What to do with Accounting degree right out of college?

Question

Hey I'm past the halfway point in my college career, I'm majoring in accounting and have a high GPA...I know there is a lot you can do with an accounting degree but it seems like most career paths start with work for the Big 4..Is this my best option? I have a few older friends who are miserable doing work for them, all the travel and 15 hour days are not something I'd want to deal with, does anyone know if they have any other entry level positions? I think ultimately I'd like to do managerial accounting or do accounting work for the government.

Answer 1

Get an internship first before you leave school. the internship will help you prepare for the accounting position and the right company. Entry level positions are not that easy to find these days.

Answer 2

Working with the Big 4 is a great experience but ya they will use you till the last drop of your Blood.. But it will payback in the long run after that.

If you are into Managerial Accounting . Check the CMA www.imanet.net

it might be easy or difficult depends on the person, knowledge ...etc But if you managed to start it it will give you a good start.

Answer 3

My first suggestion is to do an internship in both corporate and public accounting.  In corporate you can see financial accounting and possibly managerial accounting (try to work for a Fortune 500 company).  In public try for a big four in hopes to actually see what auditing or tax is really like.  From here you should be able to decide which is better for you.  I know it worked for me.

I got some advice from a professor once back when I was in school and he told me that if you have a lot of energy, you're not married, and don't have kids you need to work for a big four while you can.  There is a lot they can give you by way of experience and your understanding of financial statements or taxes will grow exponentially faster than if you were to work for a company doing  just their financial accounting or taxes.  The best thing to remember is that when most people move on they move on because they were recommended to that company or government entity by an audit team within their firm (independence issues prevent you from working for one of your actual clients) and usually those positions are pretty high up.  Definitely not entry level that is for sure.

Ultimately it's up to you to decide, but I would suggest the internships first and foremost.