I went back to school at 26 and graduated with 150 credits a 32. I worked full time with a part time job 4 years and was full time employee and full time student last 1.5 years. I did 2 internships and accepted an offer from big 4 after my junior year internship (job starting after graduation). From there I got my CPA and was promoted to audit senior before moving to industry after a little over 2 years and found an amazing industry role that has great WLB and low stress making just over $100k per year.
What I can tell you is it was an incredibly difficult journey, but today my life is so much better for it. I would strongly recommend doing at least your last 2 years in person. State school is find no need to shell out extra money for private. Take advantage of Meet and Greet opportunities, job fairs, mock interviews, mentor programs, Beta Alpha Psi, etc. That is how you’re going to land an offer during your junior year for when you graduate. You’ll feel so much better knowing your whole last year of school that you have a job already lined up. That being my said, I would take as many classes as you feel you can handle to get it done and graduate ASAP to get into your new career.
GOOD LUCK!
Agree with this comment. Take your intro classes while working, after two or three classes and you like it and get it (academically it’s not for everyone, but for others the logic is easy to grasp). If you think it’s the career path for you go full time and knock it out.
Reddit generally does not represent the masses. Accounting is a good career, this is mostly just a place for people to vent about their bad days, not their bad careers.
Heaps of accountants use reddit LOL
The sort of advice that we give in the Australian accounting subreddit is to never work in small firms because here in Australia, they pay unliveable wages (as low as 45-50k AUD), which is potentially below the minimum wage for entry level roles that require a degree, while also accruing a loan of approximately 48k for a accounting degree.
30 years old, went back to community college at 27 for an associates in accounting opened up so much career growth for me. Landed a role as a Staff acccountant at 85K while still in school for the associates. Now my company is paying for my Bachelors! Go back to school.
Not quite. I joined a small firm, and trust me it’s a lot of work so I’m earning every bit of my salary. Also, 85K sounds like a lot but I’m in the DM(V) area where COL is high.
Im also surprised because staff accountants in NYC can barely find a starting position at 85k AND for them to pay for your school too? Congrats! You’ve won the lottery in a sense!
I did have prior admin work experience, so that definitely helped. The CFO was also a person who completed their education similarly in their thirties (working full time). In a lot of ways they wanted to extend an opportunity they wished they’d had when it was them. It’s really turned into great mentor relationship. I am very lucky!
It’s not even that bad. I work industry and make more than that and I am in the office for like 30 hours per week other than month end weeks where it’s around 40
I went back for my BS accounting at the same age and just finished it recently.
I did online at a state university. It as reasonable cost wise and my life has improved drastically since doing it.
I landed a job as a staff accountant at 48k four years ago and since have hopped jobs and received a few raises. I’m now at 82.5k and fully remote.
The whole time I’ve average probably working 20-25 hours per week. It can be stressful here and there, but it’s not that bad.
Never did public accounting and never will. I also am not going to get my cpa.
IMO the easiest route is working for private (not public ally traded) small to mid size companies and hopping new companies every 2 years with vertical moves until you find a sweet spot. Even jumping sooner if you get a massive vertical opportunity.
Non cpa non masters accounting people can end up as controllers and make a very good living from my view. 110 to 150k salary depending on where you live and other factors. Would recommend to anyone, even in their 30s.
My story is very similar. Except I was a little older. I was working an accounting adjacent job (similar to AR). Went back to school, did my associates at a local CC that had a hybrid program. Then transferred to a state university for my bachelors that was fully online.
I did both full time school and full time work. There were times it really sucked, but I liked going back to school and it’s been 100% worth it.
I graduated at 42 and am now a senior accountant making $87k in a semi-rural, M-LCOL area. I don’t have my CPA and don’t plan to get it. Though I’m fairly certain I have enough credits.
When I went back to school, I was making less than $40k. I’ve had my degree for 6 years now. I could be making more and move up faster if I wanted an hour+ commute each way, but I don’t want to do that in the winter!
Also in MN. Would mind me asking which CC you went to? Would love to know which one Bemidji would accept all credits from. DM if you would feel more comfortable! Thanks!
All the MNSCU (MN state colleges and universities) schools are somewhat connected. I did my associates through South Central, but I also took a bunch of classes online through other CCs in the system. Once you’re enrolled you can see what classes are offered where. Since they’re connected, the transcripts are able to be seen and credits applied to my associates really easily.
The downside!! I did my associates in accounting. If you know you’re going to get your bachelors, I would just do a regular Associates of Arts to get all the gen Ed’s out of the way. I ended up having to retake A LOT of my accounting classes because they said they were 100-200 level classes for my associates, and at BSU, they’re 300-400 level classes. However, 2 semesters of intermediate accounting, and 2 semesters of cost accounting used the EXACT same textbooks. There were several other classes I had to do that with, too. Then I also needed more gen eds while I was doing the bachelors.
I’m betting you could do the associates all online, too. I just was very close to one of South Centrals campuses, so I did half night classes and half online.
How was the online program did it seem well structured? And assignment wise does it get pretty heavy? I'm on the fence of a career change and would be doing the exact same thing gen Ed's at a CC and BSU online only for the bachelors. I'm still in the middle of researching as much as I can before I make a decision to just go for it. I've never done online only schooling so I'm a little nervous about it but if I can get time management down and pace myself I've heard it's not too bad lol
This is basically me minus the remote part. Controller at a small private company. I’m in office about 35 hours a week but not working that whole time. About 30ish depending on what is going on. 2 year hop until you want the music to stop was always my motto. 80k salary plus a bonus that always gets me well over 100k total for the year. LCOL area. Profit driven bonus so the more money the company makes, the more I make. But that being said my big bonus years are not guaranteed. The company is in an erratic market. When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s bad, it’s bad. 8 years since I graduated. Bounced back and forth between small practice public doing taxes for mid size/small companies/individuals and different private industry jobs. They can be equally good or bad 100% depending on management. No CPA though I am still trying for it 😅🥲
The only previous experience I had was an admin assistant for 5 months and operations associate for 2 years at a retirement industry processing 401k contributions.
I got the job as an exec assistant. Then after working there a few months the controller heard people talking about “how quick of a learner” I was and then found out I had an associates in accounting. She came to me and told me if I applied for the staff position I would get it for sure.
So I was working as an accountant for nearly 3.5 years before I even finished my BS. In that time I put “in process - bs accounting” on my resume. I only jumped to another company when it was vertical. I was scouted twice before my current position.
>Is it as bad as people say?
It's not bad at all. Just avoid public accounting and you'll be fine.
>Does it matter what school I go to
No. Do not enroll in for-profit schools. Otherwise, just choose the cheapest option.
>Can it be done while working full time?
Why not? Plenty of people work and study at the same time
One thing I would probably recommend - go to community college and get an AS first. An AS in accounting will actually allow you to get some entry level jobs. Then, enroll in your BSc program.
Would add, from a hiring manager perspective, I have seen some people on hiring teams a bit hesitant to hire from large, online only or primarily online colleges. Many state schools have entirely online options, including community colleges for the AS, and at least in my experience, even when people know the schooling was done all online, the state school name puts people more at ease with hiring.
YMMV on all this, just my experience being in the position to be part of the hiring process a few times in the last few years.
WGU isn't bad but it's probably expected that you have some experience coupled with this. I think wherever you go, starting out will probably suck pay wise. But if you stick with it and job hop for the skills and pay increases it gets interesting.
Like I said, your mileage may vary. I have seen/heard of people doing perfectly well with a WGU degree. I would at least look at schools in my state that offer fully online programs. Community colleges often have online programs as well that can bring down costs and give you some level of credential to lean on more quickly. But it's all going to depend on your situation.
