If you are changing career from customer service/sales experience, what is the best approach to entering the Accounting Field? I have supported my spouse in a home based business by providing the bookkeeping and tax preparation for the last 5 years. Also, I have an Associates Degree from a reputable Junior College. Would it be possible to obtain a bookkeeping job while I obtain CPA certification?

There shouldn't be any problem with working while you go to school. I assume you realize that you will need a four year degree prior to becoming a C.PA. In truth that depends upon your state I beleive. Prior to my graduation in 1994 there was talk of adding an additional year similar to other profressional degree programs at my university. That was in keeping with what they believed to be the "new" requirement for the C.P.A. title. I would suggest that you check within your own state for clarification.

Willfarr,

With your IT background and accounting knowledge, you could get into the accounting software or consultant field. Trust me, most of the software companies don't have a clue sometimes how accounting works or how accountants think.

Also, some CPA's look for people that they can teach and mold. I got a part-time job with a CPA because my competition was an experienced auditor. He felt that they might be butting heads over how he does things vs. the other guy.

jcBuecker,

I went from being an assistant manager in a small grocery store to working part-time doing bookkeeping for a CPA. That led to full-time, then into accounting software. Now I am the controller for a manufacturer. My degree is in Marketing/Management. My experience with the CPA and in dealing with controllers in several different industries with the software biz gave me the experience and confidence to do this job (and it was a mess when I got here). I am still working on my accounting certificate thru LSU. The experience you have should land you a decent position somewhere that will help increase your education even more than school. And a lot of accountants are willing to help teach new accounting types. I do that here with my assistants. The problem is that some think that either they think they know everything (just out of a disreputable junior college) or since that is not in their job duties they shouldn't pay attention because that's not their job.