Which is better overall, a bachelors in finance or a bachelors in accounting?are you an accountant?

I am a college student. My options for a major is in accounting or Finance. Are you (reader) an accountant ? Do you have a bachelors degree in finance or accounting ? If so , how has the degree helped you to get a job?Will I , most likely, get a job right after I graduate with an accounting or finance degree? Where can I start an entry level position?

Which is better overall, a bachelors in finance or a bachelors in accounting?are you an accountant?
Go for the accounting degree. Here's why, A degree in finance is esoteric, i.e., it has little practical applications. A degree in accounting, however, tells a prospective employer that you have taken courses in the practical aspects of accounting, such as; accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, taxes, etc. As a prospective employer, I would always hire a person with a degree in accounting, over someone with a degree in finance.





I'm afraid it's beyond my scope of expertise, to advise you where to search for employment after graduation, as I have no idea where you live, or want to work, or the employment opportunities in that area. Lots of luck!!





I'm not an accountant. I'm a retired electrical engineer with PhD's in electrical engineering and applied physics. My wife however is a CPA with a master's degree in accounting.
Reply:I have an MBA in Finance and my wife is a CPA. I have seen both sides of this subject. Go for the accounting track if, and only if, you LOVE accounting. This is a narrow track and you will end up in one of several positions (be it public or private accounting). Audit, Tax, Compliance/SOX or Reporting. The CPA exam is VERY difficult. Like I said, if you LOVE accounting, you should go this direction. You will be guaranteed a career as accountants are always in high demand. Expect to earn $60k to $120k as you work your way up.





-acounting is the science of recording financial data-





Finance (my profession) is much more broad. I am in corporate banking but you could do investment banking, securities, corporate finance, etc. The possibilites, and compensation levels, are much greater. Finance is a wide scope subject that really deals with the philosophy behind money. From economics, to accounting, to investing, to basinally anything that has to do with time and money. Also, no CPA exam. Expect to earn from $60k to ???. Most finance guys (I'm talking investment banking, M%26amp;A, etc) on wall street are worth 7 figures within 5 years after leaving college.





-finance is the science of risk to reward and the time value of money-
Reply:Yes, you do need to love accounting, but it's not as narrow a field as some may lead you to believe. It is the more practical choice and it provides you with a good baseline and a marketable skill. I am a CPA. I worked in both public accounting and private industry for a number of years, including management positions over both accounting and finance departments. I then returned to school for an MBA with a concentration in finance, which assisted me in obtaining executive-level positions. I'm now a CEO for mid-size corporation. I've had the opportunity to teach accounting and business courses. I've done tax returns and business consulting. Through public accounting, I was exposed to numerous industries and jobs to help determine my specialization. I think accoutning is one of the better places from which to start a varied career.
Reply:I like to say that accounting is what people use to make decisions when they don't understand finance. But the truth is that I don't understand accounting.





I have a PhD in Finance. I have trouble with it because in accounting, you have to have a rule for everything -- even if the rule doesn't make sense.





Here is what I'd like you to do to see which is best for you. Take the Myers Briggs test (or the Kiersey temperment sorter). I've included a link to a free site below. It assigns four letters based on your preferences. They are:





E or I -- for Extrovert/Introvert


N or S -- for Intruitive or Sensor


T or F -- for Thinker or Feeler


P or J -- for Perceiver or Judger.





Anyway -- the second letter is what you will care about. If you are an S -- then accounting will be good for you. You need to immerse yourself in data %26amp; sift through it for the best solution. If you are an N -- then finance is better for you. You don't care about the data -- you care about the theory behind the data.





I'm serious about this -- knowing your type will help you decide.
Reply:Accounting and finance overlap. I cannot imagine a finance degree that does not require some accounting nor an accounting degree that does not indirectly speak to finance. I suppose on the surface accounting is more practical, but perhaps more narrow. Do you want to be involved in strategy or global markets or trading, etc, these speak more to finance. Likewise, most jobs in "finance" - such as research or investment banking or whatnot do not require advanced accounting but just a solid foundation.
Reply:I have a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. This major lends itself to an easy transition into public accounting. It is fairly easy to get a job in this industry, especially with Sarbanes-Oxley in full swing...and you will get your foot in the door to get another job in about 2-3 years. But you will work very hard and very long hours.





A major in Finance could also land you a job in public accounting, but it will be more difficult. You would most likely have to go back to school for a Masters of Accountancy. With a finance degree, you could go into personal finance, or possibly get a job in general accounting at a company.





If you want to be an accountant, you should sit for the CPA exam, which is a whole other monster. The major in Accounting would better prepare you for this. A lot of universities offer a 5-year program now so that you can get the 150 hours/credits/units you need in order to sit for the exam.

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