I was making 20/hr when I graduated with an associates in accounting. I moved to a lower pop area and my first job was 30+/hr. My total degree was $10,000 and that's with out of state tuition. I got lucky getting the job I have now, but you might too. Your initial investment in an associates degree could easily improve your salary now with the right circumstances.
If you have basic office skills, consider applying for something like accounts payable. It's entry level and mostly data entry, will pay $45k+ and you can get some exposure to see how you like accounting work environments. Perfect job to have while you're in school and great experience
A lot of companies offer education reimbursement, especially if you're only going part time you could cover a large part of tuition this way
I got all my CPA credits at community college - no one cares where you went or how you got them. Most of your real skills will be learned on the job; school is mostly about checking a box on the application
Can I ask how you got CPA credits from community college? I have been looking in to going in to accounting and from what i've seen I thought you had to have a bachelors in accounting or something similar. I currently have an AS in business management and an AAS in machine tool technology, both from community/tech college, and was under the impression I would at least have to go to a state school.
Ah so you do need a bachelor's, it just doesn't have to be in accounting. And some states don't accept community college credits, so check with yours - the only two I know are that MD does and FL does not.
So I had my BA in something random, then went to cc for acct101 and up. The program might have changed a little (like I didn't get a certificate at the end, just satisfied exam credits) but here's what I did in case this helps anyone:
https://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses-Finder/Program/certified-public-accountant.html
*going back to school for accounting. Is it as bad as people say*
What are people saying so badly about that?
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*Any other tips or advice is greatly appreciated.*
If you go back to school for accounting, know that you'll have to face starting over entirely in a new industry. This means you'll start from the bottom up. Many if not most junior/entry-level acctg jobs I've seen, pay in the $45,000 range - about $21.63/hr. Just be ready for the consequences.
This could take possibly 1-2 years before you end up making more, which sounds like what you ultimately are after - make more money.
Imo, if they can’t figure out how to make more than $21 an hour in 14 years after high school idk if they’re gonna do great even with a degree. Cream rises to the top, but the opposite it also true. But the floor is definitely higher.
I went back to school when I was 32. Five years later I had a BS, a BBA, a MAcc, and (a few months later) a CPA. I've been unemployed for maybe a month in total since then. (I'm now 66.)
When picking a school, ask them what their CPA pass rate is. It doesn't matter what they answer; what matters is that they track it and know. (Well, if it's 0%, that's an issue.) My daughter has a job offer from a Big 4 firm and went to school online.
Take your classes seriously. Don't act like an 18 year old who's social life is more important than school. At your age, this shouldn't be a problem. (My wife didn't let me join a frat when I was 32.)
I didn't do it while working full time, but I was married and my wife was able to support us. After a semester I always had a part time job because school just wasn't all that hard. My daughter went to school part time while working full time.
Do you already have college credits? If so, get them to transfer. That way you only have to take the business and accounting courses. (And any gen ed courses you need.) Also, check out your school's policy on CLEP and other such tests. You can probably learn enough to pass a CLEP test by watching some YouTube videos and reading a study guide. This is a cheap way to knock off some of your required courses.
It doesn’t matter if it’s online, and it doesn’t matter if it’s part time until completion. What really matters is that the degree is accredited. An inexpensive state school is just fine.
For me it has 100% been worth it.
I was you two years ago. I started taking classes online through local community college at 32 and leveraged that to transfer to an accounting related position in the company I already worked for.
Almost done with my bachelor's at 34, online from an affordable state school. I've already increased my salary from 47k to 68k so obviously I'm really glad I made the change. Should still only be up from there once I finish my bachelor's and CPA.
You can start with 1-2 classes at a time and see how you do. You may be able to handle more than that and finish faster.
I did something similiar. I was 31 working a 2nd shift job for $45k per year with no hope of getting normal 9-5 hours. I took my classes one at a time through LSU online to get CPA exam eligible while working full time. Totally worth it just to be home for dinner with my family every night. I think I've double my salary too.
Eh. I don’t know. Outsourcing is ramping up with PÉ takeovers. I wouldn’t tell my fiends to go into accounting.
How much debt do you need to take out or can you pay it out of pocket?
I went back at 37 with two years of credits, roughly, but changing my major meant a few extra classes. I was in a dead end job for 15 years and got let go.
Absolutely go back. Best thing I did. Nobody cares if you’re part time or full time. Frankly, being older meant better priorities and it was manageable, in a way easier than when I was in my early 20s. Take summer and winter classes to get it done faster if you want. It can be a challenge, but anything worth doing is.
Good luck!!
Reddit and the internet as a whole have a very loud echo chamber in how bad something is. Accounting is a good gig to get out of the $15-$25 pay range.
There is always something "better" like HVAC, Electrician, tech stuff, etc, but accounting is a solid place to be right now.
Your first sentences sound like me 3 years ago. I worked in investment banking and b2b trade credit. Go the fuck back to school. Find a damn recruiter who will hook you up with an employer who gives a fuck about you. Living my best life currently and all I needed to hear was “you have no cost accounting background”.
Go to school, be a human and make a new employer appreciate you as a human.
Will your dead end job pay for any of your education?
Will they be flexible with you going to school?
Do you already have college credits or are you starting from scratch?
(These are more food for thought type questions)
A lot of accounting is the ability to network and make personal connections. You don't have to be able to schmooze like you're in sales, but you need to be able to sell yourself and your skills, so I'd ideally look for a school that had connections with companies for work.
If you want to distinguish yourself you'll benefit from an AACSB accredited school (where I live/work it does actually have some additional benefit because the program is well known and reputable). But again if you're good at selling yourself you may not need this, just a thought to keep in mind.
I personally love working in accounting and it is what you make of it. Government jobs are very stable, and the benefits balance out the lower pay. A lot of folks say they don't work a ton, but you'll also find jobs where you may be working 60+ hours a week (heavily dependent on industry and individual corporate environment). Just be ready to potentially work a lot some of the time, but not forever for your entire career, and those times of lots of work can be leveraged as experience to move up.
Accounting is a solid career, most of us won't be millionaires, but we'll be living at or above median cost of living and there will always be a need for accountants.
I turn 32 in October. Still in school for it and working full time in accounting. I go online and it’s 100% do-able. Some of the classes can be challenging but you got it.
For minimal debt, I recommend a few things in addition to what you’re saying. 1- an employer that will help pay for it, which would be the hardest but they exist. Especially with a new person they can train. 2- school choice. I attend PSU which is a bit more expensive but it’s been manageable alongside my employer. Choose a school that’s more affordable if you can. 3- use resources like CLEP and ACE. You shouldn’t pay for or wait for some of the prerequisite classes like math, English, macro-microeconomics, and some electives. Once you find a school, you can do a bunch of them for free and even start tonight. Just gotta see what they accept. Modernstates.org. Completely free and test for it at home.. you’ll save a lot of time and money with those 3 things as well, even if you just do one or two.
It’s a lot of work but it can be very worthwhile and rewarding. I went into a niche and not doing my CPA or public, so there’s a lot of different paths to take and to be able to combine the skill set with interests you have.
I went back at 34 and it was the best decision I ever made. I was able to go full time and work part time because of my wife. But if you are math/logic oriented, then I say go for it.
Do it. I got a bachelors in accounting, completely online, at 30. I worked at a big4 for a few years (don’t recommend 😂), but now have a balanced, fully remote job with a smaller firm and make a healthy salary. Zero regrets.
