If the accounting unemployment rate is 2.2% and I am a CPA with an MBA from a UVA peer

[Anonymous]

OP again and want to thank everyone for their comments. Some observations and questions:

- agree with the career coach. Headhunters actually fill a relatively few number of positions and you have to be spot on with what the client wants. I find going through a professional organization and alumni databases much more effective.

- 22:53, agree my background is somewhat different. I look at it as offering some unique advantages but wonder if the accounting field is so ultra conservative that different is not good. For example, being in controller and other finance positions, then taking the CPA provided a different perspective when studying for they exam. I love being a CPA, it changed a lot of things in my life and religiously keep up with CPE.

- I read over and over that there is a strong need for CPA types who understand data analytics and how to use information systems for a competitive advantage. Kind of fell into the whole thing of doing systems implementations and understanding information flows (not to digress, but I can also code). Long story short, I was a controller of a small division and a larger division desperately needed someone to do this so I asked for the assignment. Found out I have a knack for this, especially with working with a team and digging through what they actually needed for reporting. How do I fit this into my overall profile?

Based on the above bullet, a good friend of mine who is a CFO said I should be consulting. But what scares me is having a lot of down time as I am pretty much the sole provider. In all honesty, am I a bad fit to try for a CFO position, not based on skills, but realistically because of my background? I also know of another CFO who was consulting on accounting issues and his client offered the CFO position because it was a good fit, personality and otherwise so maybe that is the way to do it if it is going to happen at all?

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

Also are you just trying to find positions by finding companies on LinkedIn then contacting strangers who work there? That may be too aggressive and transparent.

[Anonymous]

PP here - You certainly would be a good fit for a company going through an implementation. You mostly find out about those through recruiters. I targeted the recruiters I wanted to work with (mostly those in boutique firms as they want to build relationships rather than pushing through resumes).

Also - agree with your friend - sounds like consulting would be a good fit. Most CPA firms have someone who does implementations.

[Anonymous]

The poster who said there are 2 types of CFO : 1) CPA background, 2) strategy/operational background, was spot on. For a CFO role, useful skillsets in my opinion are as follows: leadership, presentation skills, ability to fund-raise through equity/debt markets, ability to put financial projections together for entire company and hold people accountable, understanding of accounting issues in industry/company, understanding financial drivers in all areas of company, process improvement, etc. The poster has a few of these skills, but not the full package (not trying to be mean, neither do I or most people). Consulting sounds like a good fit.