Want to leave Accounting and Finance, where to go?

[Anonymous]

For those who left the field, what did you do next?
Did you like your new field better?
Did you miss anything about Acctg and Finance after you moved on?
Did anyone end up going back to Acctg and Finance, after leaving it for awhile?

After 15 years of it, I'm so ready for a change.

[Anonymous]

Any interest in Data Science/Business Intelligence/Analytics? Booming field and you probably have a lot of the math skills, as long as you have the logic/critical thinking.

I'm moving that direction after 10 years in marketing (but with a natural aptitude for math/algebra/analysis). It's in demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any interest in Data Science/Business Intelligence/Analytics? Booming field and you probably have a lot of the math skills, as long as you have the logic/critical thinking.

I'm moving that direction after 10 years in marketing (but with a natural aptitude for math/algebra/analysis). It's in demand.

+1. I seem to be heading in that direction. I will say I'm resisting because change is hard but it's landing on my plate and I do see the future benefit of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any interest in Data Science/Business Intelligence/Analytics? Booming field and you probably have a lot of the math skills, as long as you have the logic/critical thinking.

I'm moving that direction after 10 years in marketing (but with a natural aptitude for math/algebra/analysis). It's in demand.

How do you get into this field? I have worked in finance IT side for almost 20 years, and I have a business degree, concentrating in marketing. Seems to me most of those types of jobs want more statistical know how.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any interest in Data Science/Business Intelligence/Analytics? Booming field and you probably have a lot of the math skills, as long as you have the logic/critical thinking.

I'm moving that direction after 10 years in marketing (but with a natural aptitude for math/algebra/analysis). It's in demand.

How do you get into this field? I have worked in finance IT side for almost 20 years, and I have a business degree, concentrating in marketing. Seems to me most of those types of jobs want more statistical know how.

PP you quoted. I've moved into it within the company I was already working at - taking the lead offering up statistics in meetings, analyzing data coming out of our CRM and marketing efforts, partnering with the sales divisions to help analyze and predict account issues of interest.

I've taken a few data viz classes, joined a local data viz Meetup to get a lot of good direction, done some research. I looked into going back for a masters degree, and frankly, I need some serious coding classes before I'd be qualified to even apply for a MS in Data Analytics. But within my company, I already had a great reputation and it was easy to transition. It would be harder for me to get hired fresh into a new company to do it, but after a couple of years experience here, I'll have overcome that barrier.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Big data analytics is actually something I've been considering. I enjoy and am skilled at making sense out of the numbers. I'd like to build my skill set in the methods of how to get the data.

Where do I start? Any specific classes or programs you could recommend?

[Anonymous]

Investor Relations? if you are outgoing.

[Anonymous]

I'm considering Data Science/Analytics once finances and timing is right.

It appears to be more of a masters degree. Here are some examples of programs:

https://ep.jhu.edu/programs-and-courses/programs/data-science

https://datasci.columbian.gwu.edu/

I did find a couple of programs offering it as a Bachelors program but it's probably a given that it won't provide the same background (or salary) as the masters.

There might be a couple of programs that offers certificates in them as well. Where you won't have to do all of the coursework required for the masters.

As others mentioned the prereqs for the masters programs emphasize math and I think statistics. I can't find my old college transcripts and will likely have to brush up on the math courses at the local community college before applying for the programs.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. I looked at online Masters programs for data science, and talked to a couple coworkers with an engineering background. One recommended I learn Python to prepare for the masters courses, should I decide to pursue this. I found a site called Coursera with free and low cost classes, I may check out a course or two there to get my feet wet in data science and see if it's a path I'm interested in pursuing.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who mentioned the data viz classes and Meetups thank you, that's a great idea! I'm looking into this now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any interest in Data Science/Business Intelligence/Analytics? Booming field and you probably have a lot of the math skills, as long as you have the logic/critical thinking.

I'm moving that direction after 10 years in marketing (but with a natural aptitude for math/algebra/analysis). It's in demand.

What has been your path for transition from marketing to Analytics? Did you take any classes or training, or were you able to take on a different job outside of marketing?