Experience/Hours sign off needed

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #190869
    CPA50
    Participant

    Hiya Ninjas!

    I need some expert thinking outside the box. I have a situation which I hope isn’t totally unique, but I’m really struggling with it.

    Here goes…I’m 50, yup, 50! I have passed 2 exams and will defeat the other two in 2015.

    I have worked for myself for 14+ years, and now I find myself stuck for the 2000+ hours needed for licensure. I am trying to find a job working for a CPA, but at 50 it’s tough out there.

    I have been told that I need to be an unpaid intern (not an option – I have bills to pay!), or that I have to make the lowest salary because they are “giving” me my hours.

    I’ve started looking at private companies who may have a CPA on staff. A CPA friend of mine told me that she did this, and then found out that the people who called themselves CPAs in private companies many times didn’t actually have the license, they just had passed the exams and used the designation (grrrrr). She only found out when they refused to sign off on her hours – guess the lesson there is to always check the state boards!

    That being said, I am a CFE and have been doing fraud and forensic work as well as being a contract corporate controller. I’m afraid most places feel I’m too senior/old/expensive.

    What do I do, Ninjas?? Any ideas are most welcome!!

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 80
    REG - 80
    3 years

    + 16 tests

    + 2 expired sections

    = DONE FOREVER!

    AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
    FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
    REG 75 (expired) September 7
    BEC 72, 77

    The adventure continues...

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #635724
    Nami
    Participant

    @CPA50 In MA state, If you have master degree, you can apply for non reporting license. you do not need experience. licensed.

    Illinois CPA 02/15

    #635725
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Knowing what state you're in would definitely help. For example, in KY, you don't have to work for the CPA, the CPA just has to sign off on your work completed anywhere else. So, if you lived in KY, TN, or somewhere else nearby, you might consider becoming a KY CPA and then going on from there. Perhaps as a contract corporate controller you've gotten to know an external consultant or auditor who is a CPA who has seen your work and knows you've truly been working in accounting and would be willing to sign off, since KY doesn't require you worked for the CPA, just that the CPA can attest to the fact that you've worked. There may be other states like that as well, but since I'm in KY, that's the only one I know. 🙂

    #635726

    In Oklahoma, the person signing off on your experience doesn't have to be a CPA, but must be approved by the board. My CFO is not a CPA and she is signing off for me. Maybe call your state board and explain the situation, they might grant a waiver if you can demonstrate your work experience.

    A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

    Licensed in OK

    #635727
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    In MN, I don't think you have to actually work with the CPA, you just have to find someone willing to put their reputation on the line by signing off for you. As others have suggested, I would check with your state board to see if that is the case.

    #635728
    CPA50
    Participant

    Thanks all! I wish I lived in a flexible state 🙂

    I'm in CA.

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 80
    REG - 80
    3 years

    + 16 tests

    + 2 expired sections

    = DONE FOREVER!

    AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
    FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
    REG 75 (expired) September 7
    BEC 72, 77

    The adventure continues...

    #635729
    roruss2k8
    Member

    Hi CPA50,

    I'm actually in the same situation although I'm 48. I have a tax practice which makes it even more difficult for me because even if I get hired I have to quit when tax season comes around. Not many accountants hire when I tell them I can not work for them from Feb to Apr.

    Although I live and work in NY, I think I'm going to apply for a non-reporting MA CPA when I pass all four parts. I do not plan on signing financial statements and this way I can put CPA on my business card. I do plan to continue to try getting the work experience so when I final get that 1 year work experience requirement for NY, I'll transfer my CPA to NY. NY board requires you to meet all of their requirements to transfer to NY.

    Check my post https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/massachusetts-nonreporting-cpa-instead-of-waiting-for-work-experience-for-ny-cpa

    Best of luck

    REG 81 Nov2013
    FAR 81 Oct2014
    AUD 51 May2014, 71 Aug2014, 91 Nov2014
    BEC ?? Jan2015

    #635730
    CPA50
    Participant

    Thanks roruss! It makes me feel better that I'm not the only one going through this. It's actually giving me more anxiety than the tests 🙁

    I just got a job offer that allows me to get my hours, get sort of living wage, but it is in a field that is pretty far from my fraud work. It's also an hour away – in the opposite direction from my daughter's school. So much to consider…

    Any thoughts or advice are always welcome!

