Are Houston area employers hell-bent on the BA Degree for Accountants? (Howe: employment, school)

[SYeera]

Originally Posted by 979Texan

Thinking that an associate's degree means anything in a city that's bursting at the seams with cheaper talent is an attitude. Thinking that your experience in a different state entitles you to a job that has higher hiring requirements is an attitude. Whining about it in a public message forum is an attitude.

Hope that helps, folks. Have a pleasant Friday evening!

First of all, thank you to everyone else for you positive feedback and responses. You are the type of Texans I have been hearing about and look forward to meeting. I asked a simple and straight forward question. I am unaware of the current educational requirements in Texas big cities and I wanted to have some idea before my arrival. It seemed simple enough to ask people from the area.

And to 979Texan: I certainly hope you are not representative of the typical Texan. First of all, I didn't say that my AA Degree means anything, although it should; I'm proud of it. I went back college at 28 years old, with a family and a full-time job, to get it. Did I post that my experience in California entitles me to anything? Did you even actually read my post? The different state has nothing to do with it, but my 20 years' experience does.

I was a Financial Controller for 10 years without a BA Degree. No need to "whine" about that. I worked up through the ranks over the years from a file clerk to a Controller. In that position, I always hired quality experience over a degree. So my posted question was quite fair and without the attitude or entitlement that you seem to so wish was there. Good day!

[Mandres]

It's very difficult to get into the top accounting firms unless you're CPA eligible - which requires a BS and an MS equivalent number of college hours.

But that's public accounting in a large firm. If you want to work in an accounting function in a private company, or for a smaller regional firm, you might find something. Unless you know somebody it's going to be practically impossible to get in the door at any of the large private corps - they all hire straight from the Big4.

[SYeera]

I am looking for smaller, private companies. Most of my experience, other than for a petroleum company which I don't want anymore, has been with hotels, restaurants, medical offices, etc.

[Mandres]

The controller title will help you out I would think. Might want to start with a headhunter like Robert Half or temp agency (accountemps, etc.) to get a feel for what's out there.

[Rip808]

Originally Posted by Mandres

It's very difficult to get into the top accounting firms unless you're CPA eligible - which requires a BS and an MS equivalent number of college hours.

But that's public accounting in a large firm. If you want to work in an accounting function in a private company, or for a smaller regional firm, you might find something. Unless you know somebody it's going to be practically impossible to get in the door at any of the large private corps - they all hire straight from the Big4.

While a lot of the large corporations hire from Big 4, a lot of them also recruit on campus and try to get their candidates even before they go to Big 4. There are jobs that you can go to in industry that don't require a four year degree but they will likely be "specialists" jobs (much lower pay) aka: Admin work, scanning, etc. The real "accounting" jobs will require a 4-year degree minimum, better if a CPA or CPA eligible from a regionally accredited university (i.e. No University of Phoenix, Devry, etc.). Best of luck!

[DejaBlue]

Go to Indeed.com and search around. A quick search for accountants with just an AA showed a some hits so get your resume and cover letter ready and start applying...when you get here. Despite your experience being out of state might be a con for you.

[K LoLo]

I'm not sure if posting links on here is appropriate or not, so I'll let you go do the search yourself. I went to the Landry's website (since you said you had hospitality/restaurant experience - Landry's has hotels, restaurants and casinos) and they are hiring accounting assistants.

Not sure if you're looking for just a job or if you want to get back hire in the ranks, but if you have a lot of experience and just get in for an interview, maybe they'll have something better too.

Point is, yes, there are jobs out there.

PS - People on this website may have positive/negative views about the Landry's group, so take it with a grain of salt.

[Bike4Life]

Someone with an AA would be fine for clerical jobs as I agree with the commenters above. Your max will be like payroll clerk who do a lot of the same routine paperwork and data-entry. Only people with an BBA or specialize certification will be moving beyond office clerical positions.

Also, in Texas, you are not allowed to call yourself an "accountant" with just an AA. Rules have changed to prevent confusion from those who have a CPA.

[SYeera]

So I am really confused, and this is not whining like one person above wants to believe; it's more surprise and frustration. I have been a full General Ledger Accountant for 15 years, with 10 of those years being as an Accounting Manager/ Controller, but in Texas all I can be is a clerical assistant because I only have an AA Degree? That just seems really odd to me.

I obviously don't expect to be able to attain the high-end corporate jobs with the large big-name companies. I am not even looking for those. I am looking for a full-charge bookkeeper or staff accountant position with a small to mid-sized family or partnership run company. From the replies I have received, it almost appears that my years as a Controller will count for nothing and it just surprises me that 2 years of additional schooling beats out 10 years as a Controller.

I guess it's time to find a way to get that degree finished while working full-time. Previously it just seemed irresponsible of me to spend money we didn't have to finish a degree in a field I already had 20 years experience in. But now the difference between small-town and big-city living is becoming increasingly apparent.

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by SYeera

I guess it's time to find a way to get that degree finished while working full-time. Previously it just seemed irresponsible of me to spend money we didn't have to finish a degree in a field I already had 20 years experience in. But now the difference between small-town and big-city living is becoming increasingly apparent.

I wouldn't make that decision based on a few random posters on an anonymous internet forum.