How to become Controller without public accounting experiance

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  • #189555
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi everyone! I want everybody’s 0.02 on this! Is it possible to move up the career ladder up to a Controller without the public accounting experience, but having the CPA license? I work as an accountant, my public accounting experience is limited to two internships doing taxes. I am thinking, maybe I should get the CPA (I am working on that now) and go work as an auditor for a while… In my company it seems they promote their own accountants rarely (even those with years of experience and who’s been loyal to the company for a long time), instead they always hire someone from the outside, but who has public accounting experience and make them managers and controllers… Is there any way to get promoted beyond Sr. Accountant without having experience as an auditor???

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  • #617813
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yes. It just depends on the company and your specific skills. I don't know if you could be a Controller in a Fortune 500 without public auditing experience, because I've never worked at a Fortune 500, but outside of that realm you definitely can be a controller without public audit experience; however, it would have to be with a company that doesn't require it (whether officially or unofficially).

    #617814

    It sounds like your company just doesn't practice promoting from within very much. How much experience in corporate do you have? Unless you are stuck on your existing company for whatever reason, and you have anywhere near the 5 year mark in total accounting experience and 2+ years at current company you should consider getting your CPA and hitting up a supervisor or manager position elsewhere. I think you are more than qualified. As for getting to controller….I'd be lying to you if I said public won't help you get there a little quicker…but years of experience in the same industry as whoever you are applying to will usually get you to the same level. Me personally. ..unless you can get into big4 specifically….I would just go the industry route.

    MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

    #617815
    jkpoker1
    Member

    I'm sure you could become a controller at a smaller non-public company. I would focus on gaing experience in the industry you want to work in. Also getting an MBA + CPA/CMA would be really helpful. Typically when I see controller postings, many want a CPA with experience in public accounting. CPA is best route to become controller but I feel MBA+CMA or just MBA would work.

    I had an internship and the company controller only had an mba. It was a smaller company with maybe 40 employees and maybe 6 million in annual revenues so take that for what it is. I would try to get CPA if I was you and it won't be too stressful for your life. You will be much more likely to become a controller with a CPA.

    Quest to be a CPA

    BEC-74 (7/13),
    REG- ?? (8/13)
    AUD-TBA
    FAR-TBA

    #617816
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    Of course you can, it just takes hard work, luck, politics and upper management liking you. If you stay at a company and are good, while others leave or retire its doable. I've worked at two places where the controllers weren't even a cpas

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #617817
    VR
    Participant

    Of course you can, even without CPA…. At my last company, CFO had just associates degree + 30 yrs. exp. in distributing industry. On the other hand, CEO had 2 yrs. of public accounting experience and no CPA. The company had 200 employees and 74 mln. in annual sales. In addition, just 4 people out of 10 in accounting department had background in accounting….. For that reason, I had plenty of work fixing other people mistakes, because they didn't make difference between DR. and CR. CFO and CEO were not very happy when they found out that I will pursue CPA…

    #617818
    mla1169
    Participant

    I was a controller for a small sole proprietorship. Public companies seem to only want those with big 4 experience (generally, not a hard and fast rule.) and there are many companies who only hire externally for upper management positions. That's why when interviewing it's so important to ask why the position is available, if it's because a predecessor got promoted, that's a great sign!

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #617819
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    As a current controller, there are a few questions I'd ask if I was to ever do this again:

    1. If I determine the problem is you (boss) or your family, how would you feel about that and what would you be willing to do about it?

    2. Do you have any family members working here? If so, what are their positions?

    There are other questions, but these would be my first two.

    If they hemmed and hawed at the first question, I'd thank them for their time and tell them it's just not a good fit.

    If their answer to the second question was “yes”, I'd inquire further. If they can't accept that they or their family might be THE problem, it's not the place for me. (Most of the time the problem(s) is/are in fact them and/or their family – and most of the time you are on the losing end)

    It's been a rough couple of assignments – but I've learned to set my sights and expectations higher for both myself and my employer. I've learned that I can't care more about their business than they care about it themselves.

    #617820
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    You sure can.

    I interviewed with a bunch of controllers/SVPs at one Fortune 50 and one Fortune 500. About half of them did not half ANY public experience nor did they their CPAs. Of the half that made the jump from public, half of them did not have Big 4 experience.

    Having the CPA isn't necessarily a golden ticket, nor is the often touted “Big 4 experience”. Soft skills, solid technical skills, and oftentimes political skills are all definitely more important than the license.

    Having all the above AND a CPA is the fast track to the top.

    #617821

    I am currently the controller for a medium sized county hospital. I have always worked in industry (credit union, radio station, government contractor-senior accountant, and was a financial analyst at another hospital) and it wasn't until I interviewed here that they encouraged me to get a CPA. It can be done, you just have to show them that you can do it.

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

    Licensed in OK

    #617822
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    That's my first year with the company. I am just looking at other accountants and what's going on in our department trying to figure out the company's policy and to come up with my next move – which is when I get the CPA, should I go to a public accounting firm, or stay here and see what happens.

    #617823
    musicamor
    Member

    MKE Accountant…do you want to stay with your current company? Have you inquired as to what will be required for you to be promoted to the Controller role at your current company? I believe knowing the answers to these questions will better prepare you for the decision between staying or seeking out another opportunity in Public.

    Generally, having a background in public accounting – Big 4 especially – is an invaluable resume trait. It is also good for your career as an industry accountant, be it Controller, Director of Finance, Technical Accounting Manager, etc. Your career will be exponentially enriched by going into public accounting. If you have a desire to work for a larger, publicly-traded company, public accounting will be required; even Big 4 could be required.

    My background in public accounting was one of the factors my current employer considered when making me an offer for the Controller position. I don't have a Big 4 background and that has kept my from being a candidate for certain positions.

    Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

    #617824
    Kls238
    Member

    Tailor your resume to match your strengths/other experiences with every other piece of that job description. Also, master how to interview. If you get an interview despite not having their desired experience, it's up to you to convince them that they should choose you. I think it can be doable.

    Passed all sections.

    #617825
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Finally it's official and I can post here – today I officially accepted a Controller position at a small college. I have 1 year of “public” experience, but it's tax, not audit, so doesn't fulfill the real “public” experience desires. So, yes, you can become controller. However, a large public company is more likely to require public audit experience.

    #617826
    tomq04
    Participant

    Congrats!

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

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