[koolkat]

I just wanted to check if there is anyone that is in a management role and sitting for the exam. I notice that a lot of candidates are taking the exam to eventually land a good job in Accounting, Audit or Finance, either students, recent graduates or folks trying to climb the ladder. However, is there anyone who already has a good job, particularly in management and sitting for the exam? I have been blessed to receive a job as an Assistant Controller, due to the Lord, opportunity and a decade’s worth of progressive experience, but struggling to passing the exam. Actually, I am motivated to pass the exam because I know that it will help me to move up a little more, plus it is the pinnacle in the world of Accounting & Finance. My inner competitor wants it for the latter, though the constant struggle has become somewhat draining. I go through peaks and valleys of motivation as I thrive off the challenge of eventually being a CPA, but then there’s the anxiety of the days following the test and then learning that I have failed again and losing credits. BUT, then it’s back to the nice job and wondering if I hold on long enough, could I have both, a good job AND the CPA! I just wanted to know if there is anyone else out there that may be going through the same thing.

2002-2003 (when it was 2 Day Test):
AUD - 69, 80, 81
LAW - 73, 73, 73
TAX- 71, 72, 67*
FAR- 66, 63, 57*
(*on 3rd try, just tried to pass AUD & LAW while getting above 50 on these;didn't work)

2012-Present:
AUD - 73, 76 (expired 01/31/14), 70 (UGH)!, 86 (4/4/15 - praise God)!!
BEC- 55, 69, 69, 78 (expired 10/31/14), 5/26/15...76!!!! AND I'M FINALLY DONE!!!
FAR- 71, 71, 70, sat 11/24/14 - 75 PASSED!
REG- 65, 67, 71, 66, sat 10/4/14; 75 PASSED!

[Micky]

I was somewhat in the same position as you last year. I switched job from public accounting to a Controller position and that is when I took the exam. My case is slightly different though as my boss emphasized the need for me to get my license eventually. It was somewhat implied to me when I was hired and gave me the much needed motivation, so I dedicated a couple of months and did literally nothing but work and study. Like you, I have dreamt of being able to put CPA right after my name since pursuing this field.

Good luck, you can do it! I think it is well worth the sacrifice you have to go through even if you are already in a high position within your company. If nothing else, it gives the right message to your entire department.

REG-89 (08/26/13)
FAR-91 (10/28/13)
BEC-87 (11/25/13)
AUD-96 (01/06/14)
Ethics-92 (12/08/13)
CPA Licensed

[Hustle Darling!]

I am not in management, but should be based on my years of professional experience. I have Big 4 and Fortune 500 experience and my peers that I worked with are all in management. I started my own business, had a baby and have been away from corporate for about 4 years. As I try to re-enter the workforce, the feedback that I am getting from my recruiter is that I should have the CPA designation with all of my wonderful experience. I am now studying for the exam full-time and plan to take my last exam in early January.

I would suggest you just hunker down and commit to passing and be done so you can move on with you life. It's the pinnacle of our profession and my experience has been that your experience doesn't matter if you haven't passed. You've passed 2 parts so you can pass them all.

EST

 

Roger CPA Review
FAR - 5/31/16

[Mamabear]

I was promoted to Accounting Manager (AKA Assistant Controller) on the condition that I would eventually get my CPA. I had to go back to school and take a bunch of accounting courses to be eligible to sit. My timeline is as follows:

May 2009–Had child #1

August to December 2010–Took 2 classes

Jan-May 2011–Took 2 classes (Failed one because I couldn't stay awake to study)

June 2011–had child #2

August 2011-December 2011–Took 2 classes

Jan 2012-May 2012–Took 2 classes

June 2012-Aug 2012–Took 2 class

September 2012-December 2012–Took 2 classes

December 2012–Had Child #3

Jan 2013-May 2013–Took 1 class and finally met the upper level accounting eligibility

August 2013–Passed BEC & Failed AUD

November 2013–Passed AUD

April 2014–Passed FAR

July 2014–Failed REG

Nov 2014–Retaking REG

So I know exactly what you are going through trying to juggle everything and having the peaks and valleys and the stress. I scared my 2 year old a lot when I burst into tears after failing REG in July. I may not know what it is like to lose a credit yet, but I know about the emotional roller coaster of this exam. I know I'm a better manager, employee, parent, and wife when I am not studying. I know that there is a reason I've missed so much for the last few years trying to get this certification. It may seem crazy now, but you'll appreciate it later. You can do this! You are just burnt out, but you have the ability to pass. You just need to want it more than you want to go drinking with your friends or attend family barbecues or see the newest movies or go to concerts or wine tastings…whatever your passions are you need to turn how you feel about those into how you feel about passing the CPA exam for the foreseeable future. Knock these last two out and move on with life. You can do it!!!!

