Is CPA worth it if I only desire to stay in the Private Sector?

My understanding is that the CPA certification is an extremely hard get.

 

Depends on how your superiors see the certification. Some bosses are old school and feel like you need a CPA to be a manager etc even though you aren't going to be signing off on things in the private sector. In general anything that makes you more marketable is worth it. You can't predict where you'll want to be or how you'll feel later on so you if you have the ability then you should do it.

 

If you have the time, get it. It's a huge difference maker in ones career.

 

If your job will pay for it? Yes.

 

Depending on the size of the company, you can get away with being an accounting manager or a controller without being a CPA. I still would get it, if your ultimate goal is to become CFO one day.

 

Many jobs in Accounting and Finance, whether they deal with day to day accounting or not, still are CPA or CFA required or preferred.

 

Even if they don't pay for it I would say go for it. It will open so many career opportunities for you as well as salary opportunities. Each part is no more than $180. The only thing that's expensive are the study materials.

 

Can you do the CPA or CFA if you're a bored Engineer?

 

You have to have enough college credit in accounting courses, I believe.

 

There are a lot of jobs (once you get to a manager level) that won't hire you unless you have your CPA. So from a career and salary standpoint, yes. Especially if you're employer is paying you for it (most do).

I did it my first year out of school, so I still had decent study habits, but it really isn't that hard of an exam if you put the time in. I used the Becker Self Review materials.

 

Do it.

 

Some groups like SEC Reporting basically require it. It looks good on your resume. That's about it.

 

Then don't. If you wanted to do it for sure, then I would say go for it. But if you're really eehhhh about it, it might not turn out so well.

 

Most things in life worth having are. That shouldn't discourage anybody from trying.

 

Why bored?

What is the day to day of an Engineer like?

Rocket River

 

My CPA has opened more doors than I ever thought possible.

Now I spent 4 years in public accounting, which taught me a lot, and only recently joined private, but no joke, I opened my email this morning and there were six job recruiters wanting me to interview for different jobs from the 75k to 120k range.

I would HIGHLY encourage anyone to get an accounting degree and a CPA.

 

It's definitely a struggle if you're working full time and trying to study for it (myself). I would say if you're still in school and have the hours start studying now.

 

One of my longest and closest friends is a SVP at a prominent energy company and said she'd hire me wherever she worked if I would get an accounting degree. I'm nearly 39, so not sure I want to go back to school, but it's tempting.

 

In this oil and gas economy, I'm getting paid to do very little. At this rate, I'll lose my motivation to do further enhance my career.