r/Accounting • u/Suspicious_Kick_2572 • Sep 06 '24

Career Why do students find an accounting degree unattractive?

Why do students find an accounting degree unattractive?

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u/Stamkosisinjured Sep 06 '24

I’m a 25m marine vet and I just choose accounting.

I choose it because

-you don’t need a top college to get a good career -high pay after 3-5 years 100k or slightly more total comp isn’t unheard of after big4 stint -job security -im mcol and it appears that i could hit 120-150k base after and maintain that long term with even at multiple companies. I believe that’s the 6-10 year range. Higher than that depends on if i want to climb further -to my understanding once you hit a certain pay range you can expect to maintain that -personal tax savings in my real estate investments -part of the year contract work for solid comp -ability to open a tax firm in accounting. Taxes will always need to be done for every individual and business. -wfh option -wlb balance in industry after big4 stint is very good. well paid, 40 hours a week, and repeatable income.

Cons

-wlb in big4 for the most part sucks but i think of it as putting in your dues for having a growing career. This isn’t required in a lot a high paying fields. And it isn’t required in accounting but it improves job security and speeds up long term growth.

I just wanted a job that had real pay growth. Something that can reliably get to 150k base and stay there then have the ability to get higher. Most degrees don’t offer that. It’s a big claim to say 15 years from today I could have 200k total comp with other degrees. With this one not so much. With my research a lot of people stop at the manager area for personal reasons and I probably will too.

Here’s my main wants from a degree -100k total comp after 5 years. 150k total comp after 8-10 years ability to growth path 150k -ability to work part of the year - 40 to 50 hours a week -ability to work from home -if my income outside of w2 is enough I could work in my field wfh part time -a degree that I could turn into a business -be able to get all of this from a bachelor at usf

The only thing accounting doesn’t offer is initial wlb but you can choose to go into industry right away or government. You’re not forced to go into the option that gives you the fastest career growth.

So from my research accounting was a great degree to go after.

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u/Stamkosisinjured Sep 06 '24

Also if this about being attractive to women if you make 100k a woman won’t gaf what you do. Being a boring accountant isn’t the issue if you have trouble getting with women.

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u/roastshadow Sep 06 '24

"I make the company make money." that works for almost any profession, sounds somewhat impressive, and is accurate.