Help in Finding an Advanced Accounting online class

[Yanji]

Hey Yanji, I see that you completed your MBA in Finance and Accounting. Has that been helpful in your career after you got the MBA? I was thinking of getting an MBA in Finance and Accounting also after the Master's in Accounting. I know Regis University offers it. How was the program at Indiana University? How long did it take to complete?

I did a full-time traditional MBA program, so it took 2 years. The Accounting portion was more of a strategy-oriented curriculum revolving around M&A, tax planning, company valuation, etc. rather than financial accounting/auditing. The major is officially called "Strategic Analysis of Accounting Information". Although I could work as an accountant and meet the work/education requirements for CPA licensure in many states, I prefer to work in FP&A or marketing. I currently work in pricing, which fits nicely between the marketing and finance worlds. Overall, I have to say that the MBA was a great investment.

If you're planning to get an MSA, I don't think there's a point in getting a Finance/Accounting MBA afterwards. The MSA is a good way to get the 150 hours you need for the CPA, but MBAs generally don't work as accountants, and you certainly don't need an accounting MBA if you already have an MSA. However, if you want to work in corporate finance, the combination of a CPA + Finance MBA is highly respected. I recommend that route, and maybe fitting in some marketing or operations courses to broaden your perspective.