[cpa1982]

Hello guys,

I’m looking to get back into accounting after 7 years and hope I can get some advice how to get my accounting career back on track. Currently I’m working in family business but things are not working out anymore and it’s time to move on. After college, i have worked in private industry as Tax Analyst for about year and half. I don’t have a lot experience and no CPA so I’m having hard time finding entry level position. I want to start studying for my CPA asap but don’t want to spend alot money on buying materials. Video/audio doesn’t work for me. I’m better at self-studying with books, laptop, notes, etc. What CPA material would you guys recommend for someone like me? Rogers? cpaexcel? wiley books?

Also, anyone here work in public accounting and get to do both tax and audit? If yes, which one you like better? See one thing I noticed about myself is that I do get bored quickly doing same thing again and again. I like to have some variety in my work.

[Riley_N]

I've dabbled in both audit and tax myself. I did an internship with a mid market firm where I spent 90% of my time working on tax returns, and now I work for Big 4 in audit (still in my first year). It sounds like you're a lot like me, in that you enjoy learning by thinking and problem solving instead of just passively reading/hearing. In that case I would recommend going with Tax. Tax has a lot more variety and problem solving. First you have to figure out what's going on over at your client (which trust me, it's near impossible to get a TB that doesn't leave you thinking “what in the world is wrong with these bookkeepers?”) and then you can try to get them the best dollar figure. Audit is just “read this,” “document this,” “check this to that.” All in all it's pretty boring. Granted, I'm still in my first year of audit so it might get more exciting later (fingers crossed).

FAR: 85
AUD: 78
REG: 84
BEC: 89
I made it into the 300 club!

[cpa1982]

Riley_N,

Thanks for the reply. What made you to choose audit vs. tax?

[Author]

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