[titoav15]

This is a little off topic, but I think can be a little fun! Was being an accountant your top job pick? Was this what you wanted to do? Was accounting your passion?

Well for some obviously yes! However, for me, if I had the budget (loans or whatever would cover it) and an opportunity, I would drop everything to become an airline pilot or an air traffic controller. This would really get me out of the bed excited and it is something that I definitely feel passionate about.

Anyone else with a story like this? Don’t be shy let’s hear it!

AUD - PASS

FAR - PASS

REG - PASS

BEC - PASS

BEC: 5/21/14 82! PASSED HALF WAY THERE!
FAR: 4/2/15 80! Almost there!
AUD: 69, 74, 4/3/14 81! PASSED
REG: TBD

[Anonymous]

I love children and to me, working with them brings a lot of pure joy and excitement. For several years, I've been a volunteer at the children's ministry of the local church I attend to. I enjoy every second of the time and effort spent with them every Sunday.

If money does not talk, I would love to just teach at a private school teaching young grade school students.

[Guti]

titoav15, how expensive it is to become a pilot?

I didn’t have the luxury of picking the career I wanted. My dream was to become an Airlines pilot as well, but many people told me it was too expensive to get the flying hrs at the Airforce,I needed to be an American citizen.

When you are poor, you can’t settle for careers that pay you less than 40K per year and the airlines pilot career,which paid more was out of the question,so I was between Accounting and Engineering. Then I saw how many Math courses I needed to take for Engineering, and then came to the realization that with an IQ of 130, I was not going to able to graduate as an Engineer, so I chose the easiest career of the two. I still regret not fighting for my dream of becoing a pilot.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Anonymous]

My in-laws had a long-time friend (a CPA) who became very rich because of his successful CPA firm.

He was flying his own plane, or maybe it's called a jet, I am not sure. Flying was just a part of his outlets.

My point is, you can buy your own plane and become a pilot someday by being a successful CPA.

[Myredstapler]

I think there are very few people in the accounting profession that are truly passionate about accounting. If it wasn't for the pay I would have loved to become a tour guide somewhere far off.

[Guti]

I graduated in 2004. I still have contact with 10 of my college friends who also graduated with an Accounting Degree. Only 3 of them still work in Accounting and are not happy. They just do it for the money. The other 7 got so sick of Accounting that they are doing something else.

Amor, there is a bigger chance for the US team to win the next World Cup in Brazil than me getting a private plane after I become a CPA.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Lindrobe]

I don't mind the work, but hate the daily grind and lack of flexibility at my job. I love animals and would love to open up my own luxury dog boarding business. Ideally, I would like to buy a piece of property that includes a residence (I live in Indiana, so property is not expensive) and then build a large kennel on my property that would be used for boarding. There are not many good options where I live for boarding your animals, so I think that it could be something that could work pretty well.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Skynet]

On the day of orientation at the university that I graduated from, my major was Management Human Resource.

I knew that going into management was going to get me no where but accountants are needed all the time.

So I changed my major on the same orientation day and never looked back since. I mean if you work long and hard enough you can have a very lucrative and fulfulling career.

With the number of MORONS that I have had to deal with and who couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag, NO WAY IN HELL WAS I GONNA GO INTO MANAGEMENT!

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[mla1169]

I just accepted a position that was a 25% cut in pay but was everything on my wish list. Less than a mile from home, very flexible and family oriented-if I have to leave for something at my daughters school it's perfectly fine, and we've got a dog (instant stress reliever). My boss is generous to a fault, and has a fabulous sense of humor- my official title is “number ninja” and he knows nothing of this site. I've always valued work culture more than my job description which is perfect because very few young entrepreneurs will hire a CPA to walk the dog 🙂

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[rjbini2]

I think its important to remember that with an accounting degree, there are a lot of options even if you end up not wanting to do the typical public accounting path. I worked in regulatory financial reporting for almost 4 years, and then transitioned into compensation in the HR department for the same company, and have been doing that for around 7 months. They really valued my experience and finance/accounting background, and I like what I am doing now so much better. Its actually a much better way (at least in the company I work for) to learn the business and to meet a variety of different people (and very important people) in the company. I am a little nervous that I'm not doing typical accounting/finance type of work so early in my career, but I also think that its important to never turn down a good opportunity even though it might not be you ideal path or dream job. Also–the cynical part of me thinks there is no such thing as a dream job and that work will ALWAYS be work.

CPA, Kentucky

REG- 72, 85(expired), 83 --FINALLY FINISHED
AUD- 80(expired), 83
FAR- 86
BEC- 82

All with Becker self study

[titoav15]

@Gian courses to become a pilot are between 100-140k (that is assuming you will be able to follow the program and pass everything on first try).

I was joking with my father today saying that maybe once I pass my CPA exam maybe then I can pay my way through the pilot courses and switch careers. I started as Business Econ major then switched to Accounting with two conditions… one was once I fail an accounting course I will switch back to Business (I kept passing each time!) or have Accounting minor depending on how far I get and second one was once I graduate with an Accounting degree I will buy an Audi or BMW…. so my only real excitement was to get a nice car… so who knows maybe I can apply my theory to the pilot license now!

AUD - PASS

FAR - PASS

REG - PASS

BEC - PASS

BEC: 5/21/14 82! PASSED HALF WAY THERE!
FAR: 4/2/15 80! Almost there!
AUD: 69, 74, 4/3/14 81! PASSED
REG: TBD

[funtiks]

Wanted to be a Marine Officer….

Broke my leg on week 3 of Officer Candidate School and was sent home

accounting it is then

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[Mamabear]

I want to be a strategic planner in charge of acquisitions and mergers. MBA + CPA will get me there. I just have to go through a lot of monotonous month ends before then, but it's becoming tiresome. Same reconciliations, same reports, same company. The only plus side is that I get to work on special projects that will just give me more business experience to go along with the accounting experience and the degrees and CPA designation. I could probably transition in the next few years but I'm going to wait until all of my kids are in school because it will probably involve more travel.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[terpcpa]

@mamabear, I too would like to get into more of the mergers and acquisitions but am having a hard time doing so. I have my MBA and FAR is my last section. I also work at a Big4 but it is much harder to transition from my current practice to a new one without a lot of push and pull. Any ideas/suggestions for this?

BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - May 2014

[Mamabear]

@terpcpa–I don't know first hand the kind of experience Big 4 gives you, but I think it would be beneficial to get into industry in a public company. Getting business knowledge in a specific industry seems like your best bet to progress into mergers/acquisitions.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[terpcpa]

Yea, I have been thinking about that for quite some time now, I will have to look into that. Thank you

BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - May 2014

[Author]

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