Need Help with Deciding on an Online Accounting Masters Program

[Yanji]

Yanji, I could of swore there was another post from you that I read yesterday. You must have taken it down. I want to thank you for clearing up the MSA and MBA in Accounting issue. I will most likely get the MSA in Accounting (or MACC) then try to pass the CPA exam. Just a quick question, what do you think would be the best route to pursue after the MSA and CPA if I am interested in Corporate Accounting (I'd prefer to work for one company) in order to have good educational credentials for a position like assistant controller, controller, and CFO?

I think that post was in another thread. The MSA won't mean much after you get the CPA other than maybe for networking purposes. I think getting an MBA in finance or management is probably the best way to get into senior management in accounting/finance. I know it's sort of clichà advice these days, but at the controller level you're probably going to be competing with a lot of MBAs and you might as well join the club just so that you don't fall behind. If CFO is your ultimate goal, an MBA could help you get a stint in FP&A, Treasury, or consulting to give you some breadth of experience.

One thing, you can't actually become a CPA unless you work in public accounting. I would plan on putting in some time as a CPA especially if you can get in at a big firm. My wife is a CPA and she always tells me that if you don't work for a large firm you just don't get the training and breadth of experience to be a well rounded senior accountant. You also end up meeting people in lots of different companies.

This depends on the state. Some states require experience in public accounting, others simply require experience supervised by a CPA and others only require experience signed off by a CPA. Of course, working in public accounting is good experience regardless.