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quarterpounder
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MBA + Accounting? 01 Jul 2011, 18:22
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Hello,

I'm going to be applying to some MBA programs for an April/May 2012 start, I'll be doing it part time, and I'll be 30 by then.
I am currently in insurance/risk management, but am considering a career shift.

I'm looking for some opinions. I was considering doing an accounting designation (CA or CMA, I'm in Canada), whether I became an accountant per se was up in the air, either that, financial analysis or something long those lines.

I've written my GMAT, scored a 710, and have been considering doing an MBA.

One of my options is to do the MBA/CMA combo, or doing an MBA with a focus on accounting, then following it up with my CA exams.

Question.. is there an advantage to doing the MBA and accounting together, as oppoed to doing the accounting designation on its own?

Would it open more doors? lead to greater career options? what do you think?

I mean, if I did the combo but decided not to pursue accounting as a career, I'd still have an MBA... opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Cheers.
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MBA + Accounting? 05 Jul 2011, 18:26
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It really depends on your interests. I was looking into an MBA, Masters of Supply Chain, Masters of Operations research. All of them looked like they had fit an interest to some degree but I settled on an MBA because I knew I wanted to open a firm in the long run and there were some MBA programs that touched upon the techinical Side of Supply Chain and operations research so I could really fit it to my goals best. Because I didnt want to be completely pigeon holed as a math person or supply chain analyst and I did not have an undergrad business degree I chose an MBA.

I am actually an accountant at the moment but I cannot say much about the accounting programs. An MBA is definitely more general degree and would lead to potential higher management paths and would give you a better understanding of the total picture of business rather than the technicals of Accounting and accounting practice.

I guess my point is, it really depends on your goals. I was where you were a year ago. Got a 710 on the gmat and trying to figure out what to do. I needed to figure out my real goals before I commited to my education. I know not the answer you were looking for but I don't think there is an easy answer. Althought people on this site (including me) maybe biased and might say MBA is best :)
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quarterpounder
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MBA + Accounting? 06 Jul 2011, 03:56
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Hey, thanks for the feedback, I'm basically looking for opinions, so everything is valid. I agree that the MBA is a pretty versatile degree.
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MU2011CPA
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MBA + Accounting? 07 Jul 2011, 05:59
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I'm currently a CPA and I'm wondering the EXACT same thing. I'm applying next year for a fall 2013 start date. I enjoy the accounting/finance role, but I do not want to be pigeonholed into the reporting function for the rest of my life. I want to eventually work on strategic issues/analysis/decision making, expansions, acquisitions, risk management, etc...

Honestly, all I know is public accounting and controllership. I don't really know what other functions exist in a large corporation. All I know is, I want to broaden my horizons without losing the benefit of the CPA designation that I worked my ass off to achieve. So I guess I want to stay in some type of technical role, I just don't know what that role would be. Does anyone??

100% of the CFO's, and about 50% of the CEO's of ALL of my firms clients are CPA's. This is my long term goal. I want to be a leader and an executive. But that's hardly a short term/medium term goal to put on an MBA application.
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quarterpounder
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MBA + Accounting? 07 Jul 2011, 07:02
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I hear ya, but I think you are ina good spot. I think the MBA builds on the designation, gives you the over all management, and business training to go with the technical proficiency.

I'd be doing it pretty much concurrently, or the other way around (MBA first, CA second) that's why I'm wondering if there's value in having both, or doing one of the other? I'd basically be doing the MBA with a focus on Accounting, then following up with a designation.. it would be a bit of a career shift, or I could grow what I am doing now, from operational risk management to financial, or enterprise risk management.

MU2011CPA, looks like you've got it together.. If I were you, I'd go for it, you've got the technical background, I think an MBA would give you the management credentials you are looking for.
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MBA + Accounting? 07 Jul 2011, 07:39
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MU2011CPA
I'm currently a CPA and I'm wondering the EXACT same thing. I'm applying next year for a fall 2013 start date. I enjoy the accounting/finance role, but I do not want to be pigeonholed into the reporting function for the rest of my life. I want to eventually work on strategic issues/analysis/decision making, expansions, acquisitions, risk management, etc...

Honestly, all I know is public accounting and controllership. I don't really know what other functions exist in a large corporation. All I know is, I want to broaden my horizons without losing the benefit of the CPA designation that I worked my ass off to achieve. So I guess I want to stay in some type of technical role, I just don't know what that role would be. Does anyone??

100% of the CFO's, and about 50% of the CEO's of ALL of my firms clients are CPA's. This is my long term goal. I want to be a leader and an executive. But that's hardly a short term/medium term goal to put on an MBA application.
Show more

Before you jump in to an MBA, you'd be well served to use your time in public accounting to really refine your goals. To get accepted, you need to be able to tell a compelling story about where exactly you are heading, why that's the right goal for you, and how you will get there. You mention several different areas that you may be interested in and it comes across a bit like you don't know what you want to do with your career. Use the opportunity to talk to your different client contacts and find out more about what the different functions do, and really think about which of those are where you want to be.
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MU2011CPA
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MBA + Accounting? 07 Jul 2011, 08:05
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Jerz
MU2011CPA
I'm currently a CPA and I'm wondering the EXACT same thing. I'm applying next year for a fall 2013 start date. I enjoy the accounting/finance role, but I do not want to be pigeonholed into the reporting function for the rest of my life. I want to eventually work on strategic issues/analysis/decision making, expansions, acquisitions, risk management, etc...

Honestly, all I know is public accounting and controllership. I don't really know what other functions exist in a large corporation. All I know is, I want to broaden my horizons without losing the benefit of the CPA designation that I worked my ass off to achieve. So I guess I want to stay in some type of technical role, I just don't know what that role would be. Does anyone??

100% of the CFO's, and about 50% of the CEO's of ALL of my firms clients are CPA's. This is my long term goal. I want to be a leader and an executive. But that's hardly a short term/medium term goal to put on an MBA application.

Before you jump in to an MBA, you'd be well served to use your time in public accounting to really refine your goals. To get accepted, you need to be able to tell a compelling story about where exactly you are heading, why that's the right goal for you, and how you will get there. You mention several different areas that you may be interested in and it comes across a bit like you don't know what you want to do with your career. Use the opportunity to talk to your different client contacts and find out more about what the different functions do, and really think about which of those are where you want to be.
Show more

Luckily I have 12 months to determine this. The reason I'm having such a hard time is that I have fairly diverse interests, but my background is suited to all of them. Therefore, I don't want to decide on something and have an adcom say, "well, that's what everyone wants, this isn't unique", or "we don't have people hired out of here for positions like that very often. maybe this guy wouldn't be very well suited for our school." I want to be specific yet broad at the same time. As of right now, all I know is...I want to be in finance, in either an industrial setting (manufacturing, energy) or banking. I am not interested in consulting, and I want management potential. From there...I'm really clueless.
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MBA + Accounting? 11 Jul 2011, 06:57
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I really love the mba course..
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MBA + Accounting? 19 Jul 2011, 21:02
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MU2011CPA
Luckily I have 12 months to determine this. The reason I'm having such a hard time is that I have fairly diverse interests, but my background is suited to all of them. Therefore, I don't want to decide on something and have an adcom say, "well, that's what everyone wants, this isn't unique", or "we don't have people hired out of here for positions like that very often. maybe this guy wouldn't be very well suited for our school." I want to be specific yet broad at the same time. As of right now, all I know is...I want to be in finance, in either an industrial setting (manufacturing, energy) or banking. I am not interested in consulting, and I want management potential. From there...I'm really clueless.
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Very, very few people in Banking have (or deliver upon) management potential.
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