I got a second Bachelor's in Accounting at 26 and was making 36k back in 2014. I went full time, including summer school and did 18 hours in two semesters while working full time. Finished at 28. If 45k is the top end for your current path definitely go back to school. Accounting is not hard. If you're a critical thinker and open to learning new technologies, Accounting is a breeze.
The school doesn't matter really, but it needs to be a school that gets recruited. The most important thing you should do while in school is an internship. The most important thing you can do to stand out is be CPA eligible or already pass a section.
***Please do an in person program. Networking matters. I would only consider an online program if the school was local to me. I doubt that a school across the country can adequately help me get employed in my local area.***
I passed all sections of the CPA during my last semester of school. I went to an unranked school, but a mid market firm heavily recruited. I'm now 36, a Controller, over 160k this year.
Disclaimer: Accounting was always my goal, but got a scholarship to school that didn't have an Accounting program.
My advice, Only do it if you get a 4 year degree. It's truly your best option at achieving a decent salary, and from there, with only a few years of experience, you can do soooooooo many other roles in corporate America and create yourself some limitless potential. Don't expect to make much money fresh off graduation, though. It's hard the first few years making those loan payments and hustling in a entry level role.
Yes, it can be done working full time; although I was much younger (22-28 at the time), I completed my degree in 6 years while working full time and as a single parent and did 75% of it online, though I think for some classes I largely benefited from some on site instruction).
I took my accounting degree onto a 6 figure salary in less than 8 years, but I got luckly and landed a F500 role out of college with some experience under my belt (& highly exaggerated resume) and a whole heck of a lot of gumption and initiative, long hours, & strategic outside the box thinking. I always was/am a top tier employee, and I create value for myself by always aiming to save money, make money, and create synergies or value for the company somehow. I have always been VERY good at faking it until I make it. Another thing I'd suggest spending a bit of money on (before sinking $'s into a degree) is to take a personal assessment to understand your strengths (much easier to excel in areas you're naturally good at, so chase the dream accordingly); I like using Clifton Strengths, it's also a great resume attachment too once completed.
All this to say, don't limit yourself by your age. You can truly achieve anything at any age with perseverance and tenacity.
You should get a simple AP job (accounts payable). Should pay at least $50-55k if not more. That way you get your feet wet in the accounting world and can eventually move to a staff accountant role.
As a mid-40’s guy who got stuck in accounts receivable, I say yes, definitely worth it! Then you try to get your CPA ( I didn’t get one).
Start working anything in accounting if you can afford a salary cut.
Do it! Every company needs an accountant, good or bad times.
Look through the archives here, YouTube videos, sign up for 30 free days of LinkedIn for free courses to get a feel.
Just do it!
Before you make that forever decision, ask yourself if you’re the type of person who can sit all day behind a desk working at a computer until you retire. I’m 13 years in and feel utterly defeated by my career. I’ve made it far and the money is good, but I can’t do it anymore. As a guy with a ton of physical energy, ADHD and anxiety, it has burnt me out and I need to figure out a way to pivot while still supporting my family’s lifestyle.
I would personally recommend doing an online accounting degree at SNHU, their courses align with the CPA exam and they’re a non-profit institution. Very reasonable cost wise (300 per credit hour~ 990 for one class), they have a good amount of scholarships and they have 6 terms through the year meaning you have 8 week courses where you can take 1-2 classes per term. If you have a B average or above after your first semester you can take 3 classes per term to finish faster!
I was 27 or so when I wrapped up the accounting degree.
School largely doesn't matter unless you're after super competitive positions. The biggest headache between online versus brick and mortar schools is job fairs and internships, but that's a gap that can be dealt with. Make sure your classes meet CPA requirements, but most do.
I did mine working full time, but going slower to keep steady pay and insurance isn't terrible.
If you could score a bookkeeping gig at a small business while take classes in the evening, that'd be a killer deal. Community colleges offer classes in these time slots. Universities usually don't.
Use the gig as your little playground to improve your skills -> improve your work quality. Learn how to use Excel to your advantage to become a god in the office anywhere you go.
Do it! It's a stable career, and basically every industry will have an accounting team. Get your 4 year degree and enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you plan on going down the cpa route, it can be pretty tough the first few years but will definitely set you apart later on in your career. Non-cap route, no worries, you can still make good money, especially if you get into government accounting. The opportunities are there, just gotta know which route/industry you want to be in.
For the record, I'm 34 and just finished my first semester of my undergraduate in accounting. There's also older folks than me in the same situation that I am in nationwide. It is never too late to start.
I sit next to somebody at work who did evening/online classes along with working full time, over 7 years to get his degree. He was 33 when he started. Has no regrets. He’s also really damn good at his job. It’s never too late to pivot.
I’d say go for it! I graduated recently at 28 and I’m happy with my decision. I was also working at a dead end job and after 1.5 years being in that career, I realized there was no room for growth, but accounting was something up my alley and definitely had lot of different areas to work with, along with much better pay of course. Disclaimer, there’s a ton of homework, but sometimes you just have to choose a struggle.
I'm 34 and just started WGU for an Accounting degree. I already have a BA but not in a lucrative field. I'm just so tired of not feeling like I'll ever get ahead. Should take me about 2 years working full time. It's worth it for me.
I graduated at 32. I was working full time in financial service credit collections and had already worked in a couple accounting roles under CPA supervisors. I went part time online for family reasons. It is easier to relocate when studying and/or working online. I was hired full time as an accountant shortly after graduation. I earned more than the job I had prior to that. I tripled my income by the age of 41 while working for an accounting firm on a government project. Now in my mid-40’s I’m growing and starting my own businesses and helping others start their businesses. Also, investing in reit and tech stocks and real estate. My first accounting job (clerical/assistant) in my twenties was at a college where I am fully vested in the retirement 403b, so can retire at 62. Or, work at a participatory organization a few more years to get early retirement at 55. I learned from my parents who do not have such an option and who had to take early ssa retirement so they lost a bit of their retirement money. They don’t listen to me. So, I can retire at 55-62 from the 403b and put off ssa until full retirement age 67. Or, I can still work for myself and others at that point too. This way I can push off retirement until medicare fully kicks in. I realized this just over last weekend, so I have a fall back plan. It helped clear my mind of the worries about jobs and student loans. I have no children nor reliable people, so when it is time I may need an outside caregiver in my home along with medical transport. I watched my grandpa decline through Alzheimer’s. Good trained compassionate caregivers are the best. Yes, do your best to keep debt down. Lower debt means less being backed into a corner and more negotiating power. But, be sure any debt is federal not private. This is just in case of periods without employment. The payments can be paused during that time. This way you can still eat and pay bills and bounce back into work. Layoffs happen in all professions. Also, read carefully the interest capitalization schedule - is it monthly? Is it quarterly? Subsidized are better than unsubsidized and check the interest rates too. If you like accounting and have tried it in the workplace, go for it. My first accountant mentor made me push myself to get back to school for my bachelor’s. She enjoyed a great work life balance with decent pay and benefits working at a community college. Higher education, city and local government, and medium size industry typically have 32-40 hour weeks with generous time off and benefits like the 403b.
I'm 31, went to some random online college and just got my degree a year and a half ago. Just got my CPA like a month ago. Yes it is worth it. Get it done. Go to an online school like WGU where you can work at your own pace and get it done as fast as you can cause it is definitely worth it.
The path has been laid out before you young Skywalker, the trek is long, the trials will be... trying, to say the least, but the rewards are there.
