[didi721]

Hello All,

Just wondering if any advice can be offered/given. I am looking to enroll in the Masters of Accounting program at UConn and was just wondering how it is received by big 4 employers? Also, does the big 4 recruit heavily at UConn?

I am a recent graduate of the University of RI with a non-accounting bachelors and want to become a CPA and work for a big 4. UConn is affordable and would allow me to continue to work my current job. Besides, I am looking to stay in the region. Thanks!

[CTbrooktrout]

It'll be fine, it's acceptable. You won't be dinged for it.

Honestly... work experience trumps all.

[Comp625]

Originally Posted by CTbrooktrout

It'll be fine, it's acceptable. You won't be dinged for it.

Honestly... work experience trumps all.

I agree. I used to think that the school's "brand name" was important -- it is -- but only to a limited degree. Unless your advanced degree was from a Community College or from Yale, it's really not that big of a deal.

And yes, to my knowledge, the "Big 4" do recruit from UConn, but they also equally allocate their efforts to other well-known Connecticut colleges and universities.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

[gomet]

Work experience is great but you need the masters if you want to be a CPA today. You need 150 credits in order to get your license.

Try to get an internship as a way to get your feet in the door. You will get great experience and might get an offer.

Good luck.

[mlassoff]

Both of the partners in the CPA firm I use went to UCONN and have Big 4 experience.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by didi721

Hello All,

Just wondering if any advice can be offered/given. I am looking to enroll in the Masters of Accounting program at UConn and was just wondering how it is received by big 4 employers? Also, does the big 4 recruit heavily at UConn?

I am a recent graduate of the University of RI with a non-accounting bachelors and want to become a CPA and work for a big 4. UConn is affordable and would allow me to continue to work my current job. Besides, I am looking to stay in the region. Thanks!

I have a MS in Accounting from UConn as of 2007. It has only helped me throughout my career...I think. I have been able to get another job without a job lined up, every single time, and still get decent salary increases. I'm not saying you should do that, but it definitely has put me to the front of the line when getting interviews. And I'm not a CPA (and don't plan on being one), as I never plan to return to public accounting. I have always been in tax accounting and now have about 6 years of experience in the field.

UConn is HUGE on recruiting for the Big 4 firms. That's how I got my first job after graduation. Of course, economic times were better back in 2005/2006, but still.

Now, I mentioned that I was confident that having the Masters' in Accounting has certainly pushed me to the front of the line with getting interviews. However, I am not sure that it has earned me a higher salary when compared to co-workers who held similar positions without a master's degree. Honestly, I think they were getting paid about the same as me. Although, I don't know...it's hard to tell, because when I started my current job two months ago in Stamford, I was offered the maximum salary in the range, which spanned $10,000. It was a significant increase for me, even after being unemployed by choice for 6 months! But I am now earning 44% more of in salary than what I started out with back in 2006. Plus, with bonuses right around the corner, I will be very close to six figures, at staff level even.

With that said, I totally like my new job. Everything is fabulous...the people, the industry, the hours, the benefits, the culture, etc. The hours are only 35-40 hours per week with 5 weeks of vacation, just like in France. So good, in fact, that if it keeps up and I get sizeable raises and bonuses along the way, it might just be enough to keep me in Fairfield County for longer than I thought. And it's safe to say that I've been exceeding expectations from management. Lol...my skill/knowledge level is way above what they expected from me.