Posted 2014-06-20 7:24 PM Subject: Does/Has Anyone Work in Public Accounting?
There Could Be Aliens Out There
Posts: 1393 Location: North Central Kansas
I will graduate with my bachelors degree in accounting in December from K-State. My school offers a 1 year 30 credit hour masters (MAcc) degree to help students get to the 150. I had originally wanted to go the MAcc route, but after realizing that I will be only 11 hours short of the 150 after I graduate in December I'm not sure if it is worth the extra year and money to go on for my masters. I am also taking 3 graduate hours next semester so I would only be 27 hours short of a Masters.
Basically my options are:
Graduate in December finish the 11 credit hours at a community college or online.
Graduate in December try to get a winter internship (hopefully big 4) start Masters in Fall 2015.
Graduate in December start Masters in January 2015. (possibly intern in the summer)
In the future I'm thinking I want to work for a Big 4 firm, most likely in audit. Has anyone out there worked in public accounting? I realize that I will have to basically give up horses for the first couple of years since the hours are crazy. I'm willing to travel just about anywhere. Has anyone been successful working in public accounting and still being able to have horses?
I have a 3.5 GPA, 4 years experience as a bookkeeper, currently the evening supervisor for the tutoring center on campus, and have an interview for an accounting internship for a local business that employees approximately 900 people on Monday. What do you think my chances are of getting a Big 4 internship with my experience? I know that it is competitive for summer internships, but winter ones are supposed to be easier to get into (big 4).
Anyways, all advice will be considered. I would also like to hear about the career paths of others in the accounting industry (ie: private industry) and if you are able to balance horses with work?
Posted 2014-06-21 2:03 AM Subject: RE: Does/Has Anyone Work in Public Accounting?
Expert
Posts: 1586 Location: west of East Texas
Go for the Masters and start in January, don't take a break. Once you break the 'student' mold, it is hard to get back into it. I'm a CPA and I've worked in Industry 24 years, Public one year, and Government 6 years (oh wow, that made think of how old I am). If you had said your goal was to be in Industry and Industry only, I may have said go to work and worry about the Masters later and let the company pay for it. But since you are looking at the Big 4, the Masters and CPA certificate are pretty much going to be a necessity. CPAs are in pretty high demand so you may want to start contacting the potential employers and see what type of employees they are looking to hire. I've known several midsize firms in Central Texas who have hired at the Bachelor level and paid for the Masters.
You can keep the horses but won't be spending as much time with them until your 'grunt level' dues are paid and you can start picking assignments.
Does/Has Anyone Work in Public Accounting?
