- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Career advice needed---MBA vs. MAccy
Posted on 4/9/15 at 9:42 am
Posted on 4/9/15 at 9:42 am
Here is a little background on me:
I stupidly got my undergrad in Gen. Business from LSU. I was a 1st generation college student and wanted to be a lawyer, so I started out in poli sci. I realized that law school would be too expensive and the over-saturation scared me away, so I changed majors to General Business. The reason I didn't specialize is Gen. Bus allowed me to still finish in 4 years, which is all my scholarship was good for. (OOS, so no TOPS).
Luckily, I got on with a Fortune 500 company in sales. I advanced up to inside sales manager and then left the company for a bit to do international trading. I recently came back to my original company, but more in a supply chain role.
Here's my question. Since I don't have a "hard" skill or any employable skill other than sales experience and limited (8 months) supply chain experience, I want a hard skill that would make me employable anywhere. I decided on a masters in accounting (already been accepted) to pursue a CPA, as it would satisfy the hours requirement. My company wants to pay for an MBA, but they won't pay for the MAccy since it is not in my current job role. Should I take the free MBA, or continue on with the MAccy? Both would be from a small tier school, so it isn't a prestigious MBA by any means. I am not confident in my current company moving me up, so I feel like I would just be wasting my time.
What would my job prospectus be with a masters in accounting, but no accounting experience?
I stupidly got my undergrad in Gen. Business from LSU. I was a 1st generation college student and wanted to be a lawyer, so I started out in poli sci. I realized that law school would be too expensive and the over-saturation scared me away, so I changed majors to General Business. The reason I didn't specialize is Gen. Bus allowed me to still finish in 4 years, which is all my scholarship was good for. (OOS, so no TOPS).
Luckily, I got on with a Fortune 500 company in sales. I advanced up to inside sales manager and then left the company for a bit to do international trading. I recently came back to my original company, but more in a supply chain role.
Here's my question. Since I don't have a "hard" skill or any employable skill other than sales experience and limited (8 months) supply chain experience, I want a hard skill that would make me employable anywhere. I decided on a masters in accounting (already been accepted) to pursue a CPA, as it would satisfy the hours requirement. My company wants to pay for an MBA, but they won't pay for the MAccy since it is not in my current job role. Should I take the free MBA, or continue on with the MAccy? Both would be from a small tier school, so it isn't a prestigious MBA by any means. I am not confident in my current company moving me up, so I feel like I would just be wasting my time.
What would my job prospectus be with a masters in accounting, but no accounting experience?
8
Posted on 4/9/15 at 9:51 am to Moustache
How is a free degree a waste of time again?
Unless your like 60, take the free degree.
Unless your like 60, take the free degree.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 9:52 am to Moustache
Get the free MBA. Use any business elective hours or "track" hours to get some more accounting classes under your belt. Take a few extra hours if you have to in order to get eligible for the CPA. Sit for the CPA and pass it.
Once you're a CPA, very few people, if anyone, will care about your Accounting Masters. The CPA is what matters. Go for the free MBA and then figure out what you need to do to get a CPA if you want that "hard skill".
ETA: For the record, I don't get the draw to the "hard skill" anyway, especially accounting. If you go into public or similar, you will start low and have to build up. I personally would prefer the diversified experience in sales and supply chain and an MBA under my belt. The CPA certainly wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it should be a focal point of your career at this point.
Once you're a CPA, very few people, if anyone, will care about your Accounting Masters. The CPA is what matters. Go for the free MBA and then figure out what you need to do to get a CPA if you want that "hard skill".
ETA: For the record, I don't get the draw to the "hard skill" anyway, especially accounting. If you go into public or similar, you will start low and have to build up. I personally would prefer the diversified experience in sales and supply chain and an MBA under my belt. The CPA certainly wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it should be a focal point of your career at this point.
This post was edited on 4/9/15 at 9:55 am
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:16 am to JayDeerTay84
quote:
How is a free degree a waste of time again?
Unless your like 60, take the free degree.
I'm looking for earnings. My company throws a degree to just about anyone. 20k is a drop in the bucket for them. It's no guarantee to move up with them.
