[Anonymous]

Every time I visit my relatives and they ask me how work is, I tell them that work is good, but it’s just busy. Then they ALWAYS reply, “Yeah, it must be busy especially at tax season!” Since I work in Financial Accounting, not Tax, I don’t get affected by tax season. I explain to my relatives about that and they just say, “Oh I see.” And then a few months later when I visit them again, they ask me, “So how’s tax season treating ya?” And I correct them again! And the next time I visit them again, they have another “tax season” comment to make. Then lather, rinse, and repeat.

I mean, ok, you made the mistake once or twice, but after a while, I’m like grrrrrrrr!!!! Why does everyone insist that Accounting is just tax work? We can do audit, tax, finance, forensic, etc…. Don’t people understand that??

[FlipACoin]

I think a lot of old people think that way. Really, for anybody who haven't been directly exposed to corporate america, the first thing they associate accounts with (and especially CPA accountants) are taxes.

I actually worked in corporate finance for a few years and the first thing I always got when I told people I was in finance “oh so you do lending!”…and then I say “No…Corporate Finance”….”Oh so you lend to companies!”…….after a while, I just sighed and let them believe it. It was kind of funny until I started getting hit up for a good mortgage rate….

[CPA_Runner]

I have completely given up explaining my job to people lol (external reporting).

AUD - 80 (05/23/2012)
FAR - 75 (08/09/2012)
BEC - 81 (12/05/2012)
REG - 71 (10/16/2012); 70 (02/12/2013); 78 (04/08/2013)
Ethics - 98

[KelzMS]

Haha I know what you mean. I work at a small firm and we do taxes but we do lots of other things too. After tax season last year everyone kept asking me what I was doing now that tax season was over. I kept trying to explain that isn't all we do but they never seemed to understand. I would always hear I thought accountants just worked during tax season and then relaxed the rest of the year doing nothing. Not all of them! Drove me crazy. I don't hear it as much anymore though thank goodness. 🙂

B-Passed
A-Passed
R-Passed
F-Passed

[Anonymous]

Its even worse when I tell people I'm an auditor for the government. If the person doesnt know me well, they immediately think I work for the IRS even though I audit state agencies. It goes like this:

“what do you do”

“I audit for the government”

“Oh, the IRS?”

“No, we actually do compliance audits of government agencies”

“Well dont audit me! My taxes are fine”

(shake my head and change the convo) “How about dem O's?”

[MRSJLeon917]

Try working in Tax but not on individuals. People don't understand that I don't know all of their burning individual tax questions since I don't even do my own tax return (I make my husband, the electrician, do our tax return). They also don't understand the concept that corporate taxes typically get extended to September so I'm super busy in the summer and then in January for year-end close.

I'm dealing with the “oh because it's tax season, right?” comments now since I tell people work is really busy and it's January. I do love the dumbfounded look on people's faces though when I tell them I'm not busy in March!

AUD (5/25/2012): 91
FAR (10/22/2012): 89
REG (11/28/2012): 89
BEC (01/05/2013): 82
Ethics Exam: 90

IL Licensed CPA - 7/15/2013

A long journey, officially DONE!

[littlenumberrobot]

I work in tax… my boyrfiend is an auditor for a public accounting firm. He audits cities, counties and some public companies. Poor guy, all my friends think his busy season is same as mine!! It's my fault 🙁

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[musicamor]

I work in corporate accounting/financial reporting and I do taxes on the side. When ignorant people ask those questions, I just go along with it instead of trying to explain it to them–it's easier that way.

I am glad to see some other corporate accounting folks on here. I though A71 was nothing but public accounting folks; more specifically tax folks.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[MrsBing]

I get the same thing, I'm in corporate finance and even my husband does it to me. Since I'm working towards my CPA, he'll be like, ‘You can open up your own CPA Firm and do taxes'. I know nothing about taxes and what makes it worse is I do our taxes, so I must know everything there is to know.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Florida_Gator_Girl]

It is a very good question! I am not sure why people think that we are tax accountants if we are CPAs. I can tell you that I am certainly not a tax guru. 🙂

Another thing I find interesting is we look for a job after college and we think it's all these choices and it is tough. I have recently had to face it from another angle – I am an employer and looking for a Staff accountant to add to my team of professionals and it is a lot harder to find someone than to find a position. Orlando is a rather small market so it had been rather interesting.

[FlipACoin]

FloridaGatorGirl….try to just steal people from Darden:) They have some pretty good Accounting/Finance folks over that way….

Musicamor…agreed! It is nice to see that there are others in the corp accounting/finance arena who understand the importance of the CPA for non public accounting uses. I never plan to be in public accounting (outside of perhaps an advisory role if an interesting opportunity presents itself) and may not even spend much time in corporate accounting, but as I consider higher level finance roles the CPA is absolutely critical unless you want to get stuck in a niche role (like Director of Analytics or something along those lines)…

[mla1169]

I've only ever worked in corporate but would love to do tax on the side, I love that I could do it from my own home for friends/family/local small businesses and make a few extra bucks but not be committed to it all year.

My problem is even though I am a CPA and I suppose COULD do others taxes I'm terrified to just jump into it since I have no experience. I don't want a tax “job” though even to get the experience. Would love to just do a couple and have someone check them over for me.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes people think that CPA = doing taxes. It all depends on who is asking then I will try my best to answer the question pointing out the “huge” differences and tasks that a CPA can/may perform.

That would be like asking coach to be your coach (but then you are a 400m runner and the coach you are talking to is only coaching cheerleading has no interest or experience coaching runners let alone a quarter miler))

I was talking to a guy who went to Yale and he said “…..Name so you do taxes?” I just smiled, no answer.

I could use what I learned in my Macc program (had to complete both individual and corporate returns) to to taxes but then if someone does not look it over…..well chances are that person tax may be wrong/audited. I would definately want to learn how to do taxes at a very high level though.

[nimmle02]

Because people suck….sometimes

REG - 5/21/2012 - 85
FAR - 7/24/2012 - 86
BEC - 8/27/2012 - 85
AUD - 10/5/2012 - 72....rematch 1/3/13 (waiting)

[Anonymous]

I just find it weird that people tend to associate accountants with taxes. You would think most people would associate accountants with financial statements, if anything. Very weird!! Many people, who are not accountants, do taxes so I don't understand why people would automatically think that way.

Since I work in financial accounting, I get affected by year-end, not tax season. It's very odd how people always think of “tax season” and never year-end and MANY accountants are busy during that time too. I just don't understand people sometimes.

[littlenumberrobot]

I don't think the outsiders even know what financial statements are unfortunately. I guess we have a career ahead of humoring people and their silly questions. (like my friend who asked if there was a tax deduction for his hair cuts! lol)

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Author]

Replies