Advanced Accounting in College.
So, I have to pick my courses for the upcoming year and as an M&A hopeful I was wondering if it would be useful to do intermediate Accounting, past the basic Financial statements, ratios, etc ? Would it be useful during the actual analyst stage?
sure why not
Absolutely not. If it's an analysis/understanding of financial statements type class (an extension of your first accounting course) that's geared towards finance kids, then I agree take it. But if it's more of a major type course for accounting kids, you'll immediately regret that decision.
You sure about that? Unless you want to be a one-trick-pony, learning managerial accounting and/or advanced financial accounting would be a good thing. Understanding how to work with capital leases, VIEs, hedging, consolidations, foreign subs, stock options, pensions, rev rec., etc. all could be relevant for M&A, especially for accounting based valuation analysis.
I was a dual major- don't take it if it's your last semester. I felt like it only marginally helped me get an understanding of business combinations, etc.
I'm a Business major and this is the only Accounting course offered at this level. Here are some examples of what will be learned:
Cost allocation ABC and ABCM Pricing and pricing issues Strategic Management Accounting Management Accounting for performance Management Accounting for Sustainability Cost of Capital.
Any ideas?
I would recommend taking it if you've had no or little exposure to managerial accounting before.
advanced accounting are we talking here? or advanced cost/managerial?
"Advanced Accounting" is almost always Advanced Financial Accounting, and therefore, is basically the next level up from Intermediate Accounting II.........
Advanced Cost is useless unless you're trying to go into Corporate Finance. Corporate Finance is essentially Cost Accounting...........
With the description you gave, it's probably not a class you'll want to take. It'll be a pain in your ass, add little value and you'll learn everything you need to know about accounting on the job. Plus, managerial accounting won't help you in interviews so I deem this class close to worthless for someone going into ibanking. Take something that you'll actually enjoy instead.
You guys are so myopic. The point of taking a class isn't to help land interviews.
If you want to take a class that's going to be incredibly boring, somewhat difficult and time consuming, by all means take the class. It's not going to beneficial during interviews, landing interviews, and it certainly won't pertain to your job as an investment banker. Like snands said, managerial accounting is more relevant if you go into a corporate finance gig or even running your own business. Take something more interesting or a different accounting class altogether that would add more value (e.g., financial statement analysis or even individual income tax).
Qui dolorem totam possimus vitae architecto. Suscipit necessitatibus et at repellat molestias. Animi voluptatem quod non optio vel.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...