[Anonymous]

I have been reading this forum for a couple of years, but have only posted a couple of times. I need some ideas on how to find a CPA to sign off on my experience. I am in Minnesota and we do not have to directly work under a CPA, but need a CPA to sign off on my experience. I think the exact question is, “Do you believe the above information is accurate?” where the above information is the details of my experience. I worked for a family owned business as accountant for 12 years. It was a very small company and they did not use an outside CPA. I did everything from A/R to the corporate tax filings. Recently, I began working for the state. I was under the impression that my boss was a CPA, but she is not (she could be—she passed the exams years ago). Anyway, I asked a CPA in another agency to sign off on my experience and explaining my whole story of working for the family business, etc. She said she would sign off. I was so relieved. Come to find out, she thought I was only asking about my state experience and only signed off on the 6 months I have with the state and not my previous experience. I am very grateful that she did sign off on my state experience.

I am 35 weeks pregnant and I think it is bit of nesting instinct, but I want to get this finished before the baby comes. If you are a CPA or hypothetically, what would you need to feel comfortable to sign the MN experience verification form? The form is pretty basic: https://www.boa.state.mn.us/Licensing/ExperienceVerificationFILLABLE.pdf (I hope that link works). Would you need to see the financials I have prepared, the 1120, the payroll filings, reconciliations? And, are there any CPA’s with a kind and generous heart that would consider signing off on my experience? I know that is a long shot and it is a lot to ask, but I really want to get this done.

[Anonymous]

I had a coworker who is a CPA sign off on mine. Which state agency do you work for?

[Anonymous]

I work for MNIT. What agency do you work for?

[Anonymous]

Revenue

[Anonymous]

Lucky. I have been looking at Revenue job postings for over a year and it looks like they only hire from within their agency. I love tax. I actually have a tax prep business that I do on the side.

[Anonymous]

Under our union contract, everything has to be internal first, then external if it isn't filled. Plus, we have been a hiring freeze, so most of the positions posted are promotions, rather than new positions. We have a lot of open positions that we aren't able to fill right now, but there are rumors of the hiring freeze going away at the start of the next fiscal year. It isn't a terrible place to work, but if you worked at revenue, you would have to give up your tax prep business.

[Anonymous]

Is the hiring freeze just for Revenue? How flexible is your agency with working from home, etc? I am pretty happy where I am, but it is good info to have for the future.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it is other agencies, or just revenue. We do have flexibility, depending on your job function. As a field auditor, I am allowed 24 hours of telecommuting per pay period, plus situational telecommuting (before/after audits or bad weather). Other positions allow more or less depending on responsibilities.

[Author]

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