Why am I studying accounting?

Couple points I want to share.

  • Public Accounting isn't the only career path, despite what it may seem. It's also possible to get into government/nonprofit/industry, start with around the same salary as a Big4 accountant but only work 40 hour weeks, and carve out your own career path from there. Yeah, there won't be a guaranteed controller position at the end of the road, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get there though. Don't feel like you are restricted to the typical public accounting career path. There are other ways to make it.

  • Speaking from the perspective of an accountant who is very close friends with someone currently selling on Amazon while working full time, don't be surprised that the other folks on here aren't getting what you're doing. My buddy started 2 years ago and is netting about what you are with 2 more products launching soon, so I feel as if I am familiar with your situation. I believe that the ceiling is too high to disregard considering you have already found a measure of success. Working public accounting hours might mean that your Amazon business would have to take a major backseat (or be cast aside altogether), but again, public accounting isn't the only route that's available after you finish school.

  • Regardless of where your career ends up taking you, your accounting degree will have value, even if you don't end up doing accounting forever. Once your foot is in the door somewhere, it is very possible to move into different fields. For example, the senior vice president of sales at my company started as a cost accountant. Say your online business grows, having that competency would help immensely I'm sure.

So my advice would be to continue getting your degree unless you have another field in particular that you'd like to pursue. I know that people make it seem like if you get an accounting degree then your career is predetermined, but I don't believe it really works that way unless you want it to.

/r/Accounting Thread Parent