CPA exam doesn't matter?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #184191
    ajurew1
    Participant

    I was told by a recruiter that passing the CPA exam won’t help me find a job, and employers will not take it into consideration since I don’t have the kind of experience they are looking for.

    I have been working as a lease/recovery accountant since I graduated college. I read tenant leases and bill the tenants based on the terms of their leases. I have been unable to get interviews for Staff Accounting type jobs. Do I have any way out of this position and into something that offers more career growth?

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 184 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #555896
    Gatorbates
    Participant

    That recruiter is lucky to be employed. They should be on thin ice.

    Licensed Florida CPA:
    B: 71, 73, 79
    A: 83
    R: 78 (expired), 77
    F: 74, 74, 80

    It's finally freaking over.

    #555897
    Gatorbates
    Participant

    That recruiter is lucky to be employed. They should be on thin ice.

    Licensed Florida CPA:
    B: 71, 73, 79
    A: 83
    R: 78 (expired), 77
    F: 74, 74, 80

    It's finally freaking over.

    #555898
    mla1169
    Participant

    Oh dear. Yeah recruiters shoot their mouths off. Your toes would curl if I told you the rubbish I'd been told by recruiters (including but not limited to saying I wasn't worth my current salary).

    Passing all 4 shows grit. When all other factors are held equal between you and another candidate it does help a bit, having passed. Having a license is whats the showstopper, but I wouldn't say passing the exams is worthless to your resume.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #555899
    mla1169
    Participant

    Oh dear. Yeah recruiters shoot their mouths off. Your toes would curl if I told you the rubbish I'd been told by recruiters (including but not limited to saying I wasn't worth my current salary).

    Passing all 4 shows grit. When all other factors are held equal between you and another candidate it does help a bit, having passed. Having a license is whats the showstopper, but I wouldn't say passing the exams is worthless to your resume.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #555900
    ajurew1
    Participant

    Actually, the exact words were having my CPA license won't matter because I am lacking experience. I said I am one exam away from finishing, and then I'll have my employer sign off on my work experience and I'll have my license. The recruiter said it won't help me.

    Also, when I told my boss I was taking the CPA exam, she said “Why would you want to do that?! You don't need that for what you do.”

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

    #555901
    ajurew1
    Participant

    Actually, the exact words were having my CPA license won't matter because I am lacking experience. I said I am one exam away from finishing, and then I'll have my employer sign off on my work experience and I'll have my license. The recruiter said it won't help me.

    Also, when I told my boss I was taking the CPA exam, she said “Why would you want to do that?! You don't need that for what you do.”

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

    #555902
    Kimboroni
    Member

    When you're hired as a staff accountant, it is assumed that you will be taking the CPA exam, and then staying on and moving up will be dependent on passing the CPA exam. I would think that having that hurdle behind you would be a benefit. They won't have to worry about whether or not you can do that.

    Maybe you look overqualified to be a staff accountant and that's why you're not getting interviews?

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #555903
    Kimboroni
    Member

    When you're hired as a staff accountant, it is assumed that you will be taking the CPA exam, and then staying on and moving up will be dependent on passing the CPA exam. I would think that having that hurdle behind you would be a benefit. They won't have to worry about whether or not you can do that.

    Maybe you look overqualified to be a staff accountant and that's why you're not getting interviews?

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #555904
    ajurew1
    Participant

    What kind of positions should I be applying for then? I have zero experience in financial statement preparation, year end close, month end close, and all the other fun tasks staff accountants do.

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

    #555905
    ajurew1
    Participant

    What kind of positions should I be applying for then? I have zero experience in financial statement preparation, year end close, month end close, and all the other fun tasks staff accountants do.

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

    #555906
    Kimboroni
    Member

    That's great that you can get your experience requirements where you are now. I was wondering about that. Once you have your license, maybe you can apply for senior positions even though you don't have the typical experience. There could be someone out there looking for your type of experience in your industry.

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #555907
    Kimboroni
    Member

    That's great that you can get your experience requirements where you are now. I was wondering about that. Once you have your license, maybe you can apply for senior positions even though you don't have the typical experience. There could be someone out there looking for your type of experience in your industry.

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #555908
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I somewhat agree that you'll be overqualified as a staff accountant. Most staff accountants in all the companies I've worked for have accounting degrees, but haven't yet passed the CPA. Only those that wish to move up to assistant controllers and controllers sit for the CPA. I have two staff accountants that are qualified to sit, but have no desire to move up because they are older and don't want that kind of responsibility at this point in life. I have one staff accountant that is working on her master's in accountancy and will sit for the CPA exam next year and I have another staff accountant that has decided she prefers fraud accounting and is going for her CFA later this year with hopes to move into an internal audit type of role. In a few years the one sitting for the CPA will probably be in line to take over for me (accounting manager/assistant controller) if I ever leave or move into the Controller position. You can't have a whole team of staff accountants with CPAs or else you would have a lot of “wannabe” chiefs and no “wannabe” Indians. You need both to have a successful team.

    #555909
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I somewhat agree that you'll be overqualified as a staff accountant. Most staff accountants in all the companies I've worked for have accounting degrees, but haven't yet passed the CPA. Only those that wish to move up to assistant controllers and controllers sit for the CPA. I have two staff accountants that are qualified to sit, but have no desire to move up because they are older and don't want that kind of responsibility at this point in life. I have one staff accountant that is working on her master's in accountancy and will sit for the CPA exam next year and I have another staff accountant that has decided she prefers fraud accounting and is going for her CFA later this year with hopes to move into an internal audit type of role. In a few years the one sitting for the CPA will probably be in line to take over for me (accounting manager/assistant controller) if I ever leave or move into the Controller position. You can't have a whole team of staff accountants with CPAs or else you would have a lot of “wannabe” chiefs and no “wannabe” Indians. You need both to have a successful team.

    #555910
    ajurew1
    Participant

    From what I found, Illinois is very liberal when it comes to “experience”. I've been working there 5 years, so I think I have the experience part covered.

    BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
    REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
    AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
    FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 184 total)
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