Online degrees have made education possible for many people in recent years, and their biggest impact has been on working professionals. If you are already working full time, supporting yourself and possibly a family, then quitting your job to go back to school (or go to college for the first time) is probably not an economic possibility. Even if you were so inclined, limited by where you live, the local college may not offer the specialized degree program that you need to move your career forward - but online degree programs, available anywhere there is an internet connection, offer both variety in programs, and flexible schedules. The best ways to use online degrees in your career:

- If you are an accountant, obtain an online MBA, Masters Degree in Accounting, or Masters of Taxation to earn the requisite 150 credits to become a CPA. Your online degree program may include a CPA prep course, or offer a discount for one.

- As a library professional, you can use online degrees in technology and multimedia to expand your skill set in an ever changing environment. This will let you be as employable as possible as more libraries lose funding - which means fewer jobs.

- Earn more money as a teacher by earning a master’s degree in education. Consider specializing in early childhood, educational media, or even become qualified to become a guidance counselor. A Ph.D. program in education can pave your career path further by opening up the possibility of becoming a school principal.

- Further your career in information technology with online degree programs that will allow you to command a much higher salary as a specialist in programming, networking, or even web design. Information technology is a constantly changing and growing field, which means that to just maintain your current position you must stay informed. Moving upwards professionally requires the extra step of formal education, which can be obtained through an online degree.

This week we caught up with Jonathan Funk, a Tax Manager with the renown accounting firm, Ernst and Young. Jonathan shares valuable insights about the rewards and misconceptions of being a CPA and provides an insider’s look at a career in accounting. Read on!

Interview with a CPA

My Accounting Careers: Describe a typical day on the job.

Jonathan Funk: I typically have some sort of project going on such as completing tax returns or preparing memorandums/tax opinions outlining tax consequences to various business transactions.

I also have to manage the time of staff assigned to my various projects, make sure they understand what is required of them, and answer questions and resolve issues they may encounter. The issues and questions I work to resolve and answer are extremely varied which makes my job enjoyable–I never know what to expect.

MCA: What is the most rewarding part of being a CPA?

JF: The designation of being a CPA provides me respect among my accounting peers because of the work that goes into getting the designation. Also, CPAs are the link between the general public and business, so we go through a lot of ethics training and policing. A large majority of CPAs do their best to never tarnish the designation with ethics violations. As an accountant in general (without the CPA designation), I get the most rewards from providing free services to low-income taxpayers through an IRS program. Since most accountants services would be too expensive for the low-income taxpayers that I help to afford, they really appreciate what I do for them and look for me year after year to help them file their taxes. The experience I have gained at Ernst & Young has really helped me to provide great service to these low-income taxpayers.

MCA: What misconceptions do people have about being a CPA?

JF: I think the biggest misconception I come across is that we are “bean counters.” We do so much more than count. Really, I have to understand a lot of tax law to do my job correctly, so I spend a lot of time researching tax law (e.g., Congressional legislation, Department of Treasury regulations, IRS published guidance). Maybe this is a bad habit, but I always use a calculator to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, so people shouldn’t expect me to do it in my head.

If you are considering going back to college, research a career in accounting as a rewarding and reliable option. Stay tuned for more accounting insights from Jonathan Funk soon!

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Jon Funk is a tax manager in the Houston office of Ernst & Young Tax Services practice. Jon also worked in the Real Estate Group of Ernst & Young’s National Tax Department in Washington, DC for over 2 years. Jon received a Masters in Accounting with an emphasis in Taxation from Brigham Young University. He is a certified public accountant licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Jon is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In addition, Jon has co-authored multiple articles in Real Estate Taxation, a quarterly tax publication.

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