are there any accountants out there? is account a good major to go into? and how is the work style?

Question

i have decided to major in accouting but i want to learn more from a accountants perspective on how the job life is like? is it really just sitting at a office doing paper work majority of the time? what type of stuff do u do exactly once you get put into a company? do u usually earn good pay after you are qualified as a CPA? help~!

Answer 1

I have a strong accounting firm here in Mexico City and we specialize in everything. Here is what I mean:

1. we file tax returns for our clients.
2. our associates must bring in a cuota of customers a month.
3. we handle any and any other major times of clients but in the long run the pay is excelent and it does come with a lot of "goodies" that you can't get in the U.S.A.

Answer 2

I have an MBA in accounting. Accounting is a good field to get into. Yes, it is mainly sitting at a computer all day. If you plan on becoming a CPA, you need more semester hours than the 4 year degree, so make sure you check your state's requirements for eligilbility for sitting for the CPA exam. Accounting is not always the highest paid career field. For example, where I work (as a manufacturing staff accountant) engineers get paid alot more money with a 4 year degree than we accountants do. I hope this helps you make a choice. As far as earnings go, with a CPA degree this depends on which area of accounting you go into. I would check job postings to see what the pay ranges are. A controller at my company makes somewhere around $80 to $100K a year. Most controller positions require an MBA degree and a CPA certification.

Answer 3

DB is on the mark. I am a CPA and have been in the field for 30 years now. Damn, 30 years!!! Sheesh, where did the time go?

Early in my career, I did lots of traveling doing audits, mainly in the health care field. After 6 years, I left and went to work at a hospital as a Controller thanks to the skills I learned from auditing health care facilities. Ultimately, I ended up as a CFO until 3 years ago when I grew tired of health care and started consulting. Now I have as much free time as I want.

There is lots of sitting behind a desk doing paperwork early on in your career but as you move up the ladder, you will find yourself doing more planning than paperwork.

Once you get your CPA, you will get a good bump in pay and if you manage to become a partner, than you can earn 6 or even 7 figures. If you don't want to spend the years necessary to become a partner, or you don't have the skills or political savvy to make partner, than you move into private industry where you can make good money but not partner money. Obviously, the best money in the private sector is becoming the CFO.

Good luck to you. Accounting is an excellent career choice.

Answer 4

I am a senior accounting major and I have accepted an auditing job when I graduate in May. Accounting is a very hot field to be in right now as a result of the Enron/Worldcom scandals. There is a need for lots of auditors right now and that is were 95% of graduates end up. Most work is done on computers and you will be required to travel around 20%+, more or less depending on what who you work for. After five years or so many senior auditors go to private industry jobs as controllers or executives because of more money. As I said I am still in school and have not experienced this personally, but this is my understanding from friends, professionals and professors that I have spoke with.

Answer 5

I am sorry but I am not an accountant but however I did take some accounting in college.





best of luck.