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For those of you who were a CPA at an accounting firm and later moved into industry, how did you decide when to transition, and how did you select your industry, i.e. tech, automotive, consumer goods, etc.? #Fall25

I am an accounting major trying to learn more about the potential career paths while still in school.

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Dana’s Answer

When I graduated, the big 5 (at the time) CPA firms recruited on my campus, which made the process super easy. I made it almost to the 2-year mark with my CPA firm before I flipped to industry, and for me, it was very much a personal choice (I was a single parent). In my opinion, one of the great things about accounting and auditing is that the basics work no matter which industry you end up in. I had a connection in my network who knew of an opening in Internal Audit, so I exited External Audit. I didn't stick with that industry, and have worked in a consulting capacity across many industries over my career.

Again, in my opinion, you learn a lot with a big 4 CPA firm in a short amount of time, and that knowledge travels with you. There are also many companies that still look for "Big 4" experience on your resume, even if it is just 2 years.

While you are still in school, see if you can get a couple of internships under your belt (start as soon as you can). This will give you a real taste of what the work is like. Try accounting, finance, and auditing if you can. Warm wishes for your future successes!
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