Allan Said:

Career change into Forensic Accounting, what is best way to plan this?

We Answered:

hi there, well i went to the jdi institute and did forensic accounting in part of my course in crime detection. you need some criminology knoweldege i guess. try reading the website www.ucl.ac.uk/jdi

Ted Said:

Career change to accounting?

We Answered:

At 29 or 30, you have MANY, MANY employment opportunities and years ahead of you. When applying for a position, I doubt you'll be valued less than a 22 year old just entering the market for a variety of reasons. Besides having more maturity, you have an MBA. Additionally, your obvious love of both education and accounting will impress the best employers. Most accountants in my state have a Bachelor's when sitting for their CPA exam.

A recent article on Yahoo's main page listed "#3 - Forensic Accountant" in their top 8 fun professions. "If you love math and have a great eye for detail, you can help bring white-collar criminals to justice by investigating crimes like securities fraud and embezzlement schemes. Fun Factor: You might work closely with law enforcement personnel during investigations. You may even appear as an expert witness during a trial to explain how you identified financial crimes like money laundering. Training: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is usually required. You might also consider earning your master's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. Average Pay: Accountants and auditors have an average annual wage of $59,430 per year. Those who work in local and state government average at over $50,000." (salary data is from the US Dept of Labor)

Personally, I would love to go into forensic accounting! With an associates degree and have made as much as $50,000 as an employee. As an independent business owner, I have the potential for making much more. I've always wanted to finish school and get a bachelor's and am currently considering. I have the same questions you have regarding ROI (and I'm much older).

Long term with prospects with your CPA? Besides working for another CPA firm, you can easily have your own accounting practice! You'll be your own boss.

Don't wait 20 years and wish you'd pursued your dream. There's more of a ROI just in the personal satisfaction of completing your dream goal. Hey, thanks! I think you answered my question about whether I should get my bachelor's at this late date!

Good luck! And thanks for a great question...

ETA: AND you can always stay in your current field until the economy turns around. Besides, by the time you finish your degree and sit for a CPA, the economy will probably have turned around. Don't let anyone rain on your parade!

Doris Said:

seeking a career change from Accounting to Real Estate Agent(Sales) !! advice Plzz?

We Answered:

I too have worked in accounting most of my life (I'm 49 yrs old) and I even went back to school these past 4 years and earned my Bachelors in Business Admin...my major was accounting with a minor in finance. I graduated this spring and promptly decided it wasn't what I wanted. I've always loved real estate...don't know why I wasted my time and took out $70,000 in student loans. But I plunged forward and took classes to pass the state real estate exam...which I did...and now I'm interviewing realtors to see which one I want to go with. My thinking is.....I don't want a boss, I want to control my own destiny, control how much I make (which will be done thru my ambition of selling houses), and have fun while doing it. I'm tired of the hum drum of sitting behind a desk like I did before going back to school, waiting for a raise, hoping for a merit raise or promotion, making money for the owner and being aggrivated that I was smarter than my supervisor, but I still had to follow his directions. I think your making an excellent move...but remember...you alone control the money you make in real estate by your ambition. By the way...I'm looking for a realtor that will pay my expenses for me (advertising, signs, desk fee, etc.) until I start selling. I'll have to take less commission, but I hear it's worth it in the beginning. Just some food for thought for ya. Good luck with your career change. I think it's a great idea....for your own happiness!