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 80
    REG - 80
    3 years

    + 16 tests

    + 2 expired sections

    = DONE FOREVER!

    AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
    FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
    REG 75 (expired) September 7
    BEC 72, 77

    The adventure continues...

    #635733
    JDGVA
    Member

    @CPA50 and On2sum – hang in there, I was in the same situation until about a week ago. I passed the final section in November of 2010 and just got my 2080 hours. I am also of an advanced age with four children, wife, mortgage, etc… and the starting salary just wasn't going to cut it. Fortunately I work for a medium size rehabilitation hospital and the Director of Corporate Finance left a year ago. Because I had been telling anyone who would listen I had passed the exams and applied for a staff accounting job within the company (didn't get it, salary issue) the CFO knew I was interested. Long story short he offered me a lessor position but with a very doable salary. I just submitted my paperwork and fees to the Board and should have license in hand next week.

    Don't give up! Once you get past the tests start marketing yourself as a CPA exam passed candidate. Eventually something will fall into place and keep leveraging your experience; someone is going to need your skills and will be able to sign off on your hours.

    REG - 83
    AUD - 83
    FAR - 84
    BEC - 79

    #635737
    NicoleL
    Participant

    Hey CPA50:

    Your route kinda depends on what you are planning to use your CPA license for. You should check what the CA board will give reciprocity for and them see if you can get licensed in a different state and transfer it. I'm in a similar situation…in NV you have to have public accounting hours to be licensed. That wasn't going to happen for me…I have a dream corporate tax job that I'm not giving up and at 45 I'm not going to start on a new career path in public…so I passed the test and sent everything off to KY. My current boss is a KY CPA and signed off on my experience. I can't quite get reciprocity but according to the rules here,as long as I'm a licensed CPA somewhere, I can put CPA on my business cards, signature, resume, etc. as long as I'm not practicing as a CPA, which, being in industry, isn't a problem.

    FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
    REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
    BEC - 87 (Whew!)
    AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

    #635738
    CPA50
    Participant

    Thanks Nicole, Great suggestion, and I'll look into if CA allows that.

    And…this is so strange!!

    I had a job interview for a Senior Accountant at a private company on Wednesday, got offered the job on Thursday.

    I think they were probably low-balling me on salary, but they said one of the benefits was my new boss was a CPA on staff who could sign off on my hours. Well, because I'm an investigator and never believe anyone, I checked her on the State Board website, and lo and behold, she was inactive.

    Meaning, all their promises were BS because I have to have an Active CPA to sign off. Good thing I checked, or I would have had a low salary and no hours.

    I have a feeling that the company didn't know she was inactive, and she probably spent Friday getting yelled at.

    Oops…I have a feeling I am not going to be welcome there anymore.

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 80
    REG - 80
    3 years

    + 16 tests

    + 2 expired sections

    = DONE FOREVER!

    AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
    FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
    REG 75 (expired) September 7
    BEC 72, 77

    The adventure continues...

    #635739
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I like most of all the state board rules in KY, very flexible! They don't even impose Ethics test at all. They honor the work experience that a candidate has gained in a period of not less than 12 months after the awarding of a baccalaureate degree.

    #635740
    CPA50
    Participant

    As an amendment…

    I have a job offer on the table, but have also received some email inquiries from previous resumes I sent.

    What's the protocol? Do I send the other companies a new email and tell them I have an offer, so if they are interested in having me work for them, they need to tell me now? Or do I assume if it's been a few days since the last email that they are not interested in pursuing me? These are all very small firms or companies.

    The issue is that the job offer is a LONG commute in the opposite direction from where I'd like to be. I'd be away from home about 14 hours a day and only get to see my daughter for an hour at night. I don't want to turn an offer down, but if there's a chance of something else opening up soon that's closer to home, I'd rather wait for it.

    How pushy do I get? A short little email reminder like, hey, remember me? If you want me, let me know.

    Is that pushy?

    Be gentle, and remember that the last time I looked for a job, my cell phone was as big as a shoebox.

    Thanks Ninjas!!

    * My LinkedIn profile should now be linked onto my user name. Try it out and link in with me 🙂

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 80
    REG - 80
    3 years

    + 16 tests

    + 2 expired sections

    = DONE FOREVER!

    AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
    FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
    REG 75 (expired) September 7
    BEC 72, 77

    The adventure continues...

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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