Is it possible for someone like me to get an accounting job?

[AnonymousStranger]

I'm pretty sure there are some accountants on CP and I was hoping for some input. My situation is that I'm 29 years old, I have enrolled in the U of Lethbridge "CA-Bridging" program in the fall (hard to find info about the legitimacy or reputation of this program either).

Currently I'm working in QA for an analytical lab since my degree was in Chemistry and I'm making a measly (embarrassing to admit) 40K a year right now. Because of my un-lucrative job and future prospects in this field, I have decided to make a jump into something completely new.

I have always been interested in finance and numbers and accounting seems like something I would enjoy. However, due to my unrelated education, I will probably be 31 before I even finish this CA program. Would it be even feasible for me to expect a CA-training (maybe CPA by that point) office to take me on at my advanced age and lack of formal degree in accounting? Let alone a big 4!

Long-term, I would like to get the CFA designation and work in equity research, however things are looking bleak for me since I'm restarting everything so late in life. Not too mention the monumental endeavour it looks to be. Especially when I hear firms are only looking for fresh 22-year olds to mould to their ideal.

Anyways, I would really appreciate some honesty and candour pertaining to my situation. I find it's hard to get honesty when most online info about career prospects are nothing more than marketing and sales for educational institutions or the like.

Thanks for reading!

[surferguy]

You are 29, your life is just getting going. Make a switch and bust your ass and you will be rewarded.

[darklord700]

I think at 29 you might be too old to be an astronaut. Other than that you can be whoever you want to be. Just make sure the CA life style is the one that suits you.

[Matty81]

Everybody will have their own opinion... my 2 cents based on my experience if the bridging courses are applicable to any designation is that you should think hard about what kind of accounting job you want and choose a designation to match. If you know you like tax/consulting/external audit stuff definitely go the CA route. Sorry that I can't comment on whether or not they'd take you on at your age as I'm don't know that world well. There are lots of jobs for accountants outside public practice if you're more interested in working in a finance department/internal audit/operations and I think a CGA/CMA is a better choice if that's your preference. You could definitely get an entry level finance job and work on one of those designations, at any age.

Personally think the big 4 path is admirable and I wouldn't hesitate to hire somebody who has gone down that road but not necessary or maybe even as good as the other designations unless you want to stay with a big 4 company/public practice for your whole career and shoot for partner. If you want to work in industry and try to become a cfo/controller/director etc you'd be further ahead doing a designation you can complete while working in a finance department vs. a few years of grinding out audits or doing tax stuff. Our CFO in a very large organization is a CGA and most of our finance hierarchy are CGAs or CMAs - the days of CA being clearly superior across the board are gone (my 2 cents anyway) - all our senior postings these days ask for is "a designation". Other guys might be able to chime in if their organization still seeks CAs for the top jobs.

With the three designations talking about merging if you want to work in industry CGA or CMA is a no brainer right now. Easier road and you'll end up with the same credential, easier to find a place to get the experience, and you can start to learn about your chosen industry right away rather than doing tax or audit stuff for 2-4 years and then trying to make the switch and learning about operations of a totally new business from scratch. The CA route is obviously way better if you want to work in public practice - the reputation of the designation in that world is clearly superior. Among our leadership team who are not accountants I don't really see them perceiving much if any difference between the designations, they just see it as having an accounting designation and judge the person on their strengths/weaknesses after that.

Anyway probably got you way off track, maybe you already have your mind made up on CA and sorry I wasn't able to answer the big 4 availability question better.

[AnonymousStranger]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Anyway probably got you way off track, maybe you already have your mind made up on CA and sorry I wasn't able to answer the big 4 availability question better.

That's not a problem at all! Right now I have very little information from those who are experienced in the field and every bit of input helps! Thanks for sharing your viewpoint.

[Superfraggle]

I'm just finishing the CA Bridging program at the U of L Calgary Campus, and it's legit. I'm 28 and have good reason to expect an offer for an articling position at one of the Big 4 this year. Being 29 (graduating at 31) shouldn't hold you back, in my opinion. They really do seem to value life experience, and it's young enough for you to learn and stick around a while.

[boogerz]

CMA has an 18 month program for candidates to obtain the prerequisites. I don't know if there's any work experience or specific entrance requirements, but you can always try that route to become an accountant. You'd end up obtaining your CMA when you're 32 though.

[Buff]

If you work hard towards your goal(s), it is possible for somebody like to you to do whatever the heck you want.

[red sky]

You can start the CFA program right now if you wanted. Only need a post secondary degree in any field. But if you lack any financial background you might find it difficult.

