[taxgeek83]

Alright folks, here’s the deal. I take REG next week, which will, hopefully, be my last exam. And I’m already bored. I am going to need a new project after tax season, but I’m not sure what yet. I know I don’t want to stay where I’m at (government), but that I want to stay in tax. Both public accounting and industry jobs are acceptable, but I’m not going to make a career move until I have my license and get through this upcoming tax season.

I’ve thought about law school and getting my masters in tax, but for various reasons, neither is in the cards in the near future. So, aside from those, what would you all recommend that I take on next? Preferably something that would be useful in both the public accounting and industry sectors, so my career options are flexible and I’m not wasting my time or money. 🙂

And…go!

[tomq04]

Have you considered golf, chess, Or poker?

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[tami3492]

I'm jealous, I wish I were bored.

FAR 7/8/14 - 88 - Becker live course
REG 10/14/14 - 82 - Becker live course, Ninja notes and audio
BEC 11/25/14 - 88 - Becker live course, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions
AUD 2/3/15 - 94 - Becker self study, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions

[mw798]

I highly recommend taking the CFA exam. A CFA and a CPA is a very elite combination of credentials which will allow you to get your resume into the hands of hiring managers in corporate finance, treasury, and consulting positions. With that said, the CFA exam is very very rigorous and much harder than the CPA. If you're really dedicated and smart you can pass it in 1.5 years, but most people I know take 3 to 4 years.

[Anonymous]

a woman

[taxgeek83]

Bahaha – Well, the ground here is frozen and it won't thaw until maybe May, probably June or July, and I don't have much patience so golf is a little out of the question in the near term. I have always wanted to learn chess…hmmmm. Not much of a gambler, so maybe not poker. 😉

I have a coworker who is taking the CFA – I think. That's the one that only tests twice a year, right? It definitely sounds intriguing. I've thought about the CFE as well. I have a couple of coworkers that have that designation, but I'm not entirely sure what I'd do with it post-CPA. It's fine enough in my office, but unless there's something out there that I'm not thinking of, I'm not sure it would be worth it after I leave.

I've always thought that working in forensic accounting and tax fraud could be a lot of fun. It's close to what I'm doing now, but much more complicated and much more intriguing. I've only heard of those jobs in the FBI though – anyone know of anywhere in the private sector that would have anything like that? I've also heard that getting into places like the FBI is a lot more difficult post-20s (I'm in my early 30s).

[mw798]

The CFE is a joke of an exam really. You can pass it and still have plenty of time left to do something else.

[Anonymous]

Depending on your industry, it could be the other CFE- Certified Financial Examiner.

That one's not a joke. It's two levels and several exams of insurance industry fun-ness. You get to make bank at the end, though. Insurance CFEs go regulatory compliance consulting and insurance ratings, etc.

The fraud CFE is a joke from what I've heard. I'm in forensics and litigation consulting so I may get it, but prob not. I'm def getting the CFF and ABV, hopefully in the summer of 2015 testing window. Those are both AICPA so I like that it's a solid, vetted peer group. A security guard that went to U of Phoenix Online can get the fraud CFE.

I haven't ruled out the CFA altogether, but I don't particularly feel like working in securities/investments at this time, nor do I feel like moving to NYC (implicitly necessary to get real value out of CFA). The CFA is really geared towards stock pickers and other securities analysis.

Philly (where I am) has a lot of PE and REIT firms and a fair amount of VC, but those finance positions prefer MBAs over CFAs due to the broader business skill set required of the more active investment methodology involved with these funds.

[soyanks]

If you are in tax and that's where you want to stay, CFA or CFE are not really suitable or helpful.

You are better off with a MST degree or CFP certification.

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised CMA or ACCA hasn't come up. I am A CMA since 2012 and contemplating on taking the ACCA since the CPA waves like 8 ACCA exams out of the required 14.

[taxgeek83]

I've heard the fraud CFE is pretty much a piece of cake – one coworker has had it for quite a while, and the other one that I know of started the CPA, dropped it for whatever reason, and got the CFE instead. It's open book, right?

@soyanks – Ideally I'd go for the MST next, but due to budget constraints it's not really feasible at the moment. If anyone knows of any grad-level scholarship programs though, I'd be interested in hearing about them!

You all have given me some great ideas! Always interested in hearing more, but I definitely want to say thanks for giving me some direction!! I really appreciate it!

[EverybodyswaitingfortheCPA]

I've often considered working to obtain additional letters behind my name. No doubt about it, CPA says alot and the more letters, one can assume the better. However, if a person does not have a job, experience should be the next biggest concern. Honestly, I'm not so sure if I had a CPA, CFA, CMA, CFE, etc. behind my name but zero experience, that it'd help. Sure, it'd say I'm compentant and willing to learn, but there is still a learning curve in each industry and segment.

If anyone is considering continuing education, I would suggest the following link and wandering around on it: https://www.geteducated.com/ – there seems to be some good options!

BEC - ✔ REG - ✔ AUD - ✔ FAR - ✔

Becker + NINJA MQCs for FAR

Licensed January 2015

[Tripp11]

Approximately how long should the CFE Exam take to complete?

The CFE Exam consists of 500 questions divided into four sections: Fraud Prevention and Deterrence, Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes, Investigation and Law. Each question has a time limit of 75 seconds, and each section contains 125 questions (approximately 2.6 hours for completion). Although the total exam time is approximately 10 hours, applicants have 30 days from initiation of the exam program to finish. Applicants may take each section of the exam at their own convenience, as long as all sections are completed by the end of the 30 days.

It's been many years since I've passed the CFE Exam, but I believe you had to electronically certify that you did not use your notes, books, etc… Plus, since it's timed, you wouldn't have a whole bunch of time to look up information that you don't know.

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[How many letters do you need]

Im sort of in the same boat and love this thread! I'm already a CMA and MBA, with any luck will have my paperwork out to be a CPA in a week or so. I've contemplated the CFA many times but that exam is incredibly intimidating and I need something a little light after this grueling year of CPA studying and before I even think about taking on a commitment like the CFA. Assuming I passed AUD, I think I'm going to take the next couple of years off from major certs..spend some time with girlfriend and such. Maybe work on a side bookkeeping business I've been thinking about. In that case I'll probably add some quickbooks and Microsoft Office certs but that's about it. Or conversely take on a local community college adjunct class or something. I think for now it's time to utilize all of the knowledge I've built in new and interesting ways. Maybe I'll consider the CFA again in a couple years…

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Anonymous]

CISA or CIA – haven't decided yet, but wouldn't be for a year or two.

[taxgeek83]

Has anyone seen this?

https://www.accountingweb.com/sites/default/files/guide_to_certifications_robert_half.pdf

Copyright is 2007, and I didn't see a more updated version (not to say it's not out there). A lot of them are redundant at the most with the CPA license, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.

[Author]

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