Question on how to break into the public field. Lost Cause?

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  • #190371
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I am wondering if anyone has gone the nontraditional route in getting a position at a public firm. I graduated in 2012 with a 3.2 and worked for a smaller private healthcare corporation. I passed all the sections of the CPA exam this past August and started trying to find a position with a firm but after dozens of emails, calls, and even a networking event I have come up empty. (not even 1 public interview)

    I am pretty sociable, have a good resume/cv and know my stuff in accounting but it seems like these days its either college recruiting or bust. Any advise or insight would be great. I’m located in southern CA

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #638183
    MydnightDarkfyre
    Participant

    Quite honestly – make friends with someone already in the firm and get them to submit you as a referral.

    The best way to make friends with someone already in the firm is to network, network, network. Join your local CPA chapter (for example, here in Georgia we have the GSCPA).

    The big 4 actually offer bonuses to current employees who refer people who are ultimately hired…

    FAR: 82 (Becker) 07/09/2014
    AUD: 80 (Becker) 10/01/2014
    BEC: 76 (Becker) 11/26/2014
    REG: 82 (Becker) 02/16/2015

    GA Licensed CPA 8/7/2015

    CISA: 564 (PASSED) 6/11/2016 - Certification pending

    #638184
    ymmit
    Member

    I got into public in a non-traditional manner. I graduated in 2012 with a Finance degree and average GPA. After not getting a job for about a year, I got a sh**ty temp job in an a/p department. I then started devised my plan on how to get into public with a few steps.

    – start emailing directly all small local PUBLIC accounting firms near the end of the year seeing if they need help for their tax season. It doesn't matter if they are advertising a job, most small places will need help during tax season. The partners of these small firms all have their contact info online obviously because that's how they get business.

    – once you are in a small firm, get your CPA license or at least pass a few tests.

    – after you have a few tests passed and a year experience in public, despite how bad or small your firm might be, you are actually a decent candidate for a larger firm.

    This is what I did now I am an auditor at a top ten firm with all tests passed. 16 months ago I was a finance major with no job hopes.

    That's my 2 cents and what I did, considering I knew no one in accounting.

    Licensed CPA!

    #638185
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks for the advice. I am also on the same boat. Graduated with a finance degree and had an AP position which I did not enjoy. Now I am looking to get into public accounting and get some experience.

    I am on my last exam. I'll give a shot with small firms and try to network with old college FB friends.

    #638186
    northernlights
    Participant

    Any chance you still live by the university you graduated from? The career services office at my school helps alumni find jobs, and I know the “Accounting Week” interviews were open for alumni when I participated two years ago.

    FAR: 55, 52, 66
    REG: 84*
    AUD: 54, 70, 73, 72, 79!!!
    BEC: 75*

    *expired

    #638187
    JamesBJames
    Participant

    Networking is going to be pretty vital. If someone is willing to forward your resume and vouch for you at a company, it means a lot. Like @MydnightDarkfyre said, there are often referral bonuses at larger companies for the referrer (if you're ultimately hired), so don't feel like you're being intrusive by asking. It can be mutually beneficial.

    And as for the non-traditional path — well, of the six new hires at my firm, two of them are non-traditional. One was in a completely unrelated field for 6 years and the other was in a completely unrelated field for 14 years. This is the first public accounting job either of them have had.

    Keep trying. I feel like public accounting firms are always looking for more people.

    FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
    AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
    BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
    REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

    Licensed December 2015

    Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

    #638188
    ruggercpa2b
    Participant

    One of the things my team did this year at my accounting firm was to start considering non traditional people for positions in audit. Even people without accounting degrees. One of my good friends who is one of the best auditors I know has an undergrad in Math. She did eventually go back to school to get her MBA.

    I think you have potential you will just have to work harder. I spent an evening googling regional firms and stumbled upon a list. I went to every firm's website and looked to see if there was an HR person listed. I sent my resume and cover letter for any that did not have any open job postings. I currently work at a Big 4 and am trying to make the switch to a regional firm. Like some of the people that have commented I have an undergrad in finance and then went back to school to get accounting credits to sit for the exam.

    I also signed up for a month of free LinkedIn so I could get premium access. I have used that contact recruiters. I think its completely doable but you just have to put in the time and be patient.. It has taken me 6 months to finally get an interview with a regional firm, they were one of the firms I sent an email way back in May. Now I am just waiting for the phone call to find out if I got the job or not.

    I believe MLA has posted some really good tips on job hunting on the forum. She was the reason I dedicated a weekend to just sending out resumes.

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    AUD - 1/6/18
    FAR - TBD
    REG - TBD
    BEC - TBD

    AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
    BEC - 8/20/2016
    REG - TBD
    FAR - TBD

    I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

    #638189
    Samwise
    Participant

    I'm in a similar situation and could also use some advice.

    My background: I'm almost 28, have an MBA and an Accounting degree (3.3 GPA for both) from an excellent school. I've worked at a law firm for almost 10 years now, 4 of which have been in the Accounting Department. My job is A/P at the moment. It's dreadful, not challenging whatsoever and I'm absolutely convinced a monkey could be an effective replacement for me. No doubt in my mind about that actually. (I realize this isn't the best way to portray my skills in an interview, but oh well.) Just passed my first exam (FAR), and my goal is to be completely finished by the end of May.