[JD]

You are not at an advanced age. At all. That should never discourage anyone from doing anything. Except for things like astronaut (as mentioned) and pro sports athlete. Everything else is fair game at any point in your life.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by JD

You are not at an advanced age. At all. That should never discourage anyone from doing anything. Except for things like astronaut (as mentioned) and pro sports athlete. Everything else is fair game at any point in your life.

Agreed with everything except the pro sports athlete- I am planning on starting my pro curling career in the next few years and win gold at the Olympics in about 20-25 yrs.

Goals right?

[First Lady]

29 !! You are a babe in the woods.

I've had several "careers" .... chronologically

- model
- insurance underwriter
- licensed insurance agent
- claims adjuster
- stay at home mom
- call centre manager
- started my own bookkeeping business (at 40)

At each transition I've taken additional training and relevant courses. (except the mom role. )

Before I started my own business I didn't have any accounting in my background. Again I advanced my education and I also worked with a mentor.

I'm currently an accounting manager without designation. Though my role is more that of a controller.

I turn 50 this year and I'm still contemplating getting my designation at some point. I'm very happy in my current position and my wage is quite good despite not having letters after my name.

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by First Lady

- model

Pics

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Pics

All evidence has been destoyed... LOL

It was late 70's early 80's... Just think Olivia Newton-John ... spandex ...

There are a couple of pics like that on my Facebook.

[Ducay]

As a CA directly involved in recruiting; you're fine.
Start your bridging program and start attending the recruiting events in September (Assuming you're enrolled) even before you have your program complete.
All the Big4 don't really care about age, generally, we have a minimum academic threshold, but as long as you meet that, grades play a backseat role to your overall personality. We turn down scores of 4.0GPA students because they've got less personality than a slice of bread. If you're an interesting, good to talk to person, you'll have no problem getting a job. Its the people that are scared and can't hold a conversation for 5 minutes that are the tough hires.

[me_dennis]

Your age doesn't really matter, it really depends what your personal situation is like.

If you are married with young children, then the CA lifestyle may be a challenge. Articling students that work for the Big 4 (PWC, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte) work a lot of hours (70+) during the months of January - April. Plus, most articling students will be studying for their CASB modules after work. You can expect to have no social life for a good 3 years. Plus the UFE is one of the most difficult exams you can write, and many people do not pass.

Salary wise, you can expect to make very little coming out of school (~40G), but you should expect pretty big raises every year (~15-20% depending on your performance).
Keep in mind though, that you will not get any overtime pay.

If you are supporting a family, this may be very tough for you to live off of.

As someone else has mentioned, if you're interested in the CFA route, you can start it right away, provided you have an undergraduate degree. Sure, it may be tougher if you don't have a finance or accounting background, but I know of a lot of engineers who go for their CFA. Get to meet people who are also writing the CFA exams, and study with them. It will be a lot of hard work and long hours of studying, but if it's something you're interested in, it is possible.

[Kybosh]

FYI - there are opportunities for scientists and engineers with accounting and financial firms. Usually of the masters, PhD, PEng. level of experience however. Look into stuff like SR&ED to see what I'm talking about.

[Hack&Lube]

In my late 20s, I decided I wanted to go through a career path that didn't require any more schooling or exhaustive exams because it only gets more difficult as you get older and have more responsibilities and have less time and freedom with finances.

I'm not in the accounting field but my friends and family that are in that field can all attest to the long hours and exhaustive schedule with both articling and studying that needs to be done in the first couple of years.

If you have the space in your life for this at 29, by all means go for it. I'm just wondering if you have considered any other alternatives that might use your existing chemistry degree that are a more logical progression or a path of lesser resistance to something you would enjoy and pay more.

That said, a science or engineering background certainly has a niche in accounting as well if you can find a place that requires that specialization.

[Rockin' Flames]

Well speaking from experience I did the same thing you are planning on doing. I believe I was about 30 when I ended up getting a job with a big 4 firm. From my experience firms aren't concerned with your age as much as if you have the ability to do the job.

[firebug]

My background is somewhat similar.

I graduated with my 1st degree (b.comm - FNCE) at 30 and then spent 7 yrs in investment banking before a short stint in equity research at Canaccord. Now I do business development work for a mid-size international E&P firm (in my last project I was responsible for the financial modelling of Centrica's $1B purchase of Suncor's conventional assets that was announced 3-weeks ago). As well, I am prepping to write the CFA L3 exam on June 1st.

As others have said, your age won't prevent you from accomplishing what you want but you may need to take a less traditional path to get there.

WHy equity research? There is lots of churn in the industry so finding a position isn't terribly challenging, but if you can explain what exactly the appeal is, there may be other paths that you may enjoy as much (or more).