Any Accountants/CPA/CMA on here?
12-15-14, 12:05 PM
#16
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hey salvadorik thanks for you response and for your helpful advise, yes i am going to try to get the certification before i start job searching. i want to get everything done as soon as possible. some people find the material boring, and yes some parts are just very dry but then there are some parts which i really like!
i chose the 3IS simply because I've loved the IS line since the first gen. When the IS first came out i was only 9 or 10 years old and i always told my dad i would get an IS one day. Then when the ISF came out and i first saw one in USB i fell more in love with the car. The F line is currently out of my price range, but hey you never know, with the degree and CPA i could get one in a few years maybe! When they introduced the 3IS i knew i had to get it and saved and put my mind to it and got the color combo i wanted even though it took me 6 months to get it. i love the car so far and love the looks i get while driving! how about you? what made you choose the 3IS?
i chose the 3IS simply because I've loved the IS line since the first gen. When the IS first came out i was only 9 or 10 years old and i always told my dad i would get an IS one day. Then when the ISF came out and i first saw one in USB i fell more in love with the car. The F line is currently out of my price range, but hey you never know, with the degree and CPA i could get one in a few years maybe! When they introduced the 3IS i knew i had to get it and saved and put my mind to it and got the color combo i wanted even though it took me 6 months to get it. i love the car so far and love the looks i get while driving! how about you? what made you choose the 3IS?
I will probably end up trading this vehicle for something like Audi S3 down the road (maybe a year or two). I would do it this year but I want to wait so that Audi gets rid of all the bugs that usually come with the first year model. Please don't get me wrong 3IS an awesome vehicle for the price but only if it had a nice engine and this vehicle would be unbeatable winner in the compact car segment.
12-15-14, 02:03 PM
#17
Pole Position
Majored in finance but have a lot of friends in the Big 4. I feel like the stereotype of accountants being boring is only true when you compare it to the lifestyle of people in finance (i'm referring to the ibanking side, not so much the corporate finance side). Accounting usually has good salary, steady promotions, some perks, good exit opportunities, and some long hours (varies from 60-80 depending on season). It's a fairly safe and smart career choice and it tends to attract people who want a stable job with some work-life balance. People who value that type of career are usually more risk-averse and some people tend to associate risk-averse people with boring people (which is where i think the boring accountant stereotype comes into play).
On the other hand, recent college grads in ibanking tend to work 80-120 hours a week and don't have much of a social life outside of the office. You have to slave away but when bonus season comes around you'll likely get a ridiculous $50-$70k check, depending on what firm you work for and how many deals are closed that year. It's work hard, play hard for these guys,which is why you hear of all the crazy things that happen in finance.
Sorry went a little bit away from your question there. Back to accounting.
Most of my friends working in the Big 4 had to network their Jr. year to get that important summer internship. 95% of people who go through the summer internship end up with a full-time offer. They all started studying for their CPA after they started working because the firm pays for the tests and also gives you a nice bonus when you pass. Very few of them really enjoy what they do and can't wait to leave after they put in their 2 years. IMO, accounting is pretty dry and I really have a hard time believing people who say they love it. A lot of people love their firm and the people they work with but the actual work itself is really dry.
But on the bright side, there are very good exit opportunities if you start your career in accounting. Finance firms LOVE people that come from accounting so you'll have a lot opportunities to transition over to something you might like better after working a few years and getting your CPA. That's what most of my friends did.
Do you already have an offer? If not, your best bet is to reach out to recruiters and network that way (linkedin, email, etc). You can also just apply directly but your chances are much better going through a recruiter. Also, from what all my friends tell me, if you're already graduating with a degree in Accounting then there's no reason for you to get a Master's in accounting. All USC Leventhal grads so their advice has to be somewhat credible.
Hope this helps!
On the other hand, recent college grads in ibanking tend to work 80-120 hours a week and don't have much of a social life outside of the office. You have to slave away but when bonus season comes around you'll likely get a ridiculous $50-$70k check, depending on what firm you work for and how many deals are closed that year. It's work hard, play hard for these guys,which is why you hear of all the crazy things that happen in finance.
Sorry went a little bit away from your question there. Back to accounting.
