What other career paths are there with an accounting degree?
Students and soon-to-be graduates who realize traditional accounting roles are not for them look for alternative career paths that do not require spending money on another traditional four-year degree. They want a fast, cheap, and legitimate route forward while still leveraging their accounting background.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Switching majors or degree programs before graduatingDid this help you?
- 2Transitioning into adjacent roles such as financial analysis, FP&A, treasury, or payrollDid this help you?
- 3Enrolling in competency-based online programs like WGUDid this help you?
- 4Taking courses at community colleges and transferringDid this help you?
- 5Using alternative credit platforms like Sophia or CLEP for prerequisitesDid this help you?
- 6completing credits for a second bachelors or masters to use campus recruitingDid this help you?
- 7targeting smaller local firms that are more flexible on degree requirementsDid this help you?
- 8starting as a bookkeeper or AP clerk to get a foot in the doorDid this help you?
- 9getting the EA credential insteadDid this help you?
- 10working at H&R Block or VITA to gain resume experienceDid this help you?
- 11reaching out on forums to gather insight into daily responsibilities of a treasury teamDid this help you?
- 12Taking the Enrolled Agent exams to get current on tax knowledge for individuals and small businessesDid this help you?
- 13Studying for a nursing degree while workingDid this help you?
- 14Pursuing ACCA and checking for degree exemptionsDid this help you?
- 15Considering a master's degree or CIA certificationDid this help you?
- 16Looking for certifications to complete while still in universityDid this help you?
- 17looking into state-specific rules where work experience can substitute for degree requirementsDid this help you?
- 18applying to small local firms instead of large ones that may be more flexibleDid this help you?
- 19passing a couple of CPA exam sections first to become more appealing to employersDid this help you?
- 20Staying at current stable jobs rather than risking a move to undesirable companiesDid this help you?
- 21Relying on having a CPA designation to stay competitiveDid this help you?
- 22Targeting specific major metro areas where demand is higherDid this help you?
- 23Accepting the staffing agency engagement professional role to gain diverse experience across multiple industriesDid this help you?
- 24Pursuing a traditional entry-level staff accounting role for stabilityDid this help you?
- 25Switching to corporate finance roles like FP&A or treasuryDid this help you?
- 26Transitioning into e-commerce or side hustlesDid this help you?
- 27Leaving the profession entirelyDid this help you?
- 28Studying for the CPA in parallel with getting the master'sDid this help you?
- 29Skipping the master's degree entirely and relying solely on a CPA and experienceDid this help you?
- 30Pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate or a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) to earn required unitsDid this help you?
- 31Applying for entry-level roles such as staff accountant or AP/AR clerk at smaller firmsDid this help you?
- 32Leveraging background experience to enter specialized fields like healthcare finance as a bridgeDid this help you?
- 33comparing starting salaries and benefitsDid this help you?
- 34evaluating long-term career progression and stability versus personal mission alignmentDid this help you?
- 35Focusing on doing the job well without pursuing promotionsDid this help you?
- 36Targeting stable bookkeeping or non-ambitious accounting pathsDid this help you?
- 37Changing careers or looking for alternative occupations with better work-life balanceDid this help you?
- 38seeking advice on how to present non-traditional experienceDid this help you?
- 39using AI to refine application questionsDid this help you?
- 40Sending job applications for monthsDid this help you?
- 41Starting your own firmDid this help you?
- 42Meeting with friends who are currently accountants to ask about their day-to-dayDid this help you?
- 43Looking for career books at the local libraryDid this help you?
- 44Watching free YouTube resources like Farhat's Accounting LecturesDid this help you?
- 45Learning Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP) and QuickBooks basics to pass entry-level job filtersDid this help you?
- 46Looking into self-paced online universities like WGU to balance studying with workingDid this help you?
- 47Pursuing a Master's in Accounting to meet CPA requirements.Did this help you?
- 48Going back to school for an undergraduate degree in accounting.Did this help you?
