CPA Certification, will it get me a great job?

Lack of experience is a common concern. There isn't anyway around it, except through it. By getting your CPA distinction, this shows a potential employer that you are disciplined and dedicated enough to persevere. Assuming the employer is proficient enough to comprehend exactly how high of an achievement passing the CPA exam truly is (otherwise you wouldn't want to work for them anyway), I believe it is worth your effort. It is a credential that depicts knowledge at one particular point in time. Then, your eventual experience will hone you in on the specific application of this knowledge as you decide the area yo want to practice. I say, "go for it".

A CPA credential rarely gets you a job. Rather, it gets you past any requirement that a CPA is necessary to do the job from a company's perspective.

I think your decision to invest the dollars in a CPA comes down to ... what's your long-term career goal? Would having a CPA enhance your ability to reach that goal or not?

Let me echo Cindy's comment. Compare your academic and work experience with your mid- and long-term goals. Do you have the academic course work required for sitting for CPA (a four year accounting degree, plus some more credits. Check with your state's CPA for details)? If so, many companies will hire such people right of college, and you have related experience.

Do you like your current company, and do they like you? If so, as your boss or HR what is a career path for, and what credentials, if any, would they like you to work toward? If they don't want you to advance, then it is time to use your current skills to move someplace that will help you advance.

Have you researched the requirements for obtaining the CPA credential in your state? Here in Oregon, it requires not only passing the exam, but meeting certain competencies, which are obtained through work experience. Most likely, you'll gain valuable work experience during the process of getting certified. As mentioned above, consider your goals, and then also the experience you'll be able to get in the next few years as you become certified, and determine if it's the right path for you.

I did not have an accounting degree but, a few years after completing an MBA in finance, took several additional courses and passed the CPA exam. That was years ago. I have never held an accounting job and, under the rules, cannot hold myself out as a CPA.

Passing the exam is the first step. Becoming certified to practice as a CPA often requires working in an accounting/tax/audit capacity. Many/most states also have ongoing continuing professional education requirements to maintain your license.

Are there interesting roles at your current company that require a CPA? Is your company willing to pay some/all of the costs you will incur to pursue the certificate? The CPA might help you get hired now if you apply at an accounting firm or if someone is impressed the industriousness you demonstrated to get the credential. Otherwise, it may be hard to see an immediate benefit. Job specifications for more senior roles, such as a CFO, sometimes have a CPA requirement. Although one might argue about the necessity of that requirement, having your CPA eliminates the issue as a potential hiring hurdle.