[jle1028]

Just curious if there are any folks here in the Pacific Northwest who are able to offer some perspective. I’m from the east coast and have been considering a change in scenery. Currently employed in industry (about 1.5 years in manufacturing) but I have zero chance of getting a license where I am … combine that with actually having four passing scores, and, well, meh. Sure, I could get another job around here, but I’m just not feeling it. I’m not looking to just up and leave at the drop of a hat, but it could be something that could happen before 2015.

I’d probably continue on in industry, mostly due to pay. (Looking at experience requirements in both Oregon and Washington, it seems I could still get licensed without public experience? Correct me if I’m mistaken.) It does mean a little compromise in what I had wanted my career path to be, but I’m enjoying industry, so it’s okay.

I guess what I’m asking is, how are the job prospects in the PNW? 🙂

REG -- 77 (11/12)
AUD -- 77 (2/13)
BEC -- 89 (4/13)
FAR -- 91 (10/13)

Roger CPA, Wiley

[Study Monk]

Maybe Colorado would be a good compromise.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Maybe Colorado would be a good compromise.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[fuzyfro89]

You should have great prospects in greater Seattle with 3 heavyweights (Microsoft, Boeing, and Starbucks), and a strong tech space overall combined with cheaper living cost than California.

Also, no state taxes in Washington, I believe. I don't know much about Oregon. Good luck!

[fuzyfro89]

You should have great prospects in greater Seattle with 3 heavyweights (Microsoft, Boeing, and Starbucks), and a strong tech space overall combined with cheaper living cost than California.

Also, no state taxes in Washington, I believe. I don't know much about Oregon. Good luck!

[seattleacct]

You don't need public accounting experience in Washington, but you do need at least a year's worth of accounting related experience working under a CPA. That shouldn't be too hard. You can email the Washington State Board of Accountancy for details. They're pretty responsive.

B:76
A:64, 73, 91!
R:77
F:76

CPAexcel, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio & Notes

[seattleacct]

You don't need public accounting experience in Washington, but you do need at least a year's worth of accounting related experience working under a CPA. That shouldn't be too hard. You can email the Washington State Board of Accountancy for details. They're pretty responsive.

B:76
A:64, 73, 91!
R:77
F:76

CPAexcel, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio & Notes

[Groud]

portland has Nike and Intel stabilizing the job market here. Need 1 year under the supervision of an active CPA. My firm is always looking to hire staff auditors (public accounting audit firm)

✓ AUD: (85) Apr2014 ~~ (87) Apr2016
✓ FAR: (74) Aug2015 ~~ (74) Oct2015 ~~ (79) Jun2016
✓ BEC: (77) Apr2015
REG: ___

[Groud]

portland has Nike and Intel stabilizing the job market here. Need 1 year under the supervision of an active CPA. My firm is always looking to hire staff auditors (public accounting audit firm)

✓ AUD: (85) Apr2014 ~~ (87) Apr2016
✓ FAR: (74) Aug2015 ~~ (74) Oct2015 ~~ (79) Jun2016
✓ BEC: (77) Apr2015
REG: ___

[Kimboroni]

I'm at a mid-size public firm in the Portland area. We always have a hard time getting quite enough staff for busy season, especially at the senior and manager levels. But I think job prospects for CPAs are pretty good over here in this area in general.

Washington has sales tax but no income tax. Oregon has no sales tax but a high income tax rate, and we don't have to pump our own gas. So I'm okay with the income tax. 🙂

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

I'm at a mid-size public firm in the Portland area. We always have a hard time getting quite enough staff for busy season, especially at the senior and manager levels. But I think job prospects for CPAs are pretty good over here in this area in general.

Washington has sales tax but no income tax. Oregon has no sales tax but a high income tax rate, and we don't have to pump our own gas. So I'm okay with the income tax. 🙂

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[tomq04]

Washington doesn't require a CPA supervisor, just someone to verify your work experience, obviously a supervisor is the best way to go. I'm going through the route of having our external accountants verify my experience.

Amazon is another big name in the Seattle area too, Spokane have some big names, Honeywell, Itron, and Keytronics, but the pay is significantly lower than Seattle. I believe Robert Half has Spokane at 85% of “normal” and Seattle at 110% of “normal”

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

[tomq04]

Washington doesn't require a CPA supervisor, just someone to verify your work experience, obviously a supervisor is the best way to go. I'm going through the route of having our external accountants verify my experience.

Amazon is another big name in the Seattle area too, Spokane have some big names, Honeywell, Itron, and Keytronics, but the pay is significantly lower than Seattle. I believe Robert Half has Spokane at 85% of “normal” and Seattle at 110% of “normal”

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

[gladrial]

I think Spokane at 85 percent of normal pay is perhaps an over estimate. Spokane has a couple of manufacting business. Try Itron or Schweitzer engineering for accounting jobs. We dont have income tax we do have a healthy sales tax 8.75 in spokane. Pushing 10 and up in Seattle.

Reg 76
Bus 82
Aud 70, 86
Far 68 ,79 ten point combo FTW
April Fools day CPA licence WA

[gladrial]

I think Spokane at 85 percent of normal pay is perhaps an over estimate. Spokane has a couple of manufacting business. Try Itron or Schweitzer engineering for accounting jobs. We dont have income tax we do have a healthy sales tax 8.75 in spokane. Pushing 10 and up in Seattle.

Reg 76
Bus 82
Aud 70, 86
Far 68 ,79 ten point combo FTW
April Fools day CPA licence WA

[jle1028]

Finally have an opportunity to reply to this. Thanks for all of the replies! It does make me feel better about my chances of making a successful move should it be the direction I choose. Honestly, with how things continue to progress around here, I'm more and more looking forward to my exploration trip in September.

@Groud and Kimboroni: Any suggestions you can make for getting my foot in the door at a public accounting firm in your area? I fear that for the same reason I am having difficulty in my area, I'll have the same troubles out there: undergrad recruiting is far far in my past. Is getting into entry level public any easier for a non-college-recruited accountant who has his 150 and a passed exam?

REG -- 77 (11/12)
AUD -- 77 (2/13)
BEC -- 89 (4/13)
FAR -- 91 (10/13)

Roger CPA, Wiley

[Author]

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