[hili783]

I work for PwC and it is my first week working for them. I work from 8 am till 6 pm Monday to Friday.it takes about an 45 mins to drive from home to work and the same time going back home, so in total around 12 hours are out of my control. I talked to my boss about releasing me early like around 3 or 4 pm so I could have enough time to study, but he refused, so I asked him if I can study, but he also refused because I will have so much work and I won’t be able to study.

PLEASE EVERYONE, I need you advise, I am going to have my FAR exam in May and I am wondering if I should leave PwC and just get all my free time for studying, or I should keep working and give a try if I can handle both CPA and work.

FAR -
BEC -
REG -
AUD -

[Minimorty]

@mIa – ^LIKE

@CPApending – ^LIKE also

[mla1169]

CPAPending, you may not realize it right now but that dance probably did YOU far more good than you give it credit for. Something rejuvenating that is flat out necessary about it!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[katiekanton]

I gotta give Cory props for taking the heat off Hili.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[ledgermaven]

This actually was an inspirational thread to read – I don't think I can work as hard as some of you have had too – mla and others – my hats off to you~!

I'll be real careful to keep my whining down to a minimum…

[hili783]

ok everyone, I just want to clarify few things in here,

1- I am in Saudi Arabia, NOT in the USA, so it is not quite the same thing as over there in the USA.

2- Big 4's employees are mostly from foreign countries because of the lack of qualification among citizens, and the government here force companies to hire citizens and require them to have a minimum percentage of citizens in all companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

3- I am a citizen, and I have done my degree in Canada, and pursuing my CPA. so all big 4 here would be more than glad to have me with them, NOT because I am a super genius or anything like that, but because if I work for them as a citizen they will have higher percentage of Saudis working with them, which means they will receive many benefits from the government and the government will pay almost half of my salary,

4- It is NOT a busy season at all in here.

So hope people now have better understanding of my situation.

And by the way, my boss is from the USA lol

FAR -
BEC -
REG -
AUD -

[tmw0918]

Just out of curiosity did you not have sometime between graduating and starting work? I know I don't start till October 1st. It sucks because I'll have to find some flow of income once school is over but it has given me the opportunity to make studying a full-time job. Not trying to put you down btw, just curious.

[hili783]

@ tmw0918

I finished my degree last december, PwC does not have a program for new graduate to pursue their designation such as CPA or CA (in Canada).

I have seen the big 4 in Canada which I assume they are quite similar to the ones in the USA, but it is not quite the same here, here you just have to graduate and start working, and you are in your own when it comes to CPA.

the big 4 here are facing too much presure from the govenrmnet because almost %80 of workers are not Saudis and that's why I have started now

FAR -
BEC -
REG -
AUD -

[mla1169]

hili when you want it badly enough nothing will keep you from it. Until then maybe you're better off to wait on the exams unless you don't need an income right now.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Hili, do you have to be a CPA at all? It's required here in the US, but I know in Europe, for instance, it's not necessary.

[Nathan Sims]

I don't think playing the “family” card entitles someone to more respect or a tip of the hat more so than the single person doing it with nobody. For one, having to take breaks from studying to spend time with your kids/spouse is a great way to spend your time when you arent studying. Your family is probably a huge reason why you are even shooting for the CPA designation in the first place. What better than a day to day reminder of why you set out to accomplish the goal, than to see your family and spend time with them when you can. Single people have to confine themselves to a desk with not much support from immediate family. Friends are scarce, as you have no social life. The mental focus and determination it takes to stay in the game and not get discouraged is greater, in my opinion, for a person with no family. Another thing is that for those that are taking the exam, the other spouse is probably bearing the load of taking care of the children and doing the things that the other would probably be doing if not sitting for the exam. Basically, having kids and a wife is tough on time, but what better way to spend your time off from studying then with your family.

Like mla1169 said, it probably did you more good than you think. I would love to take a break from studying to go to a father daughter dance with my child. What a great way to reset and get a nice fresh perspective of the grand scheme.

Both sides of the argument have their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, they both require hardship. Studying for the CPA while being single is like solitary confinement for a year and studying with a family is like scraping the bottom of the barrel for time.

[mla1169]

NMSIMS, all I can say is I laughed out loud reading your post! You and cory are so right, poor single folks without ALL the downtime that parents get. Hell parenting is a vacation. I had no idea how easy I got off.

Also hysterical at the notion of a spouse “bearing the load”. OMG where do you come up with this stuff? Is your notion of family life based on 1950's sitcoms?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Nathan Sims]

I sympathize with all the parents. I'm not taking away from the work that they put in. Just as I think that people with families shouldnt knock the effort it takes a single person to put in. We all adapt to our situations. If all you are arguing is time, then yes, single people have more of it. But there is much more that goes into studying and life than just time. Lots of other intangibles that you are discounting.

If you can't admit that your spouse has had to do more than normal since you started this process than you are in denial.

Sorry, I take back everything I said. You deserve to be regarded as a harder worker than all single candidates. It was much harder for you than any single person out there… Does your ego feel better now?

[mla1169]

one sided elitist? What exactly is wrong with giving props to someone who does this with a family. Why are you so insecure that you believe that would negate the effort that a single puts into this exam? Its not like anybody is getting 10 points added to their score for the fact they have kids.

I think when you come down off your high horse you will see the only person coming across as bitter in even the slightest way is you.

oh and my spouse asked me to let you know you couldn't be more mistaken.

Because god forbid anybody but you should get a tip of a hat.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Nmsims, you are too big of a moron to be a CPA. I smell a troll here.

[Minimorty]

Young, single people are simply utterly clueless when it comes to children, time management and responsibilities. I'd be happy to elaborate when I get to the office.

[Author]

Replies