Is 35 too old to get into accounting?

If you are interested and have the skill set, 35 is absolutely not too old.

No, it's not too old - go for it. Accountants would probably appreciate someone interested enough in it that they were willing to change their career in their 30's to their field.

Probably not. Keep in mind there appears to be a large shift towards accounting in the past year or two though.

JF5885477 said:   35 is the age where you should be starting to peak in your career... IMO you're way too old. The best age to get into accounting is about half your age, right out of college about 21. You missed the boat by about 16 years son.
Were you just throwing out numbers at random here?

If you enjoy accounting and think you can make a long term career of it, I'm not sure why you would think 35 is "too old" to get into it. There are people who go to medical school in their 40s and 50s.

ankitgu said:   
I think this depends on the person - for me, accounting and finance are some of the most creative things I could be doing and I really enjoy it for that reason.

Creative accounting could certainly be enjoyable while it lasted. Madoff style

It all depends on what kind of field of accounting you want to be in. Do you want to be a CPA at a Big 4 or in private or CPA doing personal/corporate taxes. As far as Big 4 is concerned, they do recruit straight out of college. So if you were coming in as an first year associate, you would be working alongside kids who just graduated. Also, as a former Big 4 auditor in a major city, I seldom see new associates above 25 years old.

So if I were you, I would decide or look into what field in accounting would interest you first.

durtydub said:   I got wrapped up in the making money when I was younger (selling cell phones in a retail store) and never finished school. About 2-3 years ago I woke up and said making $50k a year isn't going to cut it. I feel limited without a degree. I just finished my AS in accounting and will be around 35 year old when I finish my BS. I enjoy accounting and finance, also enjoy real estate. I'm just not sure what other fields I should be looking at.
I wonder if there are positions that will take you with your AS while you complete your BS? That way, your day job will be related to the work you do, and you might even get some educational reimbursement from your employer. Just a thought

Either way - I think it's a wise move and you have had the motivation to likely get through the toughest parts, so it should be easier from here on it, because you will have covered the core topics that some stumble over.

tchen811 said:   It all depends on what kind of field of accounting you want to be in. Do you want to be a CPA at a Big 4 or in private or CPA doing personal/corporate taxes. As far as Big 4 is concerned, they do recruit straight out of college. So if you were coming in as an first year associate, you would be working alongside kids who just graduated. Also, as a former Big 4 auditor in a major city, I seldom see new associates above 25 years old.

So if I were you, I would decide or look into what field in accounting would interest you first.

I've heard that firms are interested in diversity and therefore non traditional students sometimes have a better shot at Big 4 firms.

CPA+MBA from prestigious schools= High 6 figures C level positions . Plus it helps if you look the part

unimeg said:   tchen811 said:   It all depends on what kind of field of accounting you want to be in. Do you want to be a CPA at a Big 4 or in private or CPA doing personal/corporate taxes. As far as Big 4 is concerned, they do recruit straight out of college. So if you were coming in as an first year associate, you would be working alongside kids who just graduated. Also, as a former Big 4 auditor in a major city, I seldom see new associates above 25 years old.

So if I were you, I would decide or look into what field in accounting would interest you first.

I've heard that firms are interested in diversity and therefore non traditional students sometimes have a better shot at Big 4 firms.

Of course that what they say... but in my 7 years in Big 4, I can't say I met a lot of over 30 associates.

Go Go GO OP! Never too late to learn. If you like to learn, then no harm in pursuing. Please share what you decide for your next steps.

ankitgu said:   durtydub said:   I got wrapped up in the making money when I was younger (selling cell phones in a retail store) and never finished school. About 2-3 years ago I woke up and said making $50k a year isn't going to cut it. I feel limited without a degree. I just finished my AS in accounting and will be around 35 year old when I finish my BS. I enjoy accounting and finance, also enjoy real estate. I'm just not sure what other fields I should be looking at.
I wonder if there are positions that will take you with your AS while you complete your BS? That way, your day job will be related to the work you do, and you might even get some educational reimbursement from your employer. Just a thought

Either way - I think it's a wise move and you have had the motivation to likely get through the toughest parts, so it should be easier from here on it, because you will have covered the core topics that some stumble over.

Everything I have seen pays about $13 an hour. Ill keep my current job for now.


tchen811 said:   It all depends on what kind of field of accounting you want to be in. Do you want to be a CPA at a Big 4 or in private or CPA doing personal/corporate taxes. As far as Big 4 is concerned, they do recruit straight out of college. So if you were coming in as an first year associate, you would be working alongside kids who just graduated. Also, as a former Big 4 auditor in a major city, I seldom see new associates above 25 years old.

So if I were you, I would decide or look into what field in accounting would interest you first.

I plan on getting into tax.


Glitch99 said:   durtydub said:   I got wrapped up in the making money when I was younger (selling cell phones in a retail store) and never finished school. About 2-3 years ago I woke up and said making $50k a year isn't going to cut it. I feel limited without a degree. I just finished my AS in accounting and will be around 35 year old when I finish my BS. I enjoy accounting and finance, also enjoy real estate. I'm just not sure what other fields I should be looking at.shouldnt you have asked this question when you first embarked down this path a couple years ago?

I'm curious where you live where $50k is considered limited? How much do you expect to be making once you graduate? I'm not sure you should be expecting to get rich from accounting any time soon, unless you are planning to use your accounting skills to cook books and get away with embezzling it of course...

I just finished my AS so I can go any route in business and not have to take extra classes. I live in the Chicago area and am maxed out at my current job. I understand that I will start out in the $40-50k range but I feel that there is more upside.

Get a degree in social engineering. The possibilities are limitless.

I got into accounting when I was 34. I started at the bottom of the ladder as a "consultant" (the lowest level) in a Big 4 company, making $41k. Ten years later I'm now a senior manager making 150k. Worked out really well for me.

BigTR said:   If you have a wife and kids, starting in public accounting at your age will be a problem.

Agree with that. I'm in public, and at a large non-big 4 firm. Over 30 is one thing, over 30 with a family, is tough in public even at the higher levels.

we don't discriminate, I've had a few around 30 year old associates, if they have the right atitude about it they can succeed. However, the older you get the harder it is to motivate yourself to deal with the hours and entry level BS.

If I were in that position, 35 and out of college I'd probably be looking more at privite industry or at least lower hour type positions. but to me it really depends on what the mindset is

Just remember after you graduate and you are sitting there at your job interview, and the boss asks you what one plus one equals, remember the right answer: "what do you want it to equal?"

good luck with that, i never went the cpa route wasn't interested.
I worked at non-profit, then a startup and now I am at a fortune 500 at one of their us sites.
Its a been a long road but fun.

I'd do it. I believe the job market is fairly decent for them (correct me if I am wrong) and the starting pay isn't "bad" compared to some other entry level positions you could have after getting your degree.