- 49Asking a friend who already works in the field for a referral.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Just curious - bc I’㎏ kinda seeing that accounting isn’t for me. And am wondering if anyone has left the accounting field to a good paying occupation, prob similar benefits as accounting and doesn’t take up sooo much of your time. and what kind of career path that was and possibly how that looked like ?”source ↗
“Former accountants what are you doing for work now? Are you happy with the move?”source ↗
“I’m confused as to what do I do after graduating cz only a bachelors isn’t enough I was thinking of doing masters or ACCA or CIA cz I heard auditing is great as well😭”source ↗
“And what’s a good option to do while studying at university I’m in second year and studies aren’t rlly tough so maybe I can give a certification rn?”source ↗
“I'm in a horrible job market in a LCOL area.”source ↗
“Only going back to accounting if forced.”source ↗
“I didn't really take my Bachelor's that seriously, graduated with a Comp Sci degree and now I want to pivot to accounting. What are your thoughts on AI and is it possible to make a good career out of this starting today?”source ↗
“You don't need ambition but you do need high tolerance to pain and I can tell you it's a very unique trait.”source ↗
“What other career paths are there with an accounting degree? I have about one year left to get my bachelors and I don’t think accounting is for me.”source ↗
“Was wondering if there were any good alternative paths if I were to still get the accounting degree.”source ↗
“Has anyone transitioned from audit to having your own tax business or even just working for a small tax firm?”source ↗
“Are there any courses/programs I can take to sort of relearn everything about tax?”source ↗
“Would this be a good first job for someone just getting started? I think it’d be great to get a lot of exposure in different industries and diverse experience for my resume and network, but I just would worry I’m still new to the game and maybe should go for an entry level staff accounting job I also am on the final interview for and they are deeply interested!”source ↗
“I’m early in my accounting career and torn between two very different opportunities.”source ↗
“It’s the lack of exit opportunities at the moment, I’ve been sending job applications for months but nor reply.”source ↗
“I have now 3 years of experience but it seems I can not find anything despite being partially qualified.”source ↗
“Man, I am completely losing all my hope”source ↗
“I really don’t have the money to spend on another traditional 4-year degree.”source ↗
“What would be the fastest/cheapest legitimate path into accounting?”source ↗
“I currently work for a fund admin in a very niche role that I hate and want to get out of. It also offers no career advancement or other opportunities on my current team.”source ↗
“I’m a CPA and I’ve been looking for work for 10 months now”source ↗
“I Have 150ish College Credits & Can Become A CPA. But No Bachelors Degree & Fear Employers Will HATE ME!”source ↗
“I went the Community College Route because getting another Bachelors Degree or Masters would put me in more major debt.”source ↗
“And jobs here only want those who have a CPA, Bachelors, or Masters in Accounting.”source ↗
“The experience is my greatest road block because all of these jobs need one year of experience for me to be a CPA aside from passing tests!”source ↗
“I’m in central texas, so location is not really an issue. Salary wise, my company pays on the lower end to say the least. Not the entire reason I’m looking, but obviously wouldn’t hurt in this economy!”source ↗
“I’m definitely in the spot where I’m ok with less stability and just testing things out and wanting to gain as much experience and diversity as possible! Really just trying to broaden my pallet of skills right now early in my career”source ↗
“I was very successful in accounting, but disliked a lot of it from day 1. In general, the people and the repetitive cycle are boring AF.”source ↗
“considering gtfo soon but dk what for”source ↗
“I'm a 4th-year Public Health Policy student graduating soon, and my interest in finance has grown a lot. I'm especially drawn to accounting and would love to hear advice on how to transition into the field.”source ↗
“I've heard the CPA is the gold standard, but I'm not sure how to get there from a non-accounting degree.”source ↗
“you can care about doing your job well without caring about climbing the ladder”source ↗
“sometimes wanting a stable job and comfortable life is more than enough”source ↗
“I meant like w a good work-life balance 😭”source ↗
“Once you are in you are trapped.”source ↗
“I'm tired of being underpaid, not having enough hours to work, and of feeling stuck as I feel I haven't grown much professionally.”source ↗
“Are there any online Accounting Degrees that you recommend? I would prefer to do an online program as it would be more flexible since I have to continue working while studying.”source ↗
“What are some things I could work on/study to get an entry level job in an accounting related field?”source ↗
“What teaching skills do you think transfer well to accounting that I could use to strengthen my resume?”source ↗
“I went to my local library to look for some books but they're all from the 80s and 90s so I want something more up to date.”source ↗
“I’m interested in pursuing an accounting career, but my accounting experience is limited to the financial, managerial, and cost accounting courses I took in school.”source ↗
“I am just wondering if it's even possible since my degree is in analytics.”source ↗
“Just mostly worried about any barriers of entry into the accounting world? For example, would I absolutley need an undergrad in accounting to get a job.”source ↗
“I need one year of work experience under a CPA to get a CPA license. How would I even get work experience that counts towards the CPA, if most jobs/companies want people with a CPA, Bachelors, or Masters Degree?”source ↗
“I have a decently comfy job (entry level, about 50K USD salary) but don't derive much enjoyment from it. Was thinking of moving into nutrition/sports science.”source ↗
“Can people who just don’t care make it in accounting and reach a relatively comfortable life?”source ↗
“How much do accounting firms value this type of experience when hiring for entry-level positions? I’d appreciate any advice on how to present it as I transition into accounting.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Scared about graduating with an accounting degree and forgetting everything
- 7How to get CPA accounting credits without another degree
- 4How to move from Accounts Payable to a staff accountant role
- 8How to get an accounting job without a CPA
- 52How to break into accounting as an international student with a low GPA
- 2Is a master of accountancy worth it under the new 120-credit CPA rule?