I am afraid that if my current company lays me off, then the MBA i'll have won't really mean much or may actually hurt me.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:17 am to kennypowers816
quote:
Once you're a CPA, very few people, if anyone, will care about your Accounting Masters. The CPA is what matters. Go for the free MBA and then figure out what you need to do to get a CPA if you want that "hard skill".
I understand that. It would be incredibly difficult to get the hours necessary. I guess that is one idea.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:23 am to Moustache
If they are paying for the MBA, get it and take AS MANY accounting electives as you can that qualify do the accounting hours you need to sit for the exam. Sitting for the exam will likely be one of the more challenging things you will do in your career, good luck.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:25 am to Jabstep
quote:
If they are paying for the MBA, get it and take AS MANY accounting electives as you can that qualify do the accounting hours you need to sit for the exam. Sitting for the exam will likely be one of the more challenging things you will do in your career, good luck.
Thank you for the advice. THere aren't too many electives to choose from and I'll still be way short, but I may be able to pick up some hours from a non-degreed program after the MBA.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:27 am to Moustache
quote:
It would be incredibly difficult to get the hours necessary
How sure are you of this? What school for the MBA and what state would you want/need to sit in? Also, did you take any accounting electives at all for your gen business degree?
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:43 am to kennypowers816
quote:
How sure are you of this? What school for the MBA and what state would you want/need to sit in? Also, did you take any accounting electives at all for your gen business degree?
The school is a large public school in TX, but the academic prestige is not great.
I only took intro and managerial in undergrad. That's it.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 10:43 am to kennypowers816
quote:
How sure are you of this? What school for the MBA and what state would you want/need to sit in? Also, did you take any accounting electives at all for your gen business degree?
Also, I forgot to mention I'm 30, so I don't know how much age factors into it.
This post was edited on 4/9/15 at 10:44 am
Posted on 4/9/15 at 11:16 am to Moustache
That sucks. The school won't work with you? Some MBA programs will almost create a specialization for their students. I know tx requires ethics and I'm sure they also have the standard accounting classes as LA. (Advanced financial, blaw etc.)
Posted on 4/9/15 at 11:18 am to Moustache
TX has some oddly specific CPA requirements that are a little frustrating. You're right in that it might not be too easy for you. Although, I think 15 of your accounting hours could come from "distance learning" or correspondence courses.
Overall, I would think you should go with the free MBA. Age isn't a huge factor, but I'd say it favors the fact that you shouldn't try to start your career over in accounting. Try to take any and all accounting courses you can that would maybe count towards the CPA and then see where you finish up. Maybe enroll in some more night classes after the MBA and take some distance learning courses. You'd be 35+ sitting for the CPA, but hey, if that's what you want, it won't hurt your career.
Overall, I would think you should go with the free MBA. Age isn't a huge factor, but I'd say it favors the fact that you shouldn't try to start your career over in accounting. Try to take any and all accounting courses you can that would maybe count towards the CPA and then see where you finish up. Maybe enroll in some more night classes after the MBA and take some distance learning courses. You'd be 35+ sitting for the CPA, but hey, if that's what you want, it won't hurt your career.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 11:30 am to kennypowers816
quote:
Overall, I would think you should go with the free MBA. Age isn't a huge factor, but I'd say it favors the fact that you shouldn't try to start your career over in accounting. Try to take any and all accounting courses you can that would maybe count towards the CPA and then see where you finish up. Maybe enroll in some more night classes after the MBA and take some distance learning courses. You'd be 35+ sitting for the CPA, but hey, if that's what you want, it won't hurt your career.
I'm just trying to become more employable. I don't particularly have a love for accounting. My kids are getting to the age where moving really would be a big deal and in my industry (steel), I'd have to move to get to a similar sized company with similar stability as opposed to a small independent fabricator.
If I took electives, I'd have 12/30 hours of upper level accounting course required. I'd need to take 6 more classes and an ethics course to be eligible.
