[CPYay]

Hi all,

I’ve stalked this forum for a while and finally joined since I hope to be actively on here going forward.

I’ve worked 6 years as a Staff Accountant for a private company. I finish my degree this semester and will immediately begin studying for the CPA exams (already have the 150 units).

My question is, how many of you gained your 1-year CPA experience outside of a public firm? I’m in my thirties and I have a family. I don’t like the sound of the firm hours and poor culture, but I’m not sure if I have many other options. I know I’ll have to find a new job since no one at my current employer has a CPA license. Advice? Experience?

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 84

Mailed application! Hoping to be licensed by year-end!

[djk1112]

I have never worked in public accounting. I complete financial statements, costings, limited taxes, financial analysis, etc for a private company. In my state, your supervisor does not have to be a CPA, but you have to find a CPA who “knows” what you do on a daily basis. For me, my boss's boss is a licensed CPA (not active, meaning he does not do CPEs but he pays the annual due so his license is not expired). Only had to check off that my work involves “Accounting” and that is all that is needed.

So, check your state requirements. Pending NASBA sending my info to State which is a waiting game, I have completed all requirements and have never stepped foot in public accounting.

[Track55]

I'm 40 and hope I never set foot in a firm. I work for a publicly-traded company where everyone needs a certification so there's tons of CPA's. I hit 2,000 hours last month.

You can get hours in industry, government, etc.. If you go the government route, be careful. Not all positions provide hours even within the same agency. At the CA State Auditor, you only get hours if you're auditing the annual state budget. If you audit the university system, you don't get hours. Ditto at the Dept of Health Care Services. My friend got a position that provides hours while I interviewed for a position that did not. They were both Auditor I.

Here in CA I believe your boss and his boss need to be active CPA's completing CPE's.

AUD - 99
BEC - 83
FAR - 86
REG - 92

California - Internal Audit

CPA since December 2016.

(took seven tries, 1 year 10 months).

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[CPYay]

@djk1112… You're fortunate to live in a state that has that rule!

@Track55… Congrats on the hours. I live in CA too.

I'm glad you mentioned the gov't details. I've wanted to get into a government position because of good things I've heard about the work/life balance. I didn't know about the issues with the qualification of hours. I'll be cautious when applying. I'll definitely look into large companies too.

By the way, can I put “CPA candidate” on my resume if I'm eligible to sit for the exams?

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 84

Mailed application! Hoping to be licensed by year-end!

[Anonymous]

“By the way, can I put “CPA candidate” on my resume if I'm eligible to sit for the exams?”

not in virginia

[Track55]

@austidan – I had CPA candidate on my Linkedin and still have it on my resume. In some states you can't but in CA you can.

If you don't have Linkedin get it. I was getting contacted for interviews for companies but had already accepted a position.

In CA, the FTB, BOE, and EDD all offer hours for Tax Auditors. During my interview with the State Auditor, they said it takes 2-4 years to get hours from them since they only do the state budget once a year. Health Care Services (HCS) was a hassle. At the interview the panel didn't even know if the position offered hours. Someone finally said it did not. My friend gets hours so it depends even though it's all Auditor I.

Personally I am never leaving industry ever.

AUD - 99
BEC - 83
FAR - 86
REG - 92

California - Internal Audit

CPA since December 2016.

(took seven tries, 1 year 10 months).

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[CPYay]

So… a few people in school have asked me why I'm going for the CPA and the “Why” thread raises this too…

With experience as a Staff Accountant, what career path would a CPA put me on? Obviously I could apply for Sr. Accountant roles… but where does that lead? Accounting Manager? Controller? Anyone with a similar career path have any input?

Some people at school recommended getting into an insurance company… but that would mean another entry-level position and working up again. This person was young and is just beginning their career, whereas I'm already waist deep, in my 30's, and have a family. I really don't want to start over again. I'm already dreading going to a firm to get my experience requirement because I'd be essentially starting over too.

I suppose another question I have is… If I do end up at a firm, what are my options as far as what to apply or work toward there? With my experience, is auditing a good idea? Are there other fields I could look toward to apply what I already know instead of starting and competing with the inexperienced recent grads? The closer I get to getting my bachelor's in accounting and beginning the CPA journey, the more bewildered I get!

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 84

Mailed application! Hoping to be licensed by year-end!

[KJF1031]

If you work in corporate accounting in NY for a year under a licensed CPA, that is considered to be the “public accounting 1 year experience to be licensed” because a CPA just has to sign off on it you're saying?

BEC: Passed (8/31)
AUD: Passed (11/20)
FAR: Passed (2/26)
REG: 5/22

[Missy]

Austindan, I started out doing collections calls for Sears. Got a job doing collections for a company. Ended up learning a/p. Started college at 33 years old. Got a job as a cost accountant in manufacturing. Finished my bachelors at 38, finished my masters at 41 and finished the cpa the same year. Got a job as an accounting manager for a manufacturer for about 3 years, now a finance manager for a manufacturer. My experience probably opened as many or more doors as the CPA but together its really worked out nicely at 46 years old.

If you have experience in a particular industry your chances of moving up the ranks are better than if you're entering a different industry. For example the fact that I understand FAR (not the cpa exam, but federal acquisition regulations, when the government buys from a vendor) makes me more desirable for a company that sells to the navy than a cpa without that experience. On the other hand I've never worked for a software company and even with the cpa and years of experience, they likely want managers with industry specific experience.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[CPYay]

@KJF1031…

Correct. I believe it's the same in CA.

@mla11692…

That's awesome. Sounds like a similar path to me! That's comforting to know.

I currently work in the travel industry for an operator (not an agency) doing general accounting (GL postings, recs, statement preparation). Travel is very niche since there aren't many companies that focus solely on travel. My experience is general, thank goodness, but the specific knowledge doesn't translate well outside of this industry (and this industry is very limited in suppliers). I feel as though I need to transition NOW so I can get experience that will make me more marketable down the road. Having knowledge of FAR (like you mentioned) or some other aspect of accounting that can apply to many companies is something I desire and currently don't have.

EDIT: I should add… the pay in this industry isn't very good… and I've already been severely limited because I “don't have a degree”. I don't believe I'll get anywhere near a fair wage until I leave my current employer… and if I stay in travel, it won't be anywhere near what I'd make for a similar position elsewhere.

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 84

Mailed application! Hoping to be licensed by year-end!

[Missy]

Being able to comply with F.A.R. is a phenomenal niche, and I actually enjoy it. The book itself is about 4.5″ thick, but is a reference guide that just blows my mind. Knowing how to do cost and pricing analysis (CAPA data required for all govt purchases over $700k) is a huge asset to a subcontractor, think a small manufacturer that provides widgets to Raytheon and the like.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[marqzho]

In CA, your supervisor needs to be an active CPA but his boss doesn't have to be a CPA

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[Author]

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