My A- level Accounting teacher told us that many accounting?
firms prefer to employ people who do NOT have a degree in Accounting but in something completely different eg. Economics... Chemistry...... Is this true? If so, why?
Financial Services - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
What country are you in? I would think a good accounting firm would want a variety of backgrounds...not just a numbers focus. The US has to deal with a structure problem in that many firms had to have CPAs as owners and that meant an automatic glass ceiling for the non-accountants. When I left the field, "principals" were a new designation to indicate they were the equals to the "partners." PS, I remember audit stories (inside and outside of the firm) that gleefully showed the click moment when thinking outside the box. Eg, guy was auditing a massage firm. Firm claimed all records were destroyed in a fire and was low balling what they remembered as revenue. Auditor reflected on *how* a massage firm worked and realized that the towels going to the laundry was a given. He found the laundry bills, figured out how to convert pounds of laundry to number of towels, 2-3 towels per customer, how many customers, how much revenue, etc. Apparently his numbers were fairly close because the firm caved.
Answer 2 :
Most want a degree in Accounting preferably with a CPA. My degree is in Philosophy and I believe that has helped me in the workplace especially in dealing with costs. But it has made it more difficult to get a job especially as I got higher level positions. A lot of companies are advised by CPA firms and they want to increase the markets and prove that the degree and the CPA is the best value.
Answer 3 :
Many companies simply ask that applicants are educated to degree level - it doesn't always have to be a related subject. Having a degree proves that you are bright and have the ability and aptitude to learn and study.
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