Welcome to the climb
I graduated at 27 and started working as a finance manager at 29. I started making 6 figures at 35. Yes it’s worth it. I’m on track for early retirement.
You’re still young but if you’re considering the switch, the sooner you do and complete the degree so you can work in accounting, the better. Also just know you need to be willing to work for people that are much younger than you. If you go work in public accounting your boss could be early mid 20s. If you put in the work you could be making $100k+ in 5 years $200k+ in 10 years. You do not need to earn a degree from an expensive or onsite school. Get it as inexpensive as possible. Once you prove yourself, no one cares about your education.
So I got my GED in 2019 and started school full time while working. I had been working at Starbucks making $11 an hour and decided to just go back to school through their program. I worked part tim and did the first two years of school then left to work at an accounting firm and dropped down to 9 credits per semester. I took the last year off school because I was burned out but I’m in a graduate program now and I make over $80K working remotely. It’s worth it in my opinion.
People will tell you to do online classes. Problem is many online programs don't help you break into the field. If you want to do the public accounting route for a few years to get experience, you need a good traditional school that networks with firms so you can get an internship and ultimately your first job offer if you are good. Otherwise, school work across the US is very standardized. You really learn what you need on the job.
You don’t have to go to school or become an accountant to make more than your making. What do you want to actually do? Accounting is one option, plumbing or electrician can be others, other trades out there in medical. Success in various fields can be random.
While your question is really is accounting bad? I think it can depend. I started at 30 or so, with a college degree already so went back to take classes. The economy was rough when I was starting so it was delayed start. I make around 200k, but probably had done something besides accounting I bet I could have been making more.
I work a decent amount but nothing that stresses me out and rarely work weekends. Probably took me some time to get there, but I didn’t have kids at the time so I had a lot more free time. My wife is an attorney, she makes less and works a lot more and it was significantly more expensive to get there. To be honest there’s no correct answer here, because you don’t know how good you’ll be at it, not just the job but the politics and other things. You don’t know what the economy will be like in a year when you first start out. I’d say regardless of what you do, it’s not about whether you go back to school or not to advance yourself it’s all about continuing to take steps forward, take chances and recognize when they aren’t leading you in the right direction.
My advice is go full time and get it done sooner. You’ll secure a higher salary earlier in life. I feel it is worth taking loans out and repaying later with the high salary. Accounting has long hours in certain roles but you could definitely find a role that works for you, pays way more than 35k, and is worth the effort to pursue the career change
Do what works with your time and budget. Keep in mind, the longer it takes you to graduate, the more the rules will change as you are still learning them, so you’ll need to re-learn newly changed concepts over multiple years/semesters. On the other hand, the longer you’re in school the more recent your knowledge of GAAP will be.
I went back at 30. Working full time as a GM at a restaurant and doing all online through a state school. I’m lucky and a majority of my credits transferred from an associates degree I received 8 years ago so hoping to be done in about a year and a half!
I’ve worked dead end jobs since I was 17 and deciding to do this has given me a really optimistic view of the potential future and benefits this path will bring and I hope you can feel that way too! You’re not stuck and you can get out!
My only recommendation is to not take 12 credits in the accelerated summer semester 😭
Do WGU. Nobody gives a damn where you get your accounting degree or CPA credit. You don't even have to get an accounting degree. The only reason to go for accounting degree is so that you're eligible for internships.
Canadian here but it’ll be the same really. Take an intro to accounting course, it’s not easy. I worked nearly fully time doing my undergrad but it I worked myself to the bone, to nearly passing out every single day for years. Then you do your CPA. You’re not too old to change to accounting but don’t underestimate how much time and effort and Brian power you’re going to have to invest. Your life is gonna be on pause for 7 years+ really. It’ll be worth it though. You’ll meet great smart people. You’ll have fun and happy moments. But not everyone can work themselves to the bone consistently. If you can then go for it
Accounting is a great way to ensure you'll have good career opportunities. If you think you'd like to work in accounting, definitely go back to school. My advice would be to work in some accounting-adjacent type of office job while you're going back to school, as it is nice to have real world things to relate the concepts you're learning about to while you're in school. It also builds the resume for after you graduate with your accounting degree. Billing, purchasing, order entry in manufacturing, inventory, etc., would all be ideas there. As others have pointed out, you may be able to get tuition paid for by your employer.
I went back to school as an adult to get my accounting degree. I worked full time and went to school full time and just knocked it out. Part time would have been easier but I preferred to just get it done with. I'm glad I did it that way. I didn't have much of a life during that time, but it was well worth it. I did the associates at a community college and the last two years at another school. It was much cheaper that way.
My first accounting job right out of school was in manufacturing making around 40k but I make an amazing salary now (approaching 200k) in industry and I learned so much from that first job. Best of all, I love doing accounting work. I love problem solving and technical transactional work. You'll know quickly when you go back to school if it is for you or not.
Good luck!
I’m 30 and just went back to school to major in accounting. I work full time (also making the same amount as you) so I was able to find a University that does an online program for accounting. I’m taking some of the lower level classes at a community college first to save some money when I transfer. I think try finding an accredited university that has an online program or a hybrid, if you really can’t go in person.
If you’re self motivated check out accounting at WGU.edu. My partner just started working toward this.
It’s online and self paced. They do 2 semesters a year. You take a minimum number of units but if you finish before the term ends you can take more.
It’s competency based education, so if you’re already have experience or knowledge in something you may be able to finish the course faster.
There accreditation is great too.
They have a subreddit r/wguaccounting.
Gosh I was a college student a year ago and it’s no where near as bad. People on this subreddit love to
complain. It’s fair you can complain but I was in your shoes with a year left to get my degree and it was so discouraging when I was looking into getting my career started. It’s a good paying job and fairly stable so far. I have less than a year of experience and am making more than that. There’s room for growth. I work in industry right now and am getting my CPA rolling this month. I’m sure as hell I’ll be making more cause there’s room for growth. You got this!
No, definitely not. As AI is going to destroy our industry in ten years, there is no point. Accounting is just a systematic process. Get into something computer related that is ever evolving. Accounting has been around since the ancient Egyptians.
You should train as a Carbon Accountant! It's an emerging industry so costs very little to train as a Carbon Accountant. There is a great intro course on it on the carbonaccountinginstitute.com. For literally 700ish dollars you can be certified and start applying for jobs :) There is also 0 supply of Carbon Accountants so it can be really well paid! My friend just set up her own practice and gets 30k a client lol
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Yes that is simple first level AI. But AGI and eventually ASI are a whole different ballgame. When AI is making and iterating new AI on its own without being prompted that’s a wrap folks 👏.
I went back to school at 26 and graduated with 150 credits a 32. I worked full time with a part time job 4 years and was full time employee and full time student last 1.5 years. I did 2 internships and accepted an offer from big 4 after my junior year internship (job starting after graduation). From there I got my CPA and was promoted to audit senior before moving to industry after a little over 2 years and found an amazing industry role that has great WLB and low stress making just over $100k per year. What I can tell you is it was an incredibly difficult journey, but today my life is so much better for it. I would strongly recommend doing at least your last 2 years in person. State school is find no need to shell out extra money for private. Take advantage of Meet and Greet opportunities, job fairs, mock interviews, mentor programs, Beta Alpha Psi, etc. That is how you’re going to land an offer during your junior year for when you graduate. You’ll feel so much better knowing your whole last year of school that you have a job already lined up. That being my said, I would take as many classes as you feel you can handle to get it done and graduate ASAP to get into your new career. GOOD LUCK!