Most of my friends working in the Big 4 had to network their Jr. year to get that important summer internship. 95% of people who go through the summer internship end up with a full-time offer. They all started studying for their CPA after they started working because the firm pays for the tests and also gives you a nice bonus when you pass. Very few of them really enjoy what they do and can't wait to leave after they put in their 2 years. IMO, accounting is pretty dry and I really have a hard time believing people who say they love it. A lot of people love their firm and the people they work with but the actual work itself is really dry.
But on the bright side, there are very good exit opportunities if you start your career in accounting. Finance firms LOVE people that come from accounting so you'll have a lot opportunities to transition over to something you might like better after working a few years and getting your CPA. That's what most of my friends did.
Do you already have an offer? If not, your best bet is to reach out to recruiters and network that way (linkedin, email, etc). You can also just apply directly but your chances are much better going through a recruiter. Also, from what all my friends tell me, if you're already graduating with a degree in Accounting then there's no reason for you to get a Master's in accounting. All USC Leventhal grads so their advice has to be somewhat credible.
Hope this helps!
12-15-14, 03:11 PM
#19
A lot of people who start out at the Big 4 usually leave after they get their CPA and finish their 2-year program. There's a pretty big demand for experienced CPAs in the finance field. Most of the people I know go into corporate finance (financial planning & analysis) but I've seen a few go into the M&A side (where the real $$$ is). The main reason why people leave Big 4 after 2 year is that they could find better paying jobs with more perks and less hours.
12-15-14, 06:19 PM
#21
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That stupid noise does my head in as well, the only way to counter is louder music but when I want quietness it just doesn't work.. Eco mode reduces it but still does my head in!
Only half way through my program - can't say it is the most interesting field but it does matter who you work for.
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12-16-14, 02:43 PM
#22
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I'm from Toronto so I'm not sure if anyone is interested about the CPA process in Ontario/Canada.
I obtained my designation (CPA,CA) this year with one of the Big 4 and decided to leave recently to a private company looking to go public in the next few years. Pretty much everything that's been mentioned rings true. Busy times are highly cyclical depending on the industry that you audit. When you're in your busy season, it's anywhere between 60-90 hour weeks. When it's quiet however, you're looking at about 30-35 hour weeks, in which most of it is spent surfing the net, running errands, and taking long lunches without anyone batting an eye. I'd say it balances itself out.
As for the car talk: I got myself a 2015 Obsidian/Rioja Red IS350 AWD F-Sport two weeks ago as a parting gift and as my new commuter.
I obtained my designation (CPA,CA) this year with one of the Big 4 and decided to leave recently to a private company looking to go public in the next few years. Pretty much everything that's been mentioned rings true. Busy times are highly cyclical depending on the industry that you audit. When you're in your busy season, it's anywhere between 60-90 hour weeks. When it's quiet however, you're looking at about 30-35 hour weeks, in which most of it is spent surfing the net, running errands, and taking long lunches without anyone batting an eye. I'd say it balances itself out.
As for the car talk: I got myself a 2015 Obsidian/Rioja Red IS350 AWD F-Sport two weeks ago as a parting gift and as my new commuter.
12-17-14, 03:47 PM
#24
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Didn't realized i have so many colleagues on here. I learned so much just reading all of your comments. Your comments are really informative and helpful.
A little about me, i'm graduating this semester with a BA in accounting. I'm currently working as a payroll tax analyst for a private firm. My current position right now isn't dealing with a whole lot of accounting but it does open up some new opportunities for me in corporate payroll tax. Now, i'm kind of not sure if i should pursue the payroll side and get a CPP or look for another position that more on the accounting side and get the CPA. But yeah, that's where i'm at right now.
2007 is250 white pearl/black
A little about me, i'm graduating this semester with a BA in accounting. I'm currently working as a payroll tax analyst for a private firm. My current position right now isn't dealing with a whole lot of accounting but it does open up some new opportunities for me in corporate payroll tax. Now, i'm kind of not sure if i should pursue the payroll side and get a CPP or look for another position that more on the accounting side and get the CPA. But yeah, that's where i'm at right now.
2007 is250 white pearl/black
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