Career Change: Financial Analyst to Police Officer

[BoomerD]

Such is the life of an accountant. We live for the weekends.

You can count on that...although this time of year, most tax accountants don't know what weekends are...
The 2 CPA's where I work...are booked M-S for most of the season...with quite a few Sunday appointments as well. Me...I work M-Th and have 3 days off from this job and work 2 evenings per week and USUALLY Saturday doing taxes for "that big retail tax outfit."

 

[Mike Gayner]

I'm currently being recruited by a bunch of mid sized financial consulting firms in the Midwest. Generally, many of the really large firms directly hire college grads(though many like Deloitte are now looking for masters and specialized analyst training). It's generally pretty difficult to move into a larger or more prestigious consulting firm as an experienced hire, especially with this economy. Even many of the mid sized firms here tend to hire college grads. Most people just gradually move to smaller firms after they accumulate work experience, not the other way around.

It doesn't help that the market for accounting students is incredibly weak, and many candidates who would have otherwise gone for the big 4 route are trying to get consulting jobs lined up. In order to be reasonable competitive at a big consulting firm in this market, you need to have good contacts AND a 3.5-3.8 gpa with reasonable leadership/project experience. The financial market is just such a mess right now, and it'll take a few years before it's cleared up.

This info only applies to the US market. I have no idea how the New Zealand market operates.

Wow, sounds like a clusterfuck over there. Accounting grads don't have any trouble getting a job here - sure the market has cooled a lot, but it's generally still very strong. I started my job two years ago - I wasn't even looking for my job (and wasn't even qualified yet) and I had two job offers.

 

[zylander]

Enroll in your local police academy? You can do it, but expect a huge pay cut.

Not in San Francisco; $75k/year starting and thats before specialty pay.

if you think you can pass backgrounds and a polygraph then go for it

also, you better be in good shape

Again, not in SF. Ive had friends go through the physical fitness test, its a joke.

 

[xeemzor]

Wow, sounds like a clusterfuck over there. Accounting grads don't have any trouble getting a job here - sure the market has cooled a lot, but it's generally still very strong. I started my job two years ago - I wasn't even looking for my job (and wasn't even qualified yet) and I had two job offers.

I'm at OSU which is the number 6 school in the country for accounting. E&Y went from hiring ~30 students in 2006 to ~3 in 2009. Yes, it's really that bad. It's especially bad here, because like I said, most firms recruit college grads. It can be really hard to start an accounting career if you aren't able to get a job a decent sized firm 1-2 years after graduation. Many are staying in MS programs because the job market is so terrible. However, there are a lot of positions open right now with the federal government if you want that kind of thing.

 

[boomhower]

My first advice would be to go to your local PD and see if they have a ride along program to get a feel for what it is actually like. A saying that is pretty accurate I hear a lot is it is 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror. Pretty accurate. Money is going to vary by location but in general don't expect much.

"Not in San Francisco; $75k/year starting and thats before specialty pay."

Yes, but that is SF where a starter house goes for 500K.

 

[jlee]

I would never work for NYPD. I don't make much now and I'd be taking a pay cut.

PM me if you have any questions. Yes, it's certainly possible to change careers at 28yo with a degree.

 

[Colt45]

Might want to get that tattoo removed before you apply.

 

[chusteczka]

Join the FBI and you can do both.

If you're big on the law enforcement aspect, I'd look towards something bigger. FBI as others have suggested or see what the CIA or NSA can do with your background.

The FBI has excellent opportunities for trained accountants. There is no need to throw away your training.

http://www.fbijobs.gov/

 

[Imp]

FBI has a demand fofr accountants. You probably won't walk the beat, but you'll get to bust some white collar criminals.

 

[MotF Bane]

FBI has a demand fofr accountants. You probably won't walk the beat, but you'll get to bust some white collar criminals.

And then watch most of them pay somebody off and walk away. :twisted:

 

[darkxshade]

I too am in the finance industry and bored. I kinda realized I'd be bored of my work as long as I sit in a cube. I've always felt my life would be more fulfilling if I had a job that required me to physically work than to tap at keys all day long. If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd be outdoors doing construction or somethign similar.

 

[PJABBER]

Join the National Guard or Reserves.

Talk with a local recruiter about officer candidate and occupational specialty opportunities that are not finance based, ie military police, infantry, etc.

You can keep your current civilian job/career path and move up the earnings ladder while doing something completely different and likely highly challenging on weekends, annual training and occasional active duty stints with both US and overseas deployments.

 

[PsiStar]

I have a friend whose brother is Secret Service. The guy is older & nearing retirement. Aside from protecting the president, Secret Service is the agency that tracks down counterfeiters & is what this guy does. Apparently in his decades of service he has never needed to fire his side arm ... on the job.

The theory these 2 brothers have, is that counterfeiters are artists and not into violence. No drug wars, turf wars, no one is trying to shoot the politician ... no one is being guarded or hot pursuits. When the counterfeiters are caught, they just give up!:awe: