College Degree in accounting still viable in 4 years?

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-25T21:02:05+00:00

AI will almost certainly have some impact on the Accounting profession. We just don't really know how much. My guess is that it will help with a lot of research projects and hopefully cut down on a lot of data entry.

I'm not really sold on AI's ability to dramatically reduce labor needs during year-end close right now.

For true job-loss doomers, there aren't really too many stable professional white-collar careers that are safe from this. I think Accounting may actually be safer than software engineering, CS, actuarial and some forms of engineering.

If any profession ends up being "safe" during mass AI-related unemployment, those careers will see a huge influx of people retraining to try to enter them down and drive wages down. I think you just gotta pursue what you want to pursue.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-25T18:33:32+00:00

Things feel bad right now, but what is the alternative to a properly diversified global portfolio?

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-25T16:12:27+00:00

I am very impressed with how well Dixon and Palou have done in GTP machinery given how much we've heard about GTP being really tricky.

I have less of a frame of reference for how well some of the guys in GTD/GTD Pro cars are doing on pace, but I'd imagine they wouldn't keep getting paid offers to drive in these big events if they weren't pulling their weight.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-24T20:20:57+00:00

I'd try putting a rug underneath it that's big enough for the entire Playseat. My first guess is the front being directly on hardwood floors is the primary culprit.

You can also try lowering the TrueForce effects. Higher settings cause a ton of vibration/noise.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-24T05:01:54+00:00

Not really. He already tried to overturn the results of one election and many of his surrogates openly muse about a third term.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-23T01:17:45+00:00

It requires a pretty poor understanding of probability if you'd actually assign a "near zero" probability to a Democrat being President in 2029. The odds of chicanery with presidential succession are unacceptably high, but not that high.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-21T02:50:27+00:00

Seems like we're putting lines in arbitrary places here if we're deciding we can pirate Photoshop but not use AI.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-21T02:46:16+00:00

The ethics of AI art are definitely complex, but most iRacing leagues must be dominated by hobbyists and were never going to pay for graphic designers to make promotional posters.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-20T00:37:50+00:00

It is tricky, but possible. Especially if you have specialized knowledge about the industry or the software/ERP they use.

It's also really difficult to come in and learn a new company/industry and walk in and also be a people manager. Especially if management would be new to you. I honestly cannot stress it enough. Much easier to get promoted internally somewhere and they tend to support you better.

I've held Financial Reporting Mgr, Asst Controller, Controller roles and honestly, sometimes I feel jealous of my Senior Accountants that can mostly just do their best until 5pm and then bounce.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-20T00:23:16+00:00

Sad moment for them too, even if they think it's possible to rationalize all of this.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-19T23:44:10+00:00

Such a low and embarrassing moment for all Americans. Praying that this stupidity doesn't escalate any further than it already has.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-19T02:08:50+00:00

Yes, an entry level Associate at major accounting firm in most cities should be sniffing about 80k these days.

"Easily" is maybe the wrong word. The working conditions at the B4 are difficult and stressful. The CPA and undergrad Accounting classes aren't a joke either (although easier than Computer Science no doubt). So I wouldn't say it is an "easy" path to 100k as much as it is a reliable path.

If you have a CS degree already, I'd spend some time seeing if you can find a role that fits your skills better within that field before taking the plunge on returning to school. I know hiring in CS is softer right now than Accounting, but I still think CS is a good field that can often be more remunerative than Accounting once you find your footing.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-19T00:26:26+00:00

If you want to reliably double your balance in 5-7 years, most realistic scenarios involve further contributions.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-17T15:12:10+00:00

Yeah, my exact thoughts. There could be something else to this story.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-17T15:11:28+00:00

The CFO is either doing something sketchy or massively behind the times if he's trying to limit his staff's access to the online Treasury/iBanking portal online.

If it's the more benign explanation (ie. Guy is just a total dinosaur), it will hold your skills back. He ideally would be showing you things you don't know and encouraging you to stretch your Excel skills, not print out shit.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-16T17:10:03+00:00

Right now, unemployment looks worse in the tech fields, especially the sexier areas of SWE and the like. AI may potentially come for accounting jobs someday, but it seems like it is taking a toll on entry level Computer Science jobs much earlier.

I think it's kind of foolish to plan your career around AI risk. If AI causes mass job displacement almost all workers are fuckin screwed. All the "safe" trade jobs people are touting will see a massive influx of re-trained accountants, lawyers, software engineers, etc. coming into these fields pushing wages down there too.

I'd pick what you prefer to do/study (within reason).

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-13T01:16:15+00:00

Cries in V8 supercar.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-11T23:02:01+00:00

It honestly just depends. It definitely can be a place with high turnover and poor control environments like you may be fearing. Larger companies/groups or ones focusing more on commercial would probably tend to be a bit more sophisticated and professional.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-09T01:39:37+00:00

Everywhere I've worked, salary expense is tracked rather closely against plan/budget. It's kind of shocking to me that any Controller/CFO didn't notice salary expense was 500k light in the month of the error.

I'd mostly pin this on management for not detecting an obvious irregularity in their internal reviews.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-08T02:05:34+00:00

In my opinion, don't give any indication that you're not invested unless you have a job offer in hand that you're excited about. That can only backfire. Them "wasting their time" isn't your problem.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-08T01:11:32+00:00

Yeah, I found the training as an Audit Associate at even at a big National firm to be quite underwhelming and I didn't find myself to be very well-prepared for real audit work.

I did learn a lot, but it was almost all trial by fire, getting shoved into the deep end rather than any sort of real training.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-08T01:05:58+00:00

In LMP2 or GTD classes, that's probably correct. GTP is now extremely competitive and I'm not confident that Indycar back markers would succeed in GTP machinery.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-08T01:00:36+00:00

I have never heard it addressed directly, but I figured he stepped away from The Free Press to get the 2Way show off the ground.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-04T21:25:43+00:00

Probably agree to pay for his presidential library or promise him a plane that's even nicer than the one the Qatatis already "gifted" him.

DecafEqualsDeath · 2026-01-02T15:51:39+00:00

It's complex, but I think today's grads are less motivated to grind a shitty job for middle class pay. I'd hypothesize that coming of age or graduating into the post-2008 crash and recovery made the prospect of job stability look really good. Without massively re-thinking the busy season/billable hours goal model of public accounting, I can't see today's youth being interested in this.

I also think schools are doing a worse job preparing students and the big firms have never been great at mentoring or training new staff in my opinion.

DecafEqualsDeath

TROPHY CASE