Fellow CPAs Need some Career Advise

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  • #195705
    csvirk
    Participant

    I am working as a billing specialist with an outsourcing company on a temp basis. Today my Supervisor offered me a full time job for 15/hour with basic benefits. Currently I am studding for CPA and very interested to work in public accounting field. What do you guys recommend, Should I accept the offer and keep looking for public accounting jobs or let go this offer? I have until Monday 08/03/2015 to decide. Also the pay is very low and there are very limited to no career advancement in this company. I am in Philadelphia, PA area if this is relevant to anyone.

    So all the fellow CPAs, What would you recommendation or advise whether leave this job and start looking for another or Just keep this job and keep knocking doors or Public Accounting companies.

    I am trying really hard to get myself into public accounting as this is what I always wanted to do. I have finished my 150 credit requirement in undergrad year from an alright school with 3.2 GPA.

    Any suggestions or Advise will be much appreciate. Thank you for taking your time for reading this. Looking forward to hear from you guys.

    ***This is my first post ever on this forum so please excuse if I am breaking any rules***

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Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • #684966
    Missy
    Participant

    It depends.

    If you're a recent grad who lives with your parents and have only been looking for work for a month, pass on this one.

    If you've been applying and looking for jobs since the beginning of the year and this is your first offer, take it.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #684967
    Jive36
    Participant

    If it were me I would accept the offer and keep looking for public accounting jobs. If you are having a difficult time drawing the attention of public firms continue studying for the CPA. I know several people that were in your shoes and once they had a couple of parts of the CPA under there belt they had multiple offers from public firms.

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    #684968
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Some more information would be helpful like if you're a recent grad, have passed any parts of the exam, etc. If public accounting is your ultimate goal, explore every avenue to get into public. It's hard work and you could get a bunch of rejections, but that's life and you have to keep at it. Being an accounting manager in the Philly area, you are being paid relatively low, but I don't know what kind of industry you're in and your qualifications. For now, I would accept the position, keep looking for a position in public and keep studying. If you're successful and find a position in public, leave your current position without any regrets because it's the best thing you can do for yourself. Good luck!

    #684969
    1koolcat
    Participant

    It doesn't sound like your current job will qualify for your 1 year experience requirement, so at some point, you will have to find another job. However, you don't want to leave this job just yet, because the rumor is true–it's easier to find another job while you are already employed. Also, this makes for an easy interview answer to “Why did you leave your last position?” Because I need one year's experience under/validated by a CPA (I'm not exactly sure what PA standards are) in order to get my license and this job had no advancement potential that would satisfy state requirements.

    You need to consider the complexity of your current job. If you are being offered a permanent position, you already have a handle on what it takes to do this job. If you have to learn a new job, that will take time, brain power, and physical energy away from studying. So maybe working an easier job is what you need to do right now.

    Your supervisor has at least 2 reasons for offering you a job–1) you're a good employee and a good fit, but 2) the company has to pay the outsourcing company several dollars per hour on top of your current salary. So if you are making $15/hr with no benefits, the company probably has to pay the temp agency at least $20/hr. So your supervisor could be saving money by hiring you full-time.

    I would be honest with your supervisor. Eventually you need to leave and if the right job comes up, you will take it. But for now, continue to work in billing and continue to look for public accounting work. They may decide to hire you with benefits anyway. You may be able to get something part-time/temp helping out during tax season. Even if that doesn't turn into something permanent, you will have met some more CPAs who could be future references.

    Word of caution: do NOT get complacent and stay in this job and stop studying. Keep your eye on the prize. This job will just help pay your bills along the way. Also, do NOT burn any bridges. Philly may be big, but it's not so big that you'll never see these people again. Be upfront, be professional, be excellent.

    Good luck!

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    #684970
    Tscape16
    Participant

    @csvirk

    Keep looking. 150 Credits and a 3.2 GPA will get you plenty of offers at larger firms.

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    #684971
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @1Koolcat

    You should check the experience requirement before you just assume it doesn't qualify. I don't know anything about PA but I wouldn't just assume the experience doesn't count because In Iowa it says:

    1 year (2,000 hours) of public or non-public accounting experience verified by an active CPA (does not need to be supervisor)

    It also goes on to say the experience can be part time and any kind of accounting function qualifies. So if PA is similar to IA their current position would count.

    I was in a similar situation. Working at a small manufacturing company. I stayed there as a staff accountant and was just hired two years later as a senior staff accountant at a larger private company. I may never work public but I feel like I'm going down a similar path. In my opinion Csvirk I would take the position. The more work experience you have the easier it is to get the next job. I didn't start anywhere close to a position I thought I would have but 3 years out of college I'm exceeding where I thought I would be.

    #684972
    1koolcat
    Participant

    Ajmallie,

    You're right, I am assuming the experience doesn't count based on my state's requirements (needs to be under direct supervision of a CPA with notarized affidavit stating so) and also my 7 years' experience as a billing specialist. Csvirk may have more accounting duties than I did and maybe there is a CPA at the company who would attest to that. Csvirk would be prudent to check with the state board, because that is who will ultimately accept or reject the application.

    AUD - 77
    REG - 73, 80
    FAR - 69, 73, 79 and DONE!
    BEC - 82

    #684973
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    In PA, it's the 120/2 years or 150/1 yr rule. Supervisor must be CPA. Lucky for me, I passed a couple of parts in 2009 before a new job got the best of me.

    Per the PICPA:

    If you didn’t pass one part of the exam before December 2011, you fall under the 150 hours and one year requirements.

    If you passed one part of the exam before December 2011, you can obtain your CPA certificate even if the CPA Exam credit expired.

    #684974
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Accept the offer, keep studying and look for your dream job.

    #684975
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    If you are offered a job that does not interfere with your studying, take it. If you keep it, great, sounds like you got a raise, and as someone mentioned, it is easier to find work while employed. If you want to be in public, great. Public will look good on your resume, as with any job in the field to help you land that job in public.

    Might be a blessing to avoid public while studying. It's doable but unimaginable to me to study while working those hours.

    #684976
    csvirk
    Participant

    @mla11692 @Jive36 @dankpsu @Tscape16 @1koolcat @dankpsu @ajmallie @CalCPA @coloradorit

    Thank you so much for your suggestions. Your suggestions really helped and kept me motivated. I am going to keep this job and keep studying since this company is very flexible with my studies and I am able to allocate extra time to my studies.

    Here is the missing Information, I have graduated in beginning of this year and this is my first job offer. My first FAR exam is in end of august and I am going to put extra effort to pass it since it's the most hardest.

    Again thank you so much for taking your time. I really appreciate that. HiYA!

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 86
    FAR - 77
    REG - 84
    Hardwork will always pay off!

    FAR: 71, 77!
    AUD: 69, 80
    BEC: 72
    REG: 84

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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