28 Aug 2007, 4:45 pm
28 Aug 2007, 5:21 pm
28 Aug 2007, 7:05 pm
29 Aug 2007, 3:24 am
engineers think 1+1=2
Accountants know 1+1=what ever you want 
I studied 2 yrs engineering then dropped out. A few yrs later went back to study.
I am B.Ec., CPA, Post Grad Dip Applied Finance & Investment (S.I.A.)
Used to work in Public Accounting (tax returns mostly for family companies) then corporate finance which was taken over by GE Capital 
and now in an investment co that has little people contact and lets me waste time here on WP.
Accounting is OK. I find, talking about facts and figures ok and there are always papers or ppt slide shows to talk to and point at and look at so you don't get noticed not making much eye contact. At least I don't think it gets noticed 
I get by 
Brian003
Velociraptor
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 402
Location: University of Michigan Ann Arbor
11 Sep 2007, 10:42 pm
12 Sep 2007, 1:30 pm
Brian003
Velociraptor
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 402
Location: University of Michigan Ann Arbor
12 Sep 2007, 3:01 pm
13 Sep 2007, 9:55 pm
13 Sep 2007, 9:58 pm
14 Sep 2007, 8:34 am
14 Sep 2007, 8:48 pm
It's interesting to see the accounting/engineering connection.
I've been involved in engineering for most of my life, in power plant operations, and as a quality inspector for a company that makes relief valves for nuclear power plants. It isn't exactly what I wanted, so I went to school for accounting, and I'll have a B.S. in Accounting after this semester.
It's great, you need to categorize things, and develop a system for keeping track of everything. It's not just all numbers, although it can be if you want. You need to develop an understanding of the entire business process, or you won't be able to put the numbers in context. Bookkeeping is mostly numbers, but you don't need a degree for that. (I also love how bookkeeping has three consecutive repeated letters, but my word obsession is a subject for a different topic 
)
Another cool thing about accounting is that accountants are stereotypically a little different, so you don't have to worry about AS affecting your career. You're expected to be strange. And if you're not, then it's even better. Accounting gives me opportunities to interact with people, and the bottom line is your competance, so if you're good, you're all set. Management or sales involve a lot more interpersonal skills, so that's trickier.
I think accounting is one of the classic fields for people with AS to thrive, similar to engineering, programming, or archetecture. (Well, I hope so anyway!)
And stereokid:
I don't know about your company, if it's a large company with a big accounting department, then it will be tougher to advance with an associates, since there's likely to be many others with higher degrees. If it's a smaller company, you'll probably have a better chance. Either way it can be done, if you're a hard worker and attentive to the company, you'll go further. There are limits though, as you can only advance so far until you need a CPA to get promoted. But that's not everybody's goal, so don't sweat it if you don't want to.
Good luck!
16 Sep 2007, 10:22 am
I've been involved in engineering for most of my life, in power plant operations, and as a quality inspector for a company that makes relief valves for nuclear power plants. It isn't exactly what I wanted, so I went to school for accounting, and I'll have a B.S. in Accounting after this semester.
It's great, you need to categorize things, and develop a system for keeping track of everything. It's not just all numbers, although it can be if you want. You need to develop an understanding of the entire business process, or you won't be able to put the numbers in context. Bookkeeping is mostly numbers, but you don't need a degree for that. (I also love how bookkeeping has three consecutive repeated letters, but my word obsession is a subject for a different topic
) Another cool thing about accounting is that accountants are stereotypically a little different, so you don't have to worry about AS affecting your career. You're expected to be strange. And if you're not, then it's even better. Accounting gives me opportunities to interact with people, and the bottom line is your competance, so if you're good, you're all set. Management or sales involve a lot more interpersonal skills, so that's trickier.
I think accounting is one of the classic fields for people with AS to thrive, similar to engineering, programming, or archetecture. (Well, I hope so anyway!)
And stereokid:
I don't know about your company, if it's a large company with a big accounting department, then it will be tougher to advance with an associates, since there's likely to be many others with higher degrees. If it's a smaller company, you'll probably have a better chance. Either way it can be done, if you're a hard worker and attentive to the company, you'll go further. There are limits though, as you can only advance so far until you need a CPA to get promoted. But that's not everybody's goal, so don't sweat it if you don't want to.
Good luck!
I don't work at any corporate firm yet. I'm about to get my associate's degree after next semester, and then, I might spend a year or a half of a year taking additional accounting and business courses at my local community college, since my state rehab center's career counselor told me that doing that should make me pretty marketable to potential employers.
My mom also did say that if I need a bachelor's degree to advance, then I can always get it later, but how do you find the time to take classes at a state college while working full time? And how long will it take me to get a bachelor's degree if I only take one or two courses at a time?
And I am not going to become a CPA. I just want to be a regular accountant like my Dad is.
17 Sep 2007, 9:14 am
17 Sep 2007, 9:20 am
TheMachine1
Veteran
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,011
Location: 9099 will be my last post...what the hell 9011 will be.
17 Sep 2007, 9:24 am
Accountants know 1+1=what ever you want
My dad always says , "your account or lawyer can visited you in jail"
Meaning it will be you not them that does time for their monkey business.
17 Sep 2007, 10:15 am
