MBA after public accounting

It is smart to get a couple of years experience before pursuing MBA. Unless you're going to a name school I would only do it if you want to change career direction. The majority of people I see in the workforce having an MBA doesn't really do anything for you. (I don't have exposure to investment banking, business consulting). It's about what you do while on the job. MBA may be more beneficial for the English, communication majors however.

I think as long as you get in a school that is very strong in the geographical area you would like to work or a top 20 program you should be good.

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What's the upside after spending the money on a MBA? From my experience, once you have a CPA then no one really cares what else you have because the CPA trumps them all. I just don't see a MBA really adding much to your earning potential if you are already a CPA

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Upside would be a career switch and a pay bump. A 3-4 years into public accounting you are making $60-70k. Go to a great business school and you come out making $90k-$130k(before signing bonus, add $5k- $25k if you count that) depending on the industry and the job when you would be making $75k-$80k if you had stayed in public accounting.

You can do the same thing without going to MBA school. Put your time in at a decent firm for 7-8 years, get a CPA, and write your ticket.

I know plenty of people that switched from public accounting to industry management and they didn't have to drop $$$ and time going back to school.

Not my experience

I think it's a great way to facilitate a career change. Your only other option really is to continually network your arse off in other fields, which can be difficult when handling a full time job. Going back to school will provide you the time and resources to make the career change your primary focus.

If you're with a big firm, another option is seeking internal transfer opportunities. Once you build a strong reputation at the firm (2-4 years), it will be much easier to move into one of the Advisory service lines if you wanted to do that.

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You shouldn't need an mba to jump from public to industry

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Is the OP talking about jumping from public accounting to corporate accounting? If so then you're right. No need for a MBA.

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s the OP talking about jumping from public accounting to corporate accounting? If so then you're right. No need for a MBA

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Absolutely not. No interest in corporate accounting roles.

I've seen a handful of peers leave public after 3-4 years in, get their MBA, and land associate level roles in IB, usually sell side. Granted they got their MBA from solid programs, UT and Vandy for example, and they are 3-4 years older than the rest of their IB peer group. It can be done if you're looking for a switch.

I'm not sure where you're getting these numbers from but they are awfully large for an individual in their late 20s with an MBA. I know several people with an MBA from LSU that aren't sniffing salaries in the 90s much less 100s. I honestly don't see much value in the MBA without being in a role with a company that is investing in you (paying for it) and that you can see having a long term career at.