I drank the Big 4 accounting Kool-Aid
I'm graduating this semester from University of Florida with my undergrad in accounting. As the real world approaches I have taken a long hard look at the career I want to have and audit sounds horrible. I simply have zero interest in a career in accounting and I'm discovering this about myself very late in the game. They push Big4 so hard here at UF that I just hopped on the band wagon with the intention of: 1)Get bachelors in accounting, 2) Get masters and sit for CPA 3) BOOM; job with Big4 and no prior experience. Thus I have had no internships and have very limited network.
My question: Should I get a masters in finance somewhere after I graduate with my accounting undergrad degree in order to gain a year of extensive networking while earning a masters?
I was in the same situation when I entered my senior year.
My intention was to work for a year to get my CPA, then go to law school. Thankfully, I didn't end up going the law school route. My advice is to try to find a job before graduating (tough to do...my school wouldn't allow us to participate in OCR after accepting an offer). If you aren't able to do so, start at your firm and ride it out until you can either: 1) find a job you're willing to move to (IB is possible if you have a well-developed network), 2) can jump to TS or val (will take 2ish years), or 3) work 3-5 years and go to a top school to get your MBA. I wound up taking option 1 (consulting, which then allowed me to jump to PE).
While you're rotting away in audit, I'd suggest that you begin studying for the CFA. It will make finding a job outside of audit or jumping to TS/val much easier. Not only does it show you have a basic knowledge of finance, but it also shows that you're willing to take the initiative to get what you want, which is even more important.
I would definitely not get another masters without having any work experience.
If I'm interested in a financial analyst position. I feel as if my only option right now is to begin emailing all the recruiters of the 15 banks I have chosen and hopefully gain some insight from them? I really appreciate your insight.
Option 2 seems to be pretty probable (from firsthand experience I've met quite a few people in TAS who started in audit).
Also, just be persistent and use your accounting background as a positive. My school is similar in that it is generally a respectable enough school, but has a large accounting student population and Big 4 presence with even less of a finance presence than UF. You could spin your story as: going to UF b/c it had a great accounting program and went the accounting route; some event/experience caused you to become passionate about finance; you've talked to a ton of people in finance and have had to be really gritty in order to self-educate/learn more/LinkedIn stalk/cold-email/cold-call/self-finance networking trips for finance opportunities (assuming you have the will to network); and thus you know what you're in for.
George, what are you looking to get into?
I have a strong interest in being a financial analyst. Finance is so much more intriguing in every possible way, I should have hopped off the accounting bandwagon sooner but at least I'll have a great degree, just no internship/experience to show for it.
Don't be discouraged, an accounting degree won't disqualify you from being a financial analyst. Having an accounting degree can have its advantages. If you want to be the type of analyst that analyzes companies, having a great understanding of financial statements is a plus. An accounting degree won't be the death of you. Now, if you had an art degree...
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