What do you do that you earn six figures?

[u/fidgit86]

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

[u/danxthexman]

Accounting

[u/mxo130330 → u/danxthexman]

I used to do pub accounting. I am still a CPA. I switched over to IT sec about 6 yrs ago. Best decision I ever made.

[u/Penaltiesandinterest → u/mxo130330]

Accounting + IT = $$$

[u/austin_d → u/Penaltiesandinterest]

How do the two work together? Was thinking about getting some IT security experience but figured it wouldn’t be applicable with accounting at all.

[u/jonthecpa → u/austin_d]

If you like accounting, try information systems consulting. ERP consultants love accounting backgrounds.

But IT security/complaint is another good fit if you like audit.

[u/danxthexman → u/mxo130330]

A few years ago our CPA / IT person retired and I thought about the role but I was still too new and didn’t have as much IT background. How were you able to get the IT knowledge to switch?

[u/mxo130330 → u/danxthexman]

I started acquiring certs on the company dime that were sort of compliance related such as - CISA, CISSP. Then I got a job in the information security dept and got a masters in IT mgmt while continuing to get certs for other info sec related disciplines - GCFE, GCFA, GWAPT, GREM. Now I focus heavy on AWS. That is where the real money is.

[u/silkk_ → u/mxo130330]

Thanks, I've really wanted to make this move and this is helpful to add to my goals. I'm in finance for software startups and feel like I could slowly make that switch.

[u/mxo130330 → u/silkk_]

IT audit work is a good way to make the transition.

[u/silkk_ → u/mxo130330]

Your comment made me realize that this morning, I'm going to ask to get on the Security Council meetings and see if I can contribute there as a place to start. It's an unusual ask coming from my department but I think there are a lot of parallels with financial audit. Thanks again

[u/mxo130330 → u/silkk_]

NP. Pitch it as a rotational assignment for better interdepartment collaboration and staff development.

[u/Free_Joty → u/mxo130330]

Ballpark salary? 200k+?

[u/mxo130330 → u/Free_Joty]

I had a job offer from a large bank for a while back and it was $220k. I am staying put bc I get a pension at my current job and 7% match.

[u/yaboyyoungairvent → u/mxo130330]

Sorry can you clarify to me. So you're saying you're still an accountant but also a programmer that uses AWS? I never knew that was a possible lane. Or did you mean you switched over completely to programming?

[u/mxo130330 → u/yaboyyoungairvent]

I gradually completely switched over. With accounting It seemed like you could only make more by being in charge of more people. Plus the hours were crazy. With IT work you can make more by learning more.

[u/mxo130330 → u/[deleted]]

I do IT security work now. I did computer forensics, Malware analysis, and Incident response for about 5 yrs. Now I focus on AWS security. The only time I was able to marry the two disciplines was when I did IT audit work of financial systems. Now I never use my accounting background.

Our entry level SOC analyst start at about $90k. A senior level Analyst can make around $200k.

[u/tommyboy6787 → u/mxo130330]

Where are you that an senior analyst doing SOC reports is making $200k? I'm a senior associate at a public accounting firm, with 3.5 years of SOC experience and am at $81k. Are you all hiring?

[u/mxo130330 → u/tommyboy6787]

Sorry senior incident responder/ cloud security pays $200k. You gotta combine multiple disciplines to get to the upper income levels. The entry level positions are the SOC analysts.

I work for a large finance company. The salary is standard at the large banks and tech companies.

[u/HerschelRoy → u/mxo130330]

I may have missed this - how are your hours now? I'm in a corporate finance role, & interested in an IT switch later for reduced hours (either business analytics or security - leaning towards security even though I have an idea of what I'm doing on analytics).

[u/mxo130330 → u/HerschelRoy]

The hours are reasonable. Most weeks I work 40 hours. If there is a large incident I could work a 60 hour week, but then get credit for time off later. This varies by company. It is def important to ask during the interview process what kind of hours the team is working.

[u/HerschelRoy → u/mxo130330]

Got it, thanks. Most likely less hours, but ultimately depends on the company (which can be said for a lot of roles!)

[u/Free_Joty → u/[deleted]]

Not op, but it audit is a non glamorous option

[u/Free_Joty → u/[deleted]]

pretty much

data integrity, feed testing, etc. from what I know, they will also take a look at code to see if it does what they expect it to do