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Auditing/Advanced Degree VS Certification

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Expert: Don Sadler - 6/28/2009


Question
I just graduated from college and couldn’t find a job in this tough economic time.

The job market is getting worse.

I am thinking if I should go to grad school.

If you were me, you would rather get an advance degree (e.g. MBA, JD, etc…) or certificate (e.g. CPA, CFA, etc…)?

I see that you are CISA. I want to be in public accounting. I know CPA is a must. Do you think CISA certification would also help? How’s the job opportunity in IT audit for the next few years?

Answer
Yes, I would go for the MBA AND for the CPA.  The CPA is the best of all certifications... not that it necessarily deserves that standing but that is the way it is.  The MBA will be very helpful to you in any context.

The CISA is sort of the computer equivalent of the CPA although some would argue that if you have a CPA, nothing else matters.  If you did go into Public Accounting and had an MBA, CPA, & CISA - you would have a very, very promising career ahead of you.

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Don Sadler

Expertise

I can answer regarding Internal Auditing - especially operational audits, audit management, and how to revitalize a dysfunctional audit department. Also give advice to "auditees" on how to deal with auditors.

I DO NOT ANSWER HOMEWORK OR CLASS PROJECT QUESTIONS. For those answers, I suggest you scan previously asked questions and search on your favorite search engine.

I ALSO DO NOT ANSWER TAX QUESTIONS AS THIS IS NOT WITHIN MY EXPERTISE. NOTE: I am not an accounting expert although i will try to help if I can... ask at your own risk.

Experience

I have worked in the public and private business management arena with experience in OMB, Resource Management, Internal Auditing and consulting. I am a former President of the Inland Empire Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors, previously held Director positions in the Orange County Information Systems Audit and Control Association and the Northern Telecom International User's Association. I am a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Organizations
Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

Education/Credentials
MBA, CISA, CFE

Founder and Principal of Applied INTEGRITY Management Consulting Group

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