Hi,

So basically, I'm a junior in college and I have a strong interest in either accounting or corporate finance (not investment banking). My goal is to eventually become a CFO or other high-ranking executive for a company and I've heard that working for McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Booz and those top consulting firms is the ideal way to do it. Unfortunately, I do not go to a "target" school and getting into one of those, at least initially, will be a huge challenge. Therefore, especially since accounting is important in business regardless, I was wondering if working in public accounting (not necessarily just big 4) would be a decent way to start off and whether I can build some good skillsets from those positions before transitioning into something else? Also, in general how do you guys enjoy accounting work? Is it interesting or relatively dry?

My second question is more complicated: basically, I have been considering working abroad in another country where the CA, not CPA, is the go to accounting credential. Thus, I was wondering, if I wanted to pursue work there, be it long-term or short-term, what would I need to do? Would I have to sit for both the CA and CPA or will just having the CPA work? Otherwise, if I sit for the CA and pass, will the CA work in the US, or will I have to have the CPA despite having lived in the US forever and getting my education there?

Cliffs:
-Want to eventually be a CFO or exec in a company and was wondering if Public Accounting, even outside the Big 4, can be a decent starting place for that?
-Wondering how all you accountants enjoy your work, likes and dislikes, etc.?
-Very, very strongly considering working abroad where the CA, not CPA, is the prime credential. Wondering whether I would need the CA, CPA, CA & CPA, to work in US, the other country, or going back and forth between the two (my ideal would be back and forth)?

thanks

Any more comments about what its like to be an accountant?

CA is a lot harder than the CPA. If you want to be a CFO, you don't need to go into management consulting. Just go the corporate finance route. You can start off at a F500 as a Financial Analyst or stick around at Big4/big regional in audit for a couple years. Accounting does not have glamorous or interesting work at all. It gets a lot better at the VP of Finance level though, less grunt work more analysis and presenting analysis to senior management. Personally, I would recommend sticking around at Big 4 in audit till manager level.

Ask more questions if you have, I'm a CPA, CFA Level 2 Cand with Big 4 exp working at a F500 as a Financial Analyst.

Thanks and have a good night,
Dawgie
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It's a dawg eat dawg world.

Masters in accounting!
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It's a dawg eat dawg world.

MBA will suffice then, maybe focus a little more on accounting courses.
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It's a dawg eat dawg world.