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.