How to get recognized as a CPA when you've been an IT/MBA guy your whole career?

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  • #196045
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    Of course, now it’s time to start networking! I never had the intention to become a staff or senior accountant, and am really looking for a non-traditional path to utilizing the CPA. I have little financial systems experience, but I am heavy in healthcare.

    What have other candidates in their 30s and 40s done when they wanted a merge, rather than a transition, of accounting and another discipline? Of course, IT and CPA go hand-in-hand like “love and marriage”, but I want to know exactly how to recreate my resume to re-brand myself as this new guy?

    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 76
    REG - 76
    I want those initials next to my name!!!!

    FAR - 76
    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    REG - 76

    Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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  • #686708
    Skynet
    Participant

    Let me rephrase what Last Chance CPA means to say regarding IT and CPA.

    ” Of course, IT and CPA go hand-in-hand like “Love and an OPEN marriage”…..

    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

    #686709
    overapplied
    Member

    There is not a lot of space on your resume (if you are doing a one page resume) to fit all the skills. Are you planning on going the financial accounting/tax route? Are you going to bring in your IT background? Do you want to go into something like IT audit, or data analyst? Basically you need to pick your specialization, and then try to tailor your resume towards that. I chose IT audit and went that direction. There are less candidates out there who have technical and financial skillsets. The real trick is, since you are coming into the accounting career at a later date, emphasizing that you are willing to grow and learn, and start from the same point that someone just coming out of college at 22-26. You have to pay your dues.

    AUD - 75 - 07/06/2012
    FAR - 72, 74, 82 - 05/30/2013
    BEC - 84 - 01/16/2013
    REG - 60ish, 84 - 08/16/2013

    CISA - Passed

    #686710
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    CPAs generally go the audit/accounting/finance route or the IT-ish route. Both are broad and encompass a lot of different things, but this seems to be at least a general partition.

    In the 2nd area, you may spend more time on IT audits (SOC reports, SSAE, security stuff, etc.) or you could also go more of a systems and reporting route where you focus more time on developing/implementing/managing/updating management or financial reporting systems. ***it's VERY VERY helpful when the “IT guy” actually understands accounting when you are building reports and databases for reporting or analysis.

    #686711
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    @overapplied – I am actually wide open, but with the realization that I cannot completely start over at this point. That is why I am doing a fusion of IT/accounting. I just need to tailor my resume to show that I am an MBA with Software Development Life Cycle experience, but looking to merge the CPA/finance experience into all of this. I see myself heading into financial systems implementations, ERP consultancy, etc. I am looking into IT Audit and Forensics as well.

    I have a 2 page resume…

    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 76
    REG - 76
    I want those initials next to my name!!!!

    FAR - 76
    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    REG - 76

    Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

    #686712
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    I am going to keep my resume open enough, and tailor it as I apply to jobs. I am actually not the “IT guy” in that sense, but more of the business guy who has spent a lot of time within the software development life cycle, helping build/enhance software applications. I guess I have some soul searching to do still, but gotta start hitting the pavement hard with the whole networking thing…

    I wish I could just develop a product/service and go on Shark Tank 🙂

    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 76
    REG - 76
    I want those initials next to my name!!!!

    FAR - 76
    AUD - 75
    BEC - 75
    REG - 76

    Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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