    I guess what I'd like to hear from others is whether I'm wasting my time attempting to pursue a position in public accounting given my age, GPA and lack of experience with respect to the field. From my understanding, it seems most of the firms hire new candidates straight out of college or hire experienced laterals. It gives me some inkling of hope that that's not the case from reading some of these posts. So what do you all think? Any advice would be great. Candid responses would also be appreciated.

    Thanks

    FAR: 84 (11/14/14)
    AUD: 90 (01/15/15)
    BEC: 82 (02/24/15)
    REG: 81 (05/09/15)

    MBA: 12/21/10
    CPA: 07/16/15 (KY)
    CMA: TBD?

    #638190
    funtimesNOT
    Member

    Given your age? don't ever worry about your age. I am 31 and starting with one of the big four. I get worried about my age, until I realize that public accounting puts you in the fast lane in any career. Ok so lets say you do public accounting for 5-7 years? then what you are 33-36? then you can take a controller position somewhere…. then guess what? you will be a young controller somewhere! Want to be partner? well my cousin was a partner at the big four for 19 year and he said there were plenty of people that he hired in there late 20s early 30s that became partner….. don't worry about your age….. it really is not that big of a deal. That being said, if you are open to learning from people that are younger than you, and a suck up your ego for 3-4 years (because trust me it is going to take a big bruise) then you are golden. I have already been in public accounting for about 1.5 years and the one main challenge was coming from something that I was the best at, better than anybody else, to kind of struggling and not picking it up fast. but if you can take some punches then go with your gut!

    AUDIT - 79
    FAR - 64, 77
    BEC - 69, 71,79 - DONE!
    REG - 60, 75

    Nothing in the 80s ; however, I worked full time the whole time! (like 10 hour days) so it can be done 🙂

    #638191
    hasy
    Participant

    I would follow ymmit. I am technically a recent graduate but I had to network and reach out to get all of mine. I recently rejected an offer from KSJG (a firm in Irvine), maybe you want to bank on that.

    However, I used a local university's job portal to find my jobs or public firms that were looking. OR OC business journal for accounting firms. Look all them up. Find the recruiter (linkedin/email). Personalize the email and cover letter. Make sure your RESUME is in TOP condition. Email it out. Follow up after a week or so. That's how I got 3 recruiters emailing me back. I had two offers. It's really how you pursue it and honestly, it's a LONG process. I've tried to learn and be extremely patient. REMEMBER, ALWAYS FOLLOW UP. That's how I got an interview.

    I wouldn't try for a regional firm in your situation, unless you think you have a shot. But going for the smaller firms and then maybe lateral transfer for a larger firm. Good luck!

    AUD - 83
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 83
    REG - 78
    BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

    FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

    AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

    REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

    Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
    -
    This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

    Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

    -

    BEC 80 (10/23/15)
    FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
    REG 52 (4/28/15)
    AUD (9/9/16)

    Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

    #638192
    Hank Scorpio
    Participant

    I was having the same problem. Nontraditional average gpa and a second career for me. I started going to every accounting event I could. I met with partners just to talk and asked what course of action I should take. I bought several lunches and eventually got a referral. That was all it took and I was hired at my current firm.

    AUD - 71, 79
    BEC - 69, 74, 75
    FAR - 71, 74, 80
    REG - 74, 78

    FAR - 10/3/16
    BEC - 69 - 10/31/16
    AUD - November 2016
    REG - December 2016

    #638193
    Hammer
    Participant

    I'm going to chalk it up to bad luck. Keep grinding, keep working at it. Assuming you want it bad enough, you'll get in. When I first graduated in 2010, I didn't land a job in public accounting. Kept applying, kept networking and finally got my chance 3 years later. It will happen if you don't give up.

    FAR - 70, 81
    AUD - 83
    BEC - 77
    REG - 70, 78

    Licensed in Ohio.

    Now what the hell do I do?

    #638194
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks for all your positive vibes guys! Anyone recommend maybe going back to school to get another crack at college recruitment? I know the general consensus is no because we already passed out cpa exams but any other thoughts or reasons?

    #638195
    GuitarSalad
    Participant

    Go back to your school's recruitment day? I say “hell yes.” That's exactly how I got my B4 offer that I'm starting next year. They're hiring me as though I were a campus recruit. Yeah, that means I'm at the bottom of the food chain (so what?). I'm also getting the 5k bonus for passing all the exams. Just be prepared to answer the questions about whether or not you can work for/with people who are younger than you. I had a built in answer because I'm doing that right now.

    I went to Meet the Firms after having passed all 4 CPA exams with a MAcc degree and an undergraduate degree in marketing from 2005. I'm 31 and will be 32 when I start next fall. I also struck out on recruiting while I was in my MAcc program. Basically, I've had a lot of the same problems that other people have listed. You can get it done!

    BEC 7/12/13 - 84
    AUD 8/31/13 - 86
    REG 4/11/14 - 84
    FAR 5/30/14 - 88

    Licensed AZ CPA - 10/2014

    #638196
    Samwise
    Participant

    Thanks for everyone's input. Good luck to everyone in similar situations!

    FAR: 84 (11/14/14)
    AUD: 90 (01/15/15)
    BEC: 82 (02/24/15)
    REG: 81 (05/09/15)

    MBA: 12/21/10
    CPA: 07/16/15 (KY)
    CMA: TBD?

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