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!!

[koolkat]

@Micky, Hustle_Darling! and MamaBear

Micky, you are right about the message to my department. I lost sight of that example for them. Congrats on being a CPA!!

Hustle_Darling!, you have your own business and studying to become CPA? Afterwards, you may not even need to re-enter the workforce, but regardless…Good Luck! Once you finish, I'm sure employers will be knocking the doors down.

MamaBear, I don't even know what to say. 3 kids, school and finishing off the CPA!!! You are the bomb! Now drop the bomb on REG! 🙂

Thank you so much for your responses and sharing your stories. I must say that I am a little disappointed that it has taken me so long. For sure, I thought that it would take me no more than 3x per exam to pass. At this point, I have lost one credit and based on the fact that my BEC expires at the end of this month and I have the other 3 exams to pass, I have literally lost 2 credits. I spend a good amount of time “going through the motions” so it looks like I'm putting towards effort, but truth be told, I kinda chump out on some of the more difficult topics vs. digging in and learning how to do them. I just paid a few more dollars to get the NINJA Notes and am going to truly try to pass all four parts since I am back square one. I hope to post some positive results in November with FAR. Here we go! 🙂

2002-2003 (when it was 2 Day Test):
AUD - 69, 80, 81
LAW - 73, 73, 73
TAX- 71, 72, 67*
FAR- 66, 63, 57*
(*on 3rd try, just tried to pass AUD & LAW while getting above 50 on these;didn't work)

2012-Present:
AUD - 73, 76 (expired 01/31/14), 70 (UGH)!, 86 (4/4/15 - praise God)!!
BEC- 55, 69, 69, 78 (expired 10/31/14), 5/26/15...76!!!! AND I'M FINALLY DONE!!!
FAR- 71, 71, 70, sat 11/24/14 - 75 PASSED!
REG- 65, 67, 71, 66, sat 10/4/14; 75 PASSED!

[Anonymous]

I spent 10 years as an Army officer, completing my MBA in years 6-8, and I now have 9+ years in Finance. I have spent almost all of my time in sales finance, which is working in a finance role on a customer facing sales team. I work primarily above the net sales line, with limited exposure to product costs or SG&A expenses.

The CMA was really easy compared to the CPA, and the MBA was easier than the CMA but took a lot longer. The CPA has been the hardest but most satisfying thing I have done in my career. With so many states now not requiring public accounting experience, a finance person without a CPA, in my opinion, is a little lazy. It took me 12 months to prepare for and take 5 exams (AUD twice), and I passed my fourth 9 months after my first.

Any dedicated and driven professional should be able to knock out the four exams in 18 months. I received my license at age 40, and now I can watch college football and baseball playoffs during my free time.

[Mamabear]

I'm always a little leery of making statements like “is a little lazy” or “any dedicated and driven professional should be able to pass in 18 months” because unless you know everything going on with a person you really can't judge whether or not they have the time to really focus on studying. I agree that if someone can find 15-20 hours a week to EFFICIENTLY study and not just go through the motions, then they should be able to pass, but I also recognize that life happens. It is not always a matter of sheer determination. There are people on here that have battled cancer while studying and passed, but that is not going to be the case for every person that could possibly go through the same scenario. Each person knows whether they are truly giving it their all, whether they are studying or just putting in a little effort, whether they can handle 5 hours of sleep a night, whether they can devote 3 hours a day to studying. I am a driven professional, but I can honestly say that without the help and support or my parents and my husband I wouldn't be able to work full time, raise 3 children, and pass this exam. I know my limitations and cannot compare myself to others based on what they can accomplish. OP–you need to determine what you want and what you're willing to do to get it.

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!!

[Author]

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