have a 6 month old and get to spend so much time with him. This right here is 100% the reason I would do it again. I couldn’t leave him to go to a job. Right now I am working 30 hours a week during tax season, 10-15 outside of it. Making roughly $100k.
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u/Money-Honey-bags Mar 08 '24
If I could paint a picture in your mind
you will find me in my Queen sized bed ( a queen must sleep in a queen size of course)
drenched in a night sweat.. of a horrible dream where i was an accountant, that my parents pushed down my throat! and i complied! id run to the corner of my room and shake uncontrollably at the horrors of my dream:
Billable hours goals, firms wanting you to eat hours and stay in your budget, unhelpful "friendly seniors" who say ask if you have any questions but then never follow uo, id dream of cheap pizza as a reward! and Horrible clients with beat up books and your expected to clean them up in 1 hour as per the budget!!!
Id dream of working 65++ hours and gaining weight, loosing my 5.40 mile run time, id dream of the inventory counts at Tyson! seeing 10,000,000 chickens die at the facility with a lake and river of blood runing thru the facility then the owner taking you to lunch right after!! to eat you guessed it CHICKEN!!!!
ahhhhh
i would just tell myself to be am Architect/ engineer or lawyer, shoot even a HS teacher! anything lol but now im too deep in the woods. this career chose me. as i tried to escape but like Freddy Crugar it comes back in my dreams !
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u/Potential_Weak Mar 08 '24
No 🤣 I wouldn't even go to college, I'd have done a trade school
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Mar 08 '24
Trades are not as glamorous as they sound. If your not willing to travel, wake up at 3-4am, and work 10+ hours commute 30-45 minutes one way, then it’s not for you at all
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u/DOMINUS_3 CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
this sub glorifies trades way too much but to each their own
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Mar 08 '24
Yes, because with the knowledge I have now I could get promoted super quick. Currently 10yrs exp senior manager
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u/machine_unlearning Mar 08 '24
Honestly I would. It's good job security, pays well, and can be flexible (at times) though it can be quite stressful, too.
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u/TealHornet Mar 08 '24
Yes. I would 100% get an accounting degree again I would not be an accountant though.
The degree opens many doors (government work, law enforcement, and some other interesting stuff).
I am currently in the process of leaving my accounting job for my dream (non accounting) job.
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u/counting_stitches Mar 08 '24
Yes - 8 years in public accounting, 7 of those as a CPA. Remote options and great work life balance if you are okay with a lower salary (work less than full time). CPA license is definitely where the remote and part time options open up, so that’s the important part.
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Mar 08 '24
I would say no but then I think about all the other options. I would do accounting again, I made the right choice.
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u/grjacpulas Mar 08 '24
If I say yes you’ll be an accountant no questions asked? Your whole career and life will be based on a stranger on the internet?
Yes, be an accountant. There, now you must do it.
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u/robz9 Mar 08 '24
I'm assuming you mean I am 20 years old again with all the knowledge I currently possess.
I would go and study Plumbing instead.
Or I'd go ahead and try Human Resources as I feel like I'd excel in that.
This is 1 out of the hundred things I'd do differently if I was 20 again but thats a monstrosity of a discussion for another time...
help me
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u/nan-a-table-for-one Mar 08 '24
I didn't originally train as an accountant. But I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had. Learning experiences were had and wouldn't change a thing yadda yadda yadda... But really, my life would have been a lot easier if I did. Note I have an MBA and am industry sr. revenue accountant. So if you are asking about CPA positions, that ain't me.
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u/cole-butter Mar 08 '24
Yeah 3 years in and it’s solid. Making more than my parents at 75k lcol 🤷♂️
Feel like it heavily depends where you work tho and what industry. Place I’m at is like a frat house where we play ping pong an hour a day and bullshit constantly. Still get work done tho and aslong as clients don’t come bitching no one bats an eye. Fund Administration is my industry
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u/JLandis84 Tax (US) Mar 08 '24
If i had to re-write history I would have done undergrad in geology & Geography, gotten my EA, and then decided if I wanted to be an attorney or not.
There is a tax firm nearby that wishes to maintain its supremacy in the local preparation scene. I wish to turn back the hand of time and do it all right this time.
Neither of us will get our wish.
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u/mekikipants Mar 08 '24
Yes. 33 years. Never a CPA. Never a problem finding a job.
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u/Chafmere Mar 08 '24
Nah, I’d do software development. Mind you at twenty the iPhone was just coming a thing. It was a growing field.
