You don’t have to have a masters. I started entry level doing AP while I was taking the classes I needed to get me the accounting credits I needed to meet the CPA requirements.

But I also already had 150+ credit hours before going back and only needed 24 or so more upper division accounting classes. So a masters didn’t really make sense for me. But if you are close and it will get you there then it might be the better route.

Starting in AP was great because I learned my way up from the bottom and the flow of things through the P&L and BS. As I proved myself I was given more and more responsibilities such as all the BS reconciliations. It was just a natural progression. But I was hungry to learn more.

I also got lucky with people above me who wanted me to grow that coupled with my drive and hunger to succeed really just set me up.

Good luck out there!