[lux.sh]

Im currently thinking of being an accountant, possibly CPA in the future.
Not really deep into yet, just about to get into some advanced accounting specific courses.

So far, I like it and I hate it. Im seriously reconsidering my major(maybe management/advertising/financing), but there are times when I just think about the stuff I learned and tell myself "this is it".

anyone with accounting exprience, please share... anything.
even if you don't have an accounting experience, tell me what you think.

Is this major worth the headache? how is the pay in general later down the road?

[SoYank]

Reminds me of a story my Accounting professor told me:

The head of the accounting department had been at the firm for over forty years. Every morning when he arrived at work he would hang his coat on the coatrack, place his briefcase on the floor next to the desk, and unlock the desk drawer. He would then open the top right drawer and remove a single card, read it, and replace it in the drawer. Then he would go about the business of the day. This ritual was observed each day by all the other accountants in the firm but as curious as they all were, nobody ever asked about the card, the firm's president included.

Then one day, the accountant died.

It came time for his personal effects to be packaged up and returned to his family and this task was performed by the president. After all, the deceased had worked there for over forty years and was well liked and trusted, so who better to perform this solemn task than the president. Everyone thought this would be an opportunity to learn just what was on that card.

They all gathered into the office and the president unlocked the desk, opened the drawer, and removed the card. He cleared his throat and read aloud:

"Debit is towards the window."

======

OK, so much for levity. I took Accounting in college because it was required for my major, not because I wanted to be an accountant. Like the accountant in the story above, I could never remember which column in the ledger was debit and which was credit, especially since, IIRC, they switched depending upon which book the entries were made. This, of course, was back when accounting was still done with ledger books and black/red ink, or so my instructor insisted. Bob Cratchet was a personal friend.

[knight]

one thing i learned from accounting class:

"make sure you debit your credits and credit your debits"

[txusa03]

You should also consider the need for accountants. We all need accountants, all coporations need accountants. There are accounting firms which cator to large corporations. Hospital needs accountant, state and local government needs accountants. Did I go too far with this

[Dude]

I am an accountant and can tell you that it is a great profession for job security. All businesses need accountants, whether it is in good or bad times, and you have the flexibility of working in all sectors; being public, private and government. The only drawback is the working hours - for some reason accountants are expected to work longer hours than most other office jobs. Your first few years articling are difficult but if you stick with it then it can be very satisfying and financially rewarding.

Good luck!

[txusa03]

another advantage of being an accountant is you can discretely alter the book to give yourself more money Don't laugh, look at Enron (their biggest mistake was that they got creedy).

[BenMW]

I have Managerial accounting at 2. Im pissed i want to lay out by the pool.

These are my thought about ACYY

[gdnyc]

Accounting isn't just about debits and credits. There are many areas to get into. I have been through Auditing and Tax accounting. If you get into a big 4 firm, you get to travel but you will be busy during the first 3-5 mos of the year. Ina ddition to auditing and tax, you can also do financial reporting, investments.
Accounting definitely has job security. If you major in accounting, try a minor in finance. That definitely keeps you much more marketable. A CPA license is icing on the cake.

[DJKOBI]

DONT DO IT!!! i was a tax manager at SAIC for a year! it was hell. yes its good money (i got an e90 with it), yes its good job security, but man it sucks!!!

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Im currently thinking of being an accountant, possibly CPA in the future.
Not really deep into yet, just about to get into some advanced accounting specific courses.

So far, I like it and I hate it. Im seriously reconsidering my major(maybe management/advertising/financing), but there are times when I just think about the stuff I learned and tell myself "this is it".

anyone with accounting exprience, please share... anything.
even if you don't have an accounting experience, tell me what you think.

Is this major worth the headache? how is the pay in general later down the road?

It is definitely worth the headache. I'm finishing a Masters in Accounting (this Dec.) and my CPA this upcoming spring and there are mutliple avenues you can use an Accounting degree. CPA's are in high demand right now and will be for the forseeable future with all the changes in the post-SOX world. You have to be a CPA to be a partner in the big firms since only a CPA can sign off on an audit report.

If you enjoy "detective" work, auditing is a good route to take. The "Big 4" have been on a hiring frenzy for auditors over the last couple of years and it's not stopping anytime soon. New audit business is so good that their headcount in one auditing dept. at KPMG for example has gone from less than 25 to more than 150 in just the last 3 years.

Teaching is another avenue. There is starting to be a big shortage in college accounting professors because of retirements. Although accounting is a hot degree right now, it was not from the early 80's to the late 90's and there is not a good base of new professors to take over. One report I saw for Div 1 schools showed that for each 3 new openings they get, only 1-2 good (meet the requirements to teach) applications are received.

Personal experience, I have used my accounting knowledge to become the audit and compliance person for my company. I have an undergrad in IT so it makes me a valuable person to my company for internal audits and the perfect person to work with our outside firms (KPMG, Deloitte, etc.) when it comes to SAS70 and SOX's audits since I understand both the technology and the accounting sides of things. I can make sure they stay on track and don't ask things of the company that are unreasonable and out of scope. The pay isn't bad either. I have 2 new BMW's and 2 houses so that gives you some idea of the level. My wife has worked as an underwriter for a very large bank for 4 years+ but she only makes about half of my salary.

It is a frustating process to learn accounting and more than once I've beaten my head on the table and questioned why the hell I was doing it. But it is definitely more than just journal entries and monthly book closings. Stick with it, the upside is well worth it.