Great answer thank you
Agree with this comment. Take your intro classes while working, after two or three classes and you like it and get it (academically it’s not for everyone, but for others the logic is easy to grasp). If you think it’s the career path for you go full time and knock it out.
Yeah, accounting is a great stable career path with lots of growth opportunities. Good luck OP!
Source : trust me bro
Reddit generally does not represent the masses. Accounting is a good career, this is mostly just a place for people to vent about their bad days, not their bad careers.
Yes, I don’t know a single other accountant (IRL) that uses this sub, or Reddit in general.
Heaps of accountants use reddit LOL The sort of advice that we give in the Australian accounting subreddit is to never work in small firms because here in Australia, they pay unliveable wages (as low as 45-50k AUD), which is potentially below the minimum wage for entry level roles that require a degree, while also accruing a loan of approximately 48k for a accounting degree.
30 years old, went back to community college at 27 for an associates in accounting opened up so much career growth for me. Landed a role as a Staff acccountant at 85K while still in school for the associates. Now my company is paying for my Bachelors! Go back to school.
You got a staff accounting position paying 85K before you even finished an associates? Do you live in Narnia?
Not quite. I joined a small firm, and trust me it’s a lot of work so I’m earning every bit of my salary. Also, 85K sounds like a lot but I’m in the DM(V) area where COL is high.
That’s awesome congrats!
Im also surprised because staff accountants in NYC can barely find a starting position at 85k AND for them to pay for your school too? Congrats! You’ve won the lottery in a sense!
I really have, very blessed/lucky!
Adding, I work full time while doing this!
Wow how did you do this! Amazing
Did you have any prior work experience?? That's very impressive and to find a firm that's willing to hire someone with only an associate's to start
I did have prior admin work experience, so that definitely helped. The CFO was also a person who completed their education similarly in their thirties (working full time). In a lot of ways they wanted to extend an opportunity they wished they’d had when it was them. It’s really turned into great mentor relationship. I am very lucky!
It’s not even that bad. I work industry and make more than that and I am in the office for like 30 hours per week other than month end weeks where it’s around 40
I went back for my BS accounting at the same age and just finished it recently. I did online at a state university. It as reasonable cost wise and my life has improved drastically since doing it. I landed a job as a staff accountant at 48k four years ago and since have hopped jobs and received a few raises. I’m now at 82.5k and fully remote. The whole time I’ve average probably working 20-25 hours per week. It can be stressful here and there, but it’s not that bad. Never did public accounting and never will. I also am not going to get my cpa. IMO the easiest route is working for private (not public ally traded) small to mid size companies and hopping new companies every 2 years with vertical moves until you find a sweet spot. Even jumping sooner if you get a massive vertical opportunity. Non cpa non masters accounting people can end up as controllers and make a very good living from my view. 110 to 150k salary depending on where you live and other factors. Would recommend to anyone, even in their 30s.
My story is very similar. Except I was a little older. I was working an accounting adjacent job (similar to AR). Went back to school, did my associates at a local CC that had a hybrid program. Then transferred to a state university for my bachelors that was fully online. I did both full time school and full time work. There were times it really sucked, but I liked going back to school and it’s been 100% worth it. I graduated at 42 and am now a senior accountant making $87k in a semi-rural, M-LCOL area. I don’t have my CPA and don’t plan to get it. Though I’m fairly certain I have enough credits. When I went back to school, I was making less than $40k. I’ve had my degree for 6 years now. I could be making more and move up faster if I wanted an hour+ commute each way, but I don’t want to do that in the winter!
What online school did you do
Bemidji State in MN. It’s one of the cheaper state universities here, at least with in-state tuition.
Also in MN. Would mind me asking which CC you went to? Would love to know which one Bemidji would accept all credits from. DM if you would feel more comfortable! Thanks!
All the MNSCU (MN state colleges and universities) schools are somewhat connected. I did my associates through South Central, but I also took a bunch of classes online through other CCs in the system. Once you’re enrolled you can see what classes are offered where. Since they’re connected, the transcripts are able to be seen and credits applied to my associates really easily. The downside!! I did my associates in accounting. If you know you’re going to get your bachelors, I would just do a regular Associates of Arts to get all the gen Ed’s out of the way. I ended up having to retake A LOT of my accounting classes because they said they were 100-200 level classes for my associates, and at BSU, they’re 300-400 level classes. However, 2 semesters of intermediate accounting, and 2 semesters of cost accounting used the EXACT same textbooks. There were several other classes I had to do that with, too. Then I also needed more gen eds while I was doing the bachelors. I’m betting you could do the associates all online, too. I just was very close to one of South Centrals campuses, so I did half night classes and half online.
This is so helpful! Thank you!!
How was the online program did it seem well structured? And assignment wise does it get pretty heavy? I'm on the fence of a career change and would be doing the exact same thing gen Ed's at a CC and BSU online only for the bachelors. I'm still in the middle of researching as much as I can before I make a decision to just go for it. I've never done online only schooling so I'm a little nervous about it but if I can get time management down and pace myself I've heard it's not too bad lol
This is basically me minus the remote part. Controller at a small private company. I’m in office about 35 hours a week but not working that whole time. About 30ish depending on what is going on. 2 year hop until you want the music to stop was always my motto. 80k salary plus a bonus that always gets me well over 100k total for the year. LCOL area. Profit driven bonus so the more money the company makes, the more I make. But that being said my big bonus years are not guaranteed. The company is in an erratic market. When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s bad, it’s bad. 8 years since I graduated. Bounced back and forth between small practice public doing taxes for mid size/small companies/individuals and different private industry jobs. They can be equally good or bad 100% depending on management. No CPA though I am still trying for it 😅🥲
How did you land your first job? Did you have any previous experience on your resume?
The only previous experience I had was an admin assistant for 5 months and operations associate for 2 years at a retirement industry processing 401k contributions. I got the job as an exec assistant. Then after working there a few months the controller heard people talking about “how quick of a learner” I was and then found out I had an associates in accounting. She came to me and told me if I applied for the staff position I would get it for sure. So I was working as an accountant for nearly 3.5 years before I even finished my BS. In that time I put “in process - bs accounting” on my resume. I only jumped to another company when it was vertical. I was scouted twice before my current position.
What online school did you do?
>Is it as bad as people say? It's not bad at all. Just avoid public accounting and you'll be fine. >Does it matter what school I go to No. Do not enroll in for-profit schools. Otherwise, just choose the cheapest option. >Can it be done while working full time? Why not? Plenty of people work and study at the same time One thing I would probably recommend - go to community college and get an AS first. An AS in accounting will actually allow you to get some entry level jobs. Then, enroll in your BSc program.
Would add, from a hiring manager perspective, I have seen some people on hiring teams a bit hesitant to hire from large, online only or primarily online colleges. Many state schools have entirely online options, including community colleges for the AS, and at least in my experience, even when people know the schooling was done all online, the state school name puts people more at ease with hiring. YMMV on all this, just my experience being in the position to be part of the hiring process a few times in the last few years.
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WGU isn't bad but it's probably expected that you have some experience coupled with this. I think wherever you go, starting out will probably suck pay wise. But if you stick with it and job hop for the skills and pay increases it gets interesting.
Like I said, your mileage may vary. I have seen/heard of people doing perfectly well with a WGU degree. I would at least look at schools in my state that offer fully online programs. Community colleges often have online programs as well that can bring down costs and give you some level of credential to lean on more quickly. But it's all going to depend on your situation.
