Recently, students in Accounting 3 read the short business fable Who Moved My Cheese? Students were asked to post to an online discussion in which they analyzed their coping skills and developed a more effective response.

Felicia Faust granted me permission to share her discussion post which traces her journey through college program changes and a miserable job, toward an Accounting Associate Degree and a new career.

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The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) predicts 75% of currently active CPAs will retire within the next 15 years. Think about the opportunities created when 3 out of 4 people retire.

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According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), only half of business start-ups survive more than 5 years (https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/FAQ_Sept_2012.pdf).  Success is never guaranteed, but risk can be reduced by applying some basic accounting and financial tips.

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Many schools claim to provide real-life experiences, but it is unusual when a class project leads to a job.

Moraine Park’s Associate of Science in Accounting degree provides a career preparation project within Accounting 3.  Students create a professional résumé and cover letter and practice interviewing skills based on an actual job posting.

Initially, student Allysa Larsen picked a general accounting position. Eventually, she decided to a select a position that better matched her goals.   Continue reading

The Moraine park accounting curriculum includes training in two of the most popular small business accounting programs: Sage 50 (formerly called Peachtree) and QuickBooks.  Students are also provided the opportunity to complete the QuickBooks certification exam at a reasonable cost. The exam tests technical abilities in order to demonstrate accounting proficiency, and Nancy chose to complete the certification in order to “stand-out from other applicants.”

Nancy is the first college graduate in her extended family, but her inquisitive mind and the encouragement of a high school teacher provided the requisite spark. Self-motivation and effort propelled Nancy to earn a BS at UW-Madison and a teaching certificate at Silver Lake College. Continue reading

Mary Polter knows the benefit of education and hard work.  In the late 1980s, she graduated from Moraine Park Technical College’s administrative assistant program while serving in the Army Reserves.  For 25 years she worked in accounts payable at two employers.  But when her department was outsourced overseas, she spent nine months searching for a new job.  She considered her options and accepted her former employer’s reeducation funding.

Mary took a step in a new direction with college that had helped her in the past.  She returned to Moraine Park to earn an associate degree in accounting. Continue reading

Who would count beans for a living? After all, one bean has nearly no value. Yet accountants are often called bean-counters. Why? Continue reading

Matthew Stegall lacked focus and risked not graduating from high school. Fortunately, he successfully earned his high school diploma through an alternative program in which students combined four hours of GED test prep with part-time employment. The following years were relatively productive, but the path was unclear. He worked and took classes at another institution, but he had not found his niche.

It was time for a change. Continue reading

While nobody is immune from layoffs, accounting is a very stable career choice.  In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects higher than average growth potential through 2024.

How is accounting unique? Continue reading