I just feel supply chain or sales is too general. Sales especially. It seems like when I was in my last job search there were so many "bullshite" sales jobs that it was hard to tell what was worth pursuing and what wasn't.
Maybe I could become more skilled in supply chain??? I"m not sure.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 11:33 am to Jabstep
quote:
he school won't work with you? Some MBA programs will almost create a specialization for their students
The schools close enough to me for driving distance night classes have very specific tracts for their MBA, most of which include almost no accounting or only one accounting class. There is one option where I can gain 12 hours of upper level accounting.
The TX requirements for CPA are:
1. Hold a baccalaureate degree.
2. Have 150 hours of college work. (will have after MBA)
3. 30 hours of upper level accounting courses (will only have 12 after MBA)
4. 24 hours of upper level business courses (already have)
5. A board approved ethics course
Posted on 4/9/15 at 1:50 pm to Moustache
Always take the free degree. I wish my company would pay for a free degree.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 2:01 pm to Moustache
Uuuuhhhhh take the free MBA...
Most MBA programs will allow you to pick courses so it could act almost exactly like an Accounting masters program. Just make sure you talk to a counselor and take all the required classes needed to sit for the CPA and it will all work out for free.
Most MBA programs will allow you to pick courses so it could act almost exactly like an Accounting masters program. Just make sure you talk to a counselor and take all the required classes needed to sit for the CPA and it will all work out for free.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 2:17 pm to SouthOfSouth
quote:
Most MBA programs will allow you to pick courses so it could act almost exactly like an Accounting masters program
The two in my area do not. They are pretty much lock-step programs. I may be able to amass about 9-12 hours in one of them in accounting.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 2:50 pm to Moustache
About the only usefulness of a MAcc is to get your 150 hours. That's it. I mean, there is NOTHING useful about a MAcc as far as what you do for a job.
I have seen in some instances Big Four firms wanting a master's in accounting, but given what you have said about your age and lifestyle, that's probably not a good route for you.
I don't know if it's changed, but as of several years ago, certain community colleges were allowed to offer accounting classes that counted towards the hours needed to sit for the exam. As in, you could take all of them at a community college (which is a lot cheaper). I know HCC did this and I think others did too.
What kind of MBA is it? Part time? Full time? Exec?
Could you take your MBA classes and take an additional accounting class each semester?
Edit: Here is the list LINK
I have seen in some instances Big Four firms wanting a master's in accounting, but given what you have said about your age and lifestyle, that's probably not a good route for you.
I don't know if it's changed, but as of several years ago, certain community colleges were allowed to offer accounting classes that counted towards the hours needed to sit for the exam. As in, you could take all of them at a community college (which is a lot cheaper). I know HCC did this and I think others did too.
What kind of MBA is it? Part time? Full time? Exec?
Could you take your MBA classes and take an additional accounting class each semester?
Edit: Here is the list LINK
This post was edited on 4/9/15 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 4/9/15 at 4:54 pm to LSUFanHouston
Do not do a MACC. It is useless.
The bigger question is do you want to be a CPA? That's an odd career path from a guy previously in sales and SC.
The bigger question is do you want to be a CPA? That's an odd career path from a guy previously in sales and SC.
Posted on 4/9/15 at 6:43 pm to Moustache
quote:
I decided on a masters in accounting (already been accepted) to pursue a CPA, as it would satisfy the hours requirement. My company wants to pay for an MBA, but they won't pay for the MAccy since it is not in my current job role. Should I take the free MBA, or continue on with the MAccy? Both would be from a small tier school, so it isn't a prestigious MBA by any means. I am not confident in my current company moving me up, so I feel like I would just be wasting my time.
What would my job prospectus be with a masters in accounting, but no accounting experience?
SIAP but remember you have to work as an acct (or under a CPA) for one year to actually get licensed.
I may be biased, but I think that a CPA > MBA, in most situations. It is not tied to a school, it actually translates into a skill (rather than education) which is what it sounds like you are looking for.
As long as you worked with a CPA for 1 year, I think you would be ok. If not, go MBA route no question. MSacct is only a means to the 150 requirement, in my mind, but its still better than no grad degree.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News