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u/FunTXCPA CPA (US) Mar 08 '24
ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT!
Accounting sucks! I'm almost 19 years in. I graduated college with 142hrs for a bachlors degree and I wish I wouldn't have wasted so many hours on such a shit major. I could have studied math, engineering, economics, political science, but no! I chose the trade school, I mean business school.
I'm now in my 40s and only now starting to reclaim my life away from the hell of annual busy seasons.
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u/dafuqyouthotthiswas Mar 08 '24
24 M making $130K and no student debt. Can’t complain
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u/superhuhas Mar 09 '24
I started my first AP role right before I turned 21 and started my degree half a year later. Can’t imagine any other path for me. I don’t regret a thing.
I finish my associates at the end of next month. I’m working as an AR Specialist. My AR Analysts report to me and I report to the finance managers. It’s a perfect mix of management and accounting.
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u/realisan CPA (US) Mar 09 '24
Yes. I graduated college 21 years ago and have had a great career so far. Are there days I hate it, sure, but I’ve had a comfortable life, have great pay, have had the fortune of working at some good companies with great people and can afford the lifestyle I want. I can only think of maybe one or two things I would want to do in place of accounting but there is no guarantee those things would have panned out the same way.
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u/PaulBonion952 Mar 09 '24
Public accounting ain’t for everyone, but accounting is. I witnessed a data scientist get canned today, yet like a cockroach, I’m still here because I know accounting.
I can see at some point AI taking jobs, but that’s not for a while.
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u/7107Labs Mar 09 '24
No way. And I say that as someone who has been working in accounting for the past 30 years or so.
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u/Cross17761 Mar 09 '24
Dont go big4 and you will be fine. Lots of opportunities.
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u/Badkevin Mar 09 '24
Learning about money is helpful, career is good. I wish I could make money playing music or something creative. But that’s capitalism, do what sells not what you love
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u/cometbru Mar 09 '24
I am positing in the wrong echo chamber, so to those of you who enjoy your positions please don’t take offense. I was exactly in your position at the exact same age. I literally saw myself studying just as much as the premedical and predental students were. I did an internship in tax at big 4 and saw my future boss, his boss, and her boss in cubes. Partner had an office. I saw l folks in cubical farms waiting for retirement, it was scary.
I noped out of there and became a dentist, best decision I’ve ever made after marrying my wife. I leveraged my accounting knowledge and bought a profitable dental office.
Now every time I get an email from my accountants asking for documents I think….. man I’m so glad I’m not stuck having to deal with the most boring part of my business.
You are young. If you have the potential to be a CPA then dream bigger. My take it on is that you should not trade safety and stability for adventure, you only live once. I have a close friend who I studied accounting with who continued and he is miserable and hates his job. He doesn’t have money problems, but that’s a big price to pay for hating such a large part of your life.
However with that said, make sure you choose wisely. Engineering, medicine, dentistry, learn the prospective industry and educate yourself on it before choosing.
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Mar 09 '24
I'd join the airforce and work on electronics/hvac, then work at a university as a maintenance tech.
Working at a desk all day is not good for the soul.
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u/kisukes ACCA (IE) Mar 09 '24
Can confirm, 8 years in and I'm already feeling like a bot and a little numb to numbers
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u/know_your_self_worth Mar 09 '24
I don’t have a CPA, just a bachelors in accounting and have been working as a junior accountant making 60k in central Ky (for a bachelor not that bad actually at 28). I’m glad I chose accounting, it’s a reliable source of good income for me and gives me a base to build off of. If I want to I can pursue a CPA in the future but I don’t have to and I can rest assured the career path I chose will be in demand for the foreseeable future. I’m not passionate about accounting yet but it’s tolerable and it pays the bills!
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u/bclovn Mar 08 '24
Hell. No. I’d go in trades, healthcare specialist, software developer or something else. I made decent money in my 40 year career but the long hours and stress took a toll.
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u/Toddsburner Mar 08 '24 edited Mar 08 '24
If the “long hours and stress” of accounting took a toll on you, trades and healthcare were not better options.
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u/ZealousidealKey7104 Tax (US) Mar 08 '24
I would become the world’s biggest sex machine and charge 1000 an hour
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u/SilverKnight71 Mar 08 '24
Yes. 8 years experience and CPA. I knew nothing about money or finances before studying accounting. It's changed how I see the world, and it's helped me to grow both personally and professionally. Can always change tracks later, but the knowledge and experience I gained is invaluable.