Ask the Accounting Community

Hello everyone,

I'm currently pursuing the CMA (US) and a B.Com degree, and I'm looking for some career guidance from those who have already been through this journey.

A little about me:

• Late 20s
• Pursuing B.Com + CMA (US)
• Interested in pursuing the CPA in the future
• No prior work experience

I started it because I didn't have 120 credits (was/is interested in cpa) and i wanted to have a professional cert so that I can get a job. Lately, I've been thinking about what comes after the CMA. Some areas that interest me are:

• FP&A
• Internal Audit
• IT Audit
• Corporate Finance

From what I've seen, many CMAs begin their careers in FP&A or corporate finance. I've also looked into the CIA and CISA certifications. It seems that the CIA is valuable for internal audit, while the CISA is more relevant for IT audit. I also understand that some professionals eventually earn both.

Where I'm really struggling is deciding which direction makes the most sense. I'm still interested in pursuing the CPA in the future regardless of the path I choose. My main question is whether I should start my career in FP&A and pursue the CPA alongside it, or begin in Internal Audit and later work toward the CIA (and possibly the CISA) while also pursuing the CPA over the long term.

My biggest concern is that I'll be entering the profession in my late 20s with no prior work experience. I don't want to collect certifications just for the sake of it or pursue certifications that don't complement each other. I also want to start working as soon as possible, but I'm unsure which path would be the best place to begin.

For those who have been in a similar position:

• Which path would you recommend starting with: FP&A or Internal Audit?
• If you could start over in my position, what would you do differently?

I would really appreciate any advice or insights you can share.

Thank you!

Edit: [Adding]

If I decide to start my career in accounting first, which entry level role would you recommend? For example, should I target roles like Staff Accountant, Junior Accountant, Accounts Payable / Receivable, Cost Accountant, Financial Analyst, or another role that would provide a strong foundation and complement my long-term goal of becoming a CPA?

Thank you