Will my Big 4 Offer get Revoked?

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    Topic
  • #2704800
    Jona
    Participant

    Last year after completing my Masters degree I got a Big 4 offer. My graduate GPA was a 3.1. When submitting my application I referenced my old undergrad GPA from an older resume and just used that GPA. Since I never went back to double check my GPA for undergrad (I’ve been out about 4 years now) I assumed it was the same as my old resume (3.0). The background check came back and they stated “University was contacted to verify your 2016 Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, and a discrepancy was located. You listed your GPA as 3.0, and the school verified it as 2.86. Can you please verify which information is accurate?”

    Now I’m freaking out because I never paid too much attention to my undergrad GPA since I didn’t even think 4 years ago I’d want to be an accountant, and just went off my older resume from senior year assuming my GPA didn’t drop at all.

    Should I reach out to the recruiter? I really don’t want my offer revoked as I start work in 2 weeks, and I definitely don’t want them thinking I was intentionally trying to hide information. Unsure what to do 🙁

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)
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  • #2704935
    bigstakk
    Participant

    Sounds like you have no choice, but to explain yourself. Only issue is accounting is a profession of accuracy and so they may ding you on the fact that if you cannot even be trusted to accurately provide your GPA that you may not be fit to test the accuracy of data for a multi-billion dollar public company. Did you not take any classes at a JC or extension that may bump you up a tad that you are forgetting about?

    AUD - 81
    BEC - 87
    FAR - 80
    REG - 82
    ______________

    Ethics Exam - 90%
    Licensed CPA in CA

    #2704980
    Jona
    Participant

    That's exactly one of my concerns and I'm trying to come up with a strong defense so they don't have any doubts about me or the work I'll be able to provide. Do you think I should reach out to HR first or wait for them to reach out to me?

    I do not have other classes, but can definitely mention to them that if they would like me to increase my GPA I am open to taking other glasses to do so.

    #2705226
    say
    Participant

    That is a tough situation because these companies put a lot of weight on gpa and putting the wrong one, a 2.8 vs a 3.1 is a big difference. Fall on your sword and just say it was a mistake. You have a decent gpa for the graduate degree which is what matters. DO NOT TAKE CLASSES TO BUMP IT UP!! Im going to tell you right now that is a crock of sht! Don't waste your time or your money doing something like that. To me, and my experience, if it comes down to that there are plenty of places you can get just as good experience if not better. When you go and apologize keep it simple, don't over explain. Just state it very simply, concisely, and matter of fact. The more you go into how sorry you are and blah blah, you open the door for them to go in on you or make them suspicious. Good luck to you.

    #2705379
    Stevie
    Participant

    just say to your recruiter, “my mistake I put down my graduate gpa instead of my undergrad gpa”. I doubt that they would want to use time going through the interview/hiring process again for the immaterial 0.14 discrepancy.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 81
    (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ <('-'<) (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^
    #2706042
    Jona
    Participant

    Thanks everyone.. I'm going to give my recruiter a call on Monday and explain the situation. I'm sure the background investigation team probably already told her about this

    #2706060
    TheeAccountant
    Participant

    Maybe you rounded? LOL It asked for you to verify which one was correct. Simply tell them which it is. If they don't ask why, don't bother explaining. If they do ask why, the best explanation would be that you had looked at the wrong place for the information (ie your old resume instead of your account at the school). You can emphasize that you were unaware that it was wrong. And leave it at that. Pleading ignorance I would think might be the ideal thing, and the most truthful thing. You thought it was 3.0, you didn't realize it wasn't.

    Next time you should verify what you put on an application because a mistake on an application at most companies is grounds for termination, and it doesn't matter what you've done in the interim for them or how long you've worked for them.

    AUD - 85
    BEC - 92
    FAR - 84
    REG - 88
    I've found an anomaly in the Space-Time Continuum. NASBA and the AICPA are in the 19th century. They use slide rules to score the exam, and then they send the scores by Pony Express to the State Boards. That's why it takes so long for them to do a score release.
    #2706066
    Jona
    Participant

    @TheeAccountant so you think I should just wait until they bring something up instead of me bringing it up first? I just don't want them thinking I'm hiding anything

    #2706207
    sheskierk
    Participant

    Different question,

    But I just submitted my background check to EY. They asked for my supervisors contact information for my past job experiences. Problem is I interned at a place back in 2016, and do not have her direct line, and I don't even know if she works there still. Will this pose any problems/issues with the onboarding process? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    FAR – 76
    AUD – 77
    REG – 85
    BEC – 87

    #2706228
    SIDIEULEVEUT
    Participant

    @Jona bring it up first. I'd send the recruiter an email today to ask for the best time to talk on Monday and explain it the same way you explained it to us. Don't overexplain and keep it simple. You used your grad GPA and didn't catch the inaccuracy and then ask what the next steps would be to resolve the issue. Apologize for the inconvenience and your intention was not to be misleading. Keep it professional and don't say “sorry” too many times. I dont think you'll have any problems.

    AUD - 89
    BEC - 97
    FAR - 85
    REG - 91
    Future CPA over here. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT??????
    #2706234
    SIDIEULEVEUT
    Participant

    @Sheskierk Just google and put the phone number of the place and they'll figure it out. Put your supervisor name so the background check can ask about it