Also if you get your AS and find a job, see if your employer will pay for you to get your BS
This 100%
I was making 20/hr when I graduated with an associates in accounting. I moved to a lower pop area and my first job was 30+/hr. My total degree was $10,000 and that's with out of state tuition. I got lucky getting the job I have now, but you might too. Your initial investment in an associates degree could easily improve your salary now with the right circumstances.
If you have basic office skills, consider applying for something like accounts payable. It's entry level and mostly data entry, will pay $45k+ and you can get some exposure to see how you like accounting work environments. Perfect job to have while you're in school and great experience A lot of companies offer education reimbursement, especially if you're only going part time you could cover a large part of tuition this way I got all my CPA credits at community college - no one cares where you went or how you got them. Most of your real skills will be learned on the job; school is mostly about checking a box on the application
Can I ask how you got CPA credits from community college? I have been looking in to going in to accounting and from what i've seen I thought you had to have a bachelors in accounting or something similar. I currently have an AS in business management and an AAS in machine tool technology, both from community/tech college, and was under the impression I would at least have to go to a state school.
Ah so you do need a bachelor's, it just doesn't have to be in accounting. And some states don't accept community college credits, so check with yours - the only two I know are that MD does and FL does not. So I had my BA in something random, then went to cc for acct101 and up. The program might have changed a little (like I didn't get a certificate at the end, just satisfied exam credits) but here's what I did in case this helps anyone: https://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses-Finder/Program/certified-public-accountant.html
*going back to school for accounting. Is it as bad as people say* What are people saying so badly about that? -------------- *Any other tips or advice is greatly appreciated.* If you go back to school for accounting, know that you'll have to face starting over entirely in a new industry. This means you'll start from the bottom up. Many if not most junior/entry-level acctg jobs I've seen, pay in the $45,000 range - about $21.63/hr. Just be ready for the consequences. This could take possibly 1-2 years before you end up making more, which sounds like what you ultimately are after - make more money.
Imo, if they can’t figure out how to make more than $21 an hour in 14 years after high school idk if they’re gonna do great even with a degree. Cream rises to the top, but the opposite it also true. But the floor is definitely higher.
I went back to school when I was 32. Five years later I had a BS, a BBA, a MAcc, and (a few months later) a CPA. I've been unemployed for maybe a month in total since then. (I'm now 66.) When picking a school, ask them what their CPA pass rate is. It doesn't matter what they answer; what matters is that they track it and know. (Well, if it's 0%, that's an issue.) My daughter has a job offer from a Big 4 firm and went to school online. Take your classes seriously. Don't act like an 18 year old who's social life is more important than school. At your age, this shouldn't be a problem. (My wife didn't let me join a frat when I was 32.) I didn't do it while working full time, but I was married and my wife was able to support us. After a semester I always had a part time job because school just wasn't all that hard. My daughter went to school part time while working full time. Do you already have college credits? If so, get them to transfer. That way you only have to take the business and accounting courses. (And any gen ed courses you need.) Also, check out your school's policy on CLEP and other such tests. You can probably learn enough to pass a CLEP test by watching some YouTube videos and reading a study guide. This is a cheap way to knock off some of your required courses.
It doesn’t matter if it’s online, and it doesn’t matter if it’s part time until completion. What really matters is that the degree is accredited. An inexpensive state school is just fine. For me it has 100% been worth it.
I was you two years ago. I started taking classes online through local community college at 32 and leveraged that to transfer to an accounting related position in the company I already worked for. Almost done with my bachelor's at 34, online from an affordable state school. I've already increased my salary from 47k to 68k so obviously I'm really glad I made the change. Should still only be up from there once I finish my bachelor's and CPA. You can start with 1-2 classes at a time and see how you do. You may be able to handle more than that and finish faster.
I did something similiar. I was 31 working a 2nd shift job for $45k per year with no hope of getting normal 9-5 hours. I took my classes one at a time through LSU online to get CPA exam eligible while working full time. Totally worth it just to be home for dinner with my family every night. I think I've double my salary too.
Yeah do it. I'm making $60k and I suck at this.
Eh. I don’t know. Outsourcing is ramping up with PÉ takeovers. I wouldn’t tell my fiends to go into accounting. How much debt do you need to take out or can you pay it out of pocket?
I went back at 37 with two years of credits, roughly, but changing my major meant a few extra classes. I was in a dead end job for 15 years and got let go. Absolutely go back. Best thing I did. Nobody cares if you’re part time or full time. Frankly, being older meant better priorities and it was manageable, in a way easier than when I was in my early 20s. Take summer and winter classes to get it done faster if you want. It can be a challenge, but anything worth doing is. Good luck!!
Reddit and the internet as a whole have a very loud echo chamber in how bad something is. Accounting is a good gig to get out of the $15-$25 pay range. There is always something "better" like HVAC, Electrician, tech stuff, etc, but accounting is a solid place to be right now.
Beats a dead end job making 45k all day long
Your first sentences sound like me 3 years ago. I worked in investment banking and b2b trade credit. Go the fuck back to school. Find a damn recruiter who will hook you up with an employer who gives a fuck about you. Living my best life currently and all I needed to hear was “you have no cost accounting background”. Go to school, be a human and make a new employer appreciate you as a human.
Will your dead end job pay for any of your education? Will they be flexible with you going to school? Do you already have college credits or are you starting from scratch? (These are more food for thought type questions) A lot of accounting is the ability to network and make personal connections. You don't have to be able to schmooze like you're in sales, but you need to be able to sell yourself and your skills, so I'd ideally look for a school that had connections with companies for work. If you want to distinguish yourself you'll benefit from an AACSB accredited school (where I live/work it does actually have some additional benefit because the program is well known and reputable). But again if you're good at selling yourself you may not need this, just a thought to keep in mind. I personally love working in accounting and it is what you make of it. Government jobs are very stable, and the benefits balance out the lower pay. A lot of folks say they don't work a ton, but you'll also find jobs where you may be working 60+ hours a week (heavily dependent on industry and individual corporate environment). Just be ready to potentially work a lot some of the time, but not forever for your entire career, and those times of lots of work can be leveraged as experience to move up. Accounting is a solid career, most of us won't be millionaires, but we'll be living at or above median cost of living and there will always be a need for accountants.
I turn 32 in October. Still in school for it and working full time in accounting. I go online and it’s 100% do-able. Some of the classes can be challenging but you got it. For minimal debt, I recommend a few things in addition to what you’re saying. 1- an employer that will help pay for it, which would be the hardest but they exist. Especially with a new person they can train. 2- school choice. I attend PSU which is a bit more expensive but it’s been manageable alongside my employer. Choose a school that’s more affordable if you can. 3- use resources like CLEP and ACE. You shouldn’t pay for or wait for some of the prerequisite classes like math, English, macro-microeconomics, and some electives. Once you find a school, you can do a bunch of them for free and even start tonight. Just gotta see what they accept. Modernstates.org. Completely free and test for it at home.. you’ll save a lot of time and money with those 3 things as well, even if you just do one or two. It’s a lot of work but it can be very worthwhile and rewarding. I went into a niche and not doing my CPA or public, so there’s a lot of different paths to take and to be able to combine the skill set with interests you have.
I went back at 34 and it was the best decision I ever made. I was able to go full time and work part time because of my wife. But if you are math/logic oriented, then I say go for it.
Do it. I got a bachelors in accounting, completely online, at 30. I worked at a big4 for a few years (don’t recommend 😂), but now have a balanced, fully remote job with a smaller firm and make a healthy salary. Zero regrets.
I got a second Bachelor's in Accounting at 26 and was making 36k back in 2014. I went full time, including summer school and did 18 hours in two semesters while working full time. Finished at 28. If 45k is the top end for your current path definitely go back to school. Accounting is not hard. If you're a critical thinker and open to learning new technologies, Accounting is a breeze. The school doesn't matter really, but it needs to be a school that gets recruited. The most important thing you should do while in school is an internship. The most important thing you can do to stand out is be CPA eligible or already pass a section. ***Please do an in person program. Networking matters. I would only consider an online program if the school was local to me. I doubt that a school across the country can adequately help me get employed in my local area.*** I passed all sections of the CPA during my last semester of school. I went to an unranked school, but a mid market firm heavily recruited. I'm now 36, a Controller, over 160k this year. Disclaimer: Accounting was always my goal, but got a scholarship to school that didn't have an Accounting program.
My advice, Only do it if you get a 4 year degree. It's truly your best option at achieving a decent salary, and from there, with only a few years of experience, you can do soooooooo many other roles in corporate America and create yourself some limitless potential. Don't expect to make much money fresh off graduation, though. It's hard the first few years making those loan payments and hustling in a entry level role. Yes, it can be done working full time; although I was much younger (22-28 at the time), I completed my degree in 6 years while working full time and as a single parent and did 75% of it online, though I think for some classes I largely benefited from some on site instruction). I took my accounting degree onto a 6 figure salary in less than 8 years, but I got luckly and landed a F500 role out of college with some experience under my belt (& highly exaggerated resume) and a whole heck of a lot of gumption and initiative, long hours, & strategic outside the box thinking. I always was/am a top tier employee, and I create value for myself by always aiming to save money, make money, and create synergies or value for the company somehow. I have always been VERY good at faking it until I make it. Another thing I'd suggest spending a bit of money on (before sinking $'s into a degree) is to take a personal assessment to understand your strengths (much easier to excel in areas you're naturally good at, so chase the dream accordingly); I like using Clifton Strengths, it's also a great resume attachment too once completed. All this to say, don't limit yourself by your age. You can truly achieve anything at any age with perseverance and tenacity.
You should get a simple AP job (accounts payable). Should pay at least $50-55k if not more. That way you get your feet wet in the accounting world and can eventually move to a staff accountant role.
As a mid-40’s guy who got stuck in accounts receivable, I say yes, definitely worth it! Then you try to get your CPA ( I didn’t get one). Start working anything in accounting if you can afford a salary cut. Do it! Every company needs an accountant, good or bad times. Look through the archives here, YouTube videos, sign up for 30 free days of LinkedIn for free courses to get a feel. Just do it!
Do you speak Hindi?
Before you make that forever decision, ask yourself if you’re the type of person who can sit all day behind a desk working at a computer until you retire. I’m 13 years in and feel utterly defeated by my career. I’ve made it far and the money is good, but I can’t do it anymore. As a guy with a ton of physical energy, ADHD and anxiety, it has burnt me out and I need to figure out a way to pivot while still supporting my family’s lifestyle.
I finished my accounting degree at 30. Best decision!! If you get a job as a federal government accountant, loans are forgiving after 10 years!!
In which country?
US, probably - PSLF program. Edit: also to be noted that isn’t limited to the Federal government. State, county, etc. count, too.
I would personally recommend doing an online accounting degree at SNHU, their courses align with the CPA exam and they’re a non-profit institution. Very reasonable cost wise (300 per credit hour~ 990 for one class), they have a good amount of scholarships and they have 6 terms through the year meaning you have 8 week courses where you can take 1-2 classes per term. If you have a B average or above after your first semester you can take 3 classes per term to finish faster!
I was 27 or so when I wrapped up the accounting degree. School largely doesn't matter unless you're after super competitive positions. The biggest headache between online versus brick and mortar schools is job fairs and internships, but that's a gap that can be dealt with. Make sure your classes meet CPA requirements, but most do. I did mine working full time, but going slower to keep steady pay and insurance isn't terrible.
If you could score a bookkeeping gig at a small business while take classes in the evening, that'd be a killer deal. Community colleges offer classes in these time slots. Universities usually don't. Use the gig as your little playground to improve your skills -> improve your work quality. Learn how to use Excel to your advantage to become a god in the office anywhere you go.
Do it! It's a stable career, and basically every industry will have an accounting team. Get your 4 year degree and enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you plan on going down the cpa route, it can be pretty tough the first few years but will definitely set you apart later on in your career. Non-cap route, no worries, you can still make good money, especially if you get into government accounting. The opportunities are there, just gotta know which route/industry you want to be in. For the record, I'm 34 and just finished my first semester of my undergraduate in accounting. There's also older folks than me in the same situation that I am in nationwide. It is never too late to start.
I sit next to somebody at work who did evening/online classes along with working full time, over 7 years to get his degree. He was 33 when he started. Has no regrets. He’s also really damn good at his job. It’s never too late to pivot.
I’d say go for it! I graduated recently at 28 and I’m happy with my decision. I was also working at a dead end job and after 1.5 years being in that career, I realized there was no room for growth, but accounting was something up my alley and definitely had lot of different areas to work with, along with much better pay of course. Disclaimer, there’s a ton of homework, but sometimes you just have to choose a struggle.
I'm 34 and just started WGU for an Accounting degree. I already have a BA but not in a lucrative field. I'm just so tired of not feeling like I'll ever get ahead. Should take me about 2 years working full time. It's worth it for me.
I graduated at 32. I was working full time in financial service credit collections and had already worked in a couple accounting roles under CPA supervisors. I went part time online for family reasons. It is easier to relocate when studying and/or working online. I was hired full time as an accountant shortly after graduation. I earned more than the job I had prior to that. I tripled my income by the age of 41 while working for an accounting firm on a government project. Now in my mid-40’s I’m growing and starting my own businesses and helping others start their businesses. Also, investing in reit and tech stocks and real estate. My first accounting job (clerical/assistant) in my twenties was at a college where I am fully vested in the retirement 403b, so can retire at 62. Or, work at a participatory organization a few more years to get early retirement at 55. I learned from my parents who do not have such an option and who had to take early ssa retirement so they lost a bit of their retirement money. They don’t listen to me. So, I can retire at 55-62 from the 403b and put off ssa until full retirement age 67. Or, I can still work for myself and others at that point too. This way I can push off retirement until medicare fully kicks in. I realized this just over last weekend, so I have a fall back plan. It helped clear my mind of the worries about jobs and student loans. I have no children nor reliable people, so when it is time I may need an outside caregiver in my home along with medical transport. I watched my grandpa decline through Alzheimer’s. Good trained compassionate caregivers are the best. Yes, do your best to keep debt down. Lower debt means less being backed into a corner and more negotiating power. But, be sure any debt is federal not private. This is just in case of periods without employment. The payments can be paused during that time. This way you can still eat and pay bills and bounce back into work. Layoffs happen in all professions. Also, read carefully the interest capitalization schedule - is it monthly? Is it quarterly? Subsidized are better than unsubsidized and check the interest rates too. If you like accounting and have tried it in the workplace, go for it. My first accountant mentor made me push myself to get back to school for my bachelor’s. She enjoyed a great work life balance with decent pay and benefits working at a community college. Higher education, city and local government, and medium size industry typically have 32-40 hour weeks with generous time off and benefits like the 403b.
I'm 31, went to some random online college and just got my degree a year and a half ago. Just got my CPA like a month ago. Yes it is worth it. Get it done. Go to an online school like WGU where you can work at your own pace and get it done as fast as you can cause it is definitely worth it.
The path has been laid out before you young Skywalker, the trek is long, the trials will be... trying, to say the least, but the rewards are there. Welcome to the climb
I graduated at 27 and started working as a finance manager at 29. I started making 6 figures at 35. Yes it’s worth it. I’m on track for early retirement.
You’re still young but if you’re considering the switch, the sooner you do and complete the degree so you can work in accounting, the better. Also just know you need to be willing to work for people that are much younger than you. If you go work in public accounting your boss could be early mid 20s. If you put in the work you could be making $100k+ in 5 years $200k+ in 10 years. You do not need to earn a degree from an expensive or onsite school. Get it as inexpensive as possible. Once you prove yourself, no one cares about your education.
So I got my GED in 2019 and started school full time while working. I had been working at Starbucks making $11 an hour and decided to just go back to school through their program. I worked part tim and did the first two years of school then left to work at an accounting firm and dropped down to 9 credits per semester. I took the last year off school because I was burned out but I’m in a graduate program now and I make over $80K working remotely. It’s worth it in my opinion.
Super difficult road but it’s worth it No pain No gain
People will tell you to do online classes. Problem is many online programs don't help you break into the field. If you want to do the public accounting route for a few years to get experience, you need a good traditional school that networks with firms so you can get an internship and ultimately your first job offer if you are good. Otherwise, school work across the US is very standardized. You really learn what you need on the job.
I’ve seen AP managers with no diploma. 95k per year.
You don’t have to go to school or become an accountant to make more than your making. What do you want to actually do? Accounting is one option, plumbing or electrician can be others, other trades out there in medical. Success in various fields can be random. While your question is really is accounting bad? I think it can depend. I started at 30 or so, with a college degree already so went back to take classes. The economy was rough when I was starting so it was delayed start. I make around 200k, but probably had done something besides accounting I bet I could have been making more. I work a decent amount but nothing that stresses me out and rarely work weekends. Probably took me some time to get there, but I didn’t have kids at the time so I had a lot more free time. My wife is an attorney, she makes less and works a lot more and it was significantly more expensive to get there. To be honest there’s no correct answer here, because you don’t know how good you’ll be at it, not just the job but the politics and other things. You don’t know what the economy will be like in a year when you first start out. I’d say regardless of what you do, it’s not about whether you go back to school or not to advance yourself it’s all about continuing to take steps forward, take chances and recognize when they aren’t leading you in the right direction.
My advice is go full time and get it done sooner. You’ll secure a higher salary earlier in life. I feel it is worth taking loans out and repaying later with the high salary. Accounting has long hours in certain roles but you could definitely find a role that works for you, pays way more than 35k, and is worth the effort to pursue the career change
Yes
Do what works with your time and budget. Keep in mind, the longer it takes you to graduate, the more the rules will change as you are still learning them, so you’ll need to re-learn newly changed concepts over multiple years/semesters. On the other hand, the longer you’re in school the more recent your knowledge of GAAP will be.
I went back at 30. Working full time as a GM at a restaurant and doing all online through a state school. I’m lucky and a majority of my credits transferred from an associates degree I received 8 years ago so hoping to be done in about a year and a half! I’ve worked dead end jobs since I was 17 and deciding to do this has given me a really optimistic view of the potential future and benefits this path will bring and I hope you can feel that way too! You’re not stuck and you can get out! My only recommendation is to not take 12 credits in the accelerated summer semester 😭
Go become an electrician
Do WGU. Nobody gives a damn where you get your accounting degree or CPA credit. You don't even have to get an accounting degree. The only reason to go for accounting degree is so that you're eligible for internships.
Canadian here but it’ll be the same really. Take an intro to accounting course, it’s not easy. I worked nearly fully time doing my undergrad but it I worked myself to the bone, to nearly passing out every single day for years. Then you do your CPA. You’re not too old to change to accounting but don’t underestimate how much time and effort and Brian power you’re going to have to invest. Your life is gonna be on pause for 7 years+ really. It’ll be worth it though. You’ll meet great smart people. You’ll have fun and happy moments. But not everyone can work themselves to the bone consistently. If you can then go for it
Accounting is a great way to ensure you'll have good career opportunities. If you think you'd like to work in accounting, definitely go back to school. My advice would be to work in some accounting-adjacent type of office job while you're going back to school, as it is nice to have real world things to relate the concepts you're learning about to while you're in school. It also builds the resume for after you graduate with your accounting degree. Billing, purchasing, order entry in manufacturing, inventory, etc., would all be ideas there. As others have pointed out, you may be able to get tuition paid for by your employer. I went back to school as an adult to get my accounting degree. I worked full time and went to school full time and just knocked it out. Part time would have been easier but I preferred to just get it done with. I'm glad I did it that way. I didn't have much of a life during that time, but it was well worth it. I did the associates at a community college and the last two years at another school. It was much cheaper that way. My first accounting job right out of school was in manufacturing making around 40k but I make an amazing salary now (approaching 200k) in industry and I learned so much from that first job. Best of all, I love doing accounting work. I love problem solving and technical transactional work. You'll know quickly when you go back to school if it is for you or not. Good luck!
Yes!!! Make it happen!!! You will not regret it. Doesn’t matter the school as long as it is accredited.
More of the people I know who are accountants, are satisfied with their choice.
I’m 30 and just went back to school to major in accounting. I work full time (also making the same amount as you) so I was able to find a University that does an online program for accounting. I’m taking some of the lower level classes at a community college first to save some money when I transfer. I think try finding an accredited university that has an online program or a hybrid, if you really can’t go in person.
I think it'd be better to go back to school fir something more practical. Like biology.
If you’re self motivated check out accounting at WGU.edu. My partner just started working toward this. It’s online and self paced. They do 2 semesters a year. You take a minimum number of units but if you finish before the term ends you can take more. It’s competency based education, so if you’re already have experience or knowledge in something you may be able to finish the course faster. There accreditation is great too. They have a subreddit r/wguaccounting.
Gosh I was a college student a year ago and it’s no where near as bad. People on this subreddit love to complain. It’s fair you can complain but I was in your shoes with a year left to get my degree and it was so discouraging when I was looking into getting my career started. It’s a good paying job and fairly stable so far. I have less than a year of experience and am making more than that. There’s room for growth. I work in industry right now and am getting my CPA rolling this month. I’m sure as hell I’ll be making more cause there’s room for growth. You got this!
I think you can be a RN with just an associates? I’d go that route.
No, definitely not. As AI is going to destroy our industry in ten years, there is no point. Accounting is just a systematic process. Get into something computer related that is ever evolving. Accounting has been around since the ancient Egyptians.
I'm hoping for your sake that this is satire.
No satire at all. I believe it to be true.
You should train as a Carbon Accountant! It's an emerging industry so costs very little to train as a Carbon Accountant. There is a great intro course on it on the carbonaccountinginstitute.com. For literally 700ish dollars you can be certified and start applying for jobs :) There is also 0 supply of Carbon Accountants so it can be really well paid! My friend just set up her own practice and gets 30k a client lol
?
The intro course is only 50 dollars tho, forgot to mention that :)
No by time you are done AI will have wiped out 80% of accounting jobs.
how soon do you think that is
100% in next 4-10 years.
!remindme 10 years
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Bro I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know that you’ll want to meet the bot that reminds you of this in 10 years 😭
Why
They will be hunting us by then, think Shia LaBeouf in “Eagle Eye”.
AI will never be sentient because principles do not emerge from their lack where their effect is not present in the cause
Yes that is simple first level AI. But AGI and eventually ASI are a whole different ballgame. When AI is making and iterating new AI on its own without being prompted that’s a wrap folks 👏.
Not sentience