Mid-Career Dilemma: Transitioning into a Career in Accounting

I recently received a question from a professional looking to enter the accounting profession with 15 years of experience in a completely unrelated industry. She was completing a masters' degree in accounting with no previous accounting experience, and was frustrated when applying for accounting positions. Every interviewer seemed to question her lack of experience in the accounting field. I'm sure anyone who has attempted to make a mid-career transition into an entirely knew field understands this dilemma, which can make you feel as though your previous decade or more of successful experience is irrelevant and undervalued.

My recommendation to experienced professionals in other fields looking to break into accounting is to first get an accounting degree of some sort. A masters or MBA with a focus in accounting would be ideal if you already have an undergraduate degree in something else. Once you have your accounting degree, you can combine that with your particular experience to prove to employers that you are just the type of hands-on learner and experienced professional they need. If you are considering becoming a CPA and want to get your foot in the door with an accounting firm upon finishing your degree, pitch yourself to firms based on your industry expertise. If your 10+ years of experience are in a particular industry, look for a firm that serves a lot of clients in that industry. You would be an ideal member of the audit team since you already speak the language of your clients' business.

If you are looking to get into the corporate environment, an internal audit position might be a great way for you to get your foot in the door with an organization. After you've been there a while, you often have an opportunity to move into the accounting or finance departments, or another management function that interests you. The hardest part is finding the right organization that will give you the flexibility to combine your accounting interest, your degree, and your extensive experience to your greatest professional advantage. If there is a previous employer that thought highly of you in a function other than accounting, tap into your network of former co-workers and supervisors to get an internal recommendation to the accounting or internal audit departments.

To gain some actual accounting experience part-time if you're a full-time student, try working through an accounting temp agency like Account Temps. That way, you'll rotate through a few accounting positions as needed at various organizations, and you'll have some tangible examples of accounting functions you've performed when you're pitching yourself for a full-time accounting job upon completion of your degree.

Regardless of your specific experience, almost any expertise pairs well with accounting given that accountants are needed in every industry. Finding the right angle to position your transition from another field to accounting will be the spring board to your successful second career.

Updating Your Professional Wardrobe

A recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek addressed the decline of casual dress in the workplace, driven by a recent surge against it by bosses. Casual Friday used to be a "naughty thrill" that occurred once a month or less, allowing office employees to wear a pair of conservative jeans and a polo. According to a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, only 34 percent of bosses officially permit casual dress among employees every day, a significant drop from the 53 percent in 2002.

American society still remains incredibly casual, according to Clinton Kelly of the Learning Channel's What Not To Wear. For some, the difficulty arises in the absence of clear definitions within corporate dress codes for terms such as "professional dress," "business casual," and and one-off "casual Friday" attire. As a CPA, your dress cues should be dictated by your clients when on site. I used to audit banks, and most banks still have a culture of wearing full suits every work day. While it seemed archaic, I could never go wrong following such a strict dress code. In other environments, it's a bit more difficult to judge.

If you're new to a firm, don't immediately assume you can wear jeans and sneakers on casual Friday. Wear your normal work attire on the first official casual day and take note of what is permissible. I used to work in Pittsburgh, a town notoriously loyal to their sports teams. Almost every weekend the Steelers were in a play-off game, all of the downtown professionals exchanged their suits and pantyhose for Steelers jerseys and face paint. This was completely acceptable, even when working at most client sites. In other cities, this would definitely not be tolerated.

Women seem to have a slightly greater challenge than men in navigating the vague "business casual" dress code. Are sleeveless shirts, open toed shoes, or dressy capri pants alright for the office? That depends on where you work and what your role is. While corporate dress codes officially apply to all employees, I've noticed an unofficial double standard in most workplaces depending upon the female employee's role. It was much more acceptable for administrative staff to wear sleeveless blouses or skirts without wearing pantyhose, simply because they served an internal role and rarely had contact with clients. Client service professionals, however, were unable to bend such roles. If you are unsure where to draw the line, look to your superiors for guidance on how to dress. More likely than not, if your boss shows off her toes in a pair of dressy open-toed shoes, it's okay for you to do the same.

Bloomberg Businessweek asked image consultants and office fashion experts for the most common workplace style sins. I'm sure you've seen them all before. Just make sure you're not the guilty party:

1. Hooker earrings-anything long and dangly that looks cheap should be put away until the weekend.
2. Chest plumes-fashion experts advise men to stop unbuttoning shirts when you begin seeing chest hair.
3. Exposed bra straps-these can be distracting and are generally considered unattractive.
4. Tattoos-people don't expect a CPA to have a dragon tattooed on their forearm. If you have tattoos, keep them covered to avoid snap judgements by colleagues or clients.
5. Toes-many workplaces require toes to be covered for safety reasons. A lot of people find toes to be disgusting. Play it safe and keep them covered.

Wanted: Forensic Accounting Specialists

According to a recent article by Yahoo! News, forensic accounting is one of the top new careers offering a sexy new version of a traditional profession. Imagine CSI: Wall Street, a drama featuring a team of accountants brought in to unravel the pieces of a Ponzi scheme or insider trading deal gone wrong. With the passage of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform which includes the creation of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection as well as countless other regulatory reforms to be implemented and enforced, Washington's regulators have gone on a hiring binge. Thus, forensic accountants are in high demand. Even among consulting and auditing firms, forensic accounting practices are growing to meet the increased ethical scrutiny promoted both internally among companies as well as by regulators.

If you are looking for additional skills to make you more marketable or to reinvent yourself as an accountant, consider a career in forensic accounting. To become a forensic accountant, you must first become a licensed CPA. You will also need an additional forensic accounting industry certification such as the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation, which can be earned upon completing a bachelor's degree and passing the CFE exam. There is an advanced Certified Forensic Accountant certification, requiring additional training and expertise. To find out more about a profession in forensic accounting, visit The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Many online degree programs offer MBAs, bachelor's degrees, and certificates in investigative or forensic accounting that can enhance your career potential and expand your expertise.