Calling all accountants (Full Version)

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coyouth -> Calling all accountants (7/1/2007 7:49:13 AM)

I'm currently studying Accountancy in an Australian University. I was just wondering, what is it like after you graduate and start to work? Do employers require you to have certain knowledge on how to do something with their accounts or they'll train you and treat you as a rookie? Well, as you know, studying accounting is one thing but I don't have a single idea what's it like when you're required to work so I'm a bit worried.



mutinywxgirl -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/1/2007 2:06:37 PM)

Don't be worried - going to school is to teach you how to learn, so that once you DO get into the work force, you are ready to deal with everything that is thrown your way.

In accounting, you are learning rules and principles that apply no matter where you are, so that's what they are looking for. They will train you if they are using specialized software, etc.


Does that help any?



mommyto1 -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/1/2007 5:13:31 PM)

Wow - as a 25+ yr career counselor, all kinds of flags go up on this one!

I'd highly recommend you talk with people locally who are practicing in all kinds of accountancy -- corporate, small business, CPA, etc. As them all kinds of questions about what the job is really like. Do an internship somewhere! Volunteer to do accounting work for a charitable organization. You need a solid idea of what the work is like before you commit 4 years of your life to it and then figure out it's not for you.

This is exactly what happened to me, BTW. I figured out that elementary teaching was not for me, during my student teaching semester, which left me with 5 hours to graduate. I finished the degree, but have never taught and never will, at that level anyway. Did I gain knowledge from the degree? Yep, you bet. But it wasn't the most productive way to go about figuring out I needed a business degree.

Talk to your university's career advisement office - or placement office. Someone should know about "information meetings" so that they can give you some local help.



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/1/2007 9:37:24 PM)

Frankly speaking, I've never thought of ever being an accountant. I was just interested in business, but business requires you to have knowledge in finances and Accounting proves to be the best match. Moreover, before I entered Uni, all the counsellors I talked to said that Accounting is a very flexible degree, i.e. you can work anywhere(which gave me more support to undertake the course). Only until now did someone really come up and say that I'm in some dire consequences for not knowing anything about Accounting work at all. Anyway, 1 thing I can say though, I can see a lot of undergraduates who are very much as blur as me on what an accounting job entails...



navy_mom -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/2/2007 9:02:13 AM)

If you enjoy business, then you do need to have a working knowledge of accounting. I've been an accountant for many many years. If you are an organized person who enjoys math, then it may be the career for you. I do suggest an internship if you can so you can get some experience. One great thing about accounting in our economy is that everyone needs accountants, so it's easier to find a job than if you had a career more specialized. You can also begin with routine work and as you learn, you will find yourself taking on more and more.



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/2/2007 10:14:31 AM)

This is my last year for my course. I only have 1 more semester before I graduate. Once I finish my 2nd semester, I'll try to get an internship since you're all advising towards that... [8|]



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/6/2007 10:35:40 AM)

Anyway, does anyone know the major difference between CA & CPA?



NoShow -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/6/2007 11:18:06 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: coyouth

Anyway, does anyone know the major difference between CA & CPA?


CA is Chartered Accountant which is the professional designation in
Commonwealth countries. CPA is Certified Public Accountant which is the professional designation in the United States of America.

The point is, they're both "professional designations".



NoShow -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/6/2007 11:26:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: coyouth

Frankly speaking, I've never thought of ever being an accountant. I was just interested in business, but business requires you to have knowledge in finances and Accounting proves to be the best match. Moreover, before I entered Uni, all the counsellors I talked to said that Accounting is a very flexible degree, i.e. you can work anywhere(which gave me more support to undertake the course). Only until now did someone really come up and say that I'm in some dire consequences for not knowing anything about Accounting work at all. Anyway, 1 thing I can say though, I can see a lot of undergraduates who are very much as blur as me on what an accounting job entails...


I did pretty much the exact same thing, 20+ years ago. I went to a state college in California, so that does quantify things somewhat. At the time, I had the choice of concentrating in Management, Marketing, Finance or Accounting. I checked into things and most of the Management majors were entering Management Trainee programs that simply required a degree (i.e. didn't matter what it was in). Most of the Marketing students were going into sales programs, that once again, simply required a degree. Almost all of the entry level Finance positions didn't care if you had a Finance or Accounting focus. However, 85+% of the Accounting positions, pretty much required you to have an Accounting degree.

So I figured going Accounting (degree-wise) gave me the best leverage in getting a job. Ironically, at the time, it was my fourth choice of career paths.



Psalm22 -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/7/2007 10:29:22 PM)

As already stated, accounting is very flexible. Even law enforcement agencies look for accountants as sworn officers, especially if a case involves tracing money and detecting fraud. (An acquaintance joined the FBI right out of college and has done very well pursing a law enforcmeent career using her accounting background.)



NoShow -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/9/2007 4:14:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalm22

As already stated, accounting is very flexible. Even law enforcement agencies look for accountants as sworn officers, especially if a case involves tracing money and detecting fraud. (An acquaintance joined the FBI right out of college and has done very well pursing a law enforcmeent career using her accounting background.)


I know two people that went to work for the FBI after getting their CPA.

I actually talked to the FBI after working for a decade or so (and not having a CPA), but ran up against an age limitation.



NoShow -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/9/2007 4:24:27 PM)

coyouth;

I would "caution" you in regards to going into Accounting in business. One can easily get stereotyped as "just an Accountant". Many in business think that Accountants have a "books" view of business and don't see the reality, practical aspects.

So if your goal is to be a business person, you may develop some hurdles that you'll have to face in regards to dealing with others. What I did from the get-go, was spend the majority of my free time associating with non-Accountants. That allowed me to learn about their areas of business as well as expose to them the fact that I wasn't "just an Accountant".



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/10/2007 11:29:09 PM)

I understand.



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (1/5/2008 1:59:34 AM)

Just want to know feedbacks regarding the different professional accoutancy certifications out there. The ones that I'm interested in is the ACA certification and CPA certification. I've heard stories that ACA is generally much much tougher than CPA Australia's. Any ideas why?

Besides that, does anyone have any feedback about CIMA?

P.S. My mindset hasn't changed much. I still very much prefer business stuff over being a full-fledged accountant.



hollandb -> RE: Calling all accountants (1/17/2008 1:51:22 PM)

I am a fellow accounting student and chose to major in accounting because of the diversity the degree alows when looking for a job in the business world. I am only a sophmore and some times question my choice. I feel more drawn to managment, but the accounting seems like a safer choice which should lead to more options. I try to read a lot of leadership and managment books on my own to keep a broader business perspective.

Just like to say i appreciated reading the comments in this forum.



coyouth -> RE: Calling all accountants (7/5/2008 10:58:15 AM)

Just want to say that I've got a job working with one of the Big 4 accounting firms in the audit department. Although life's not all that easy going working here, it's still not too bad a start. Now that I'm in, there are so many things that isn't what I expected; the good, the bad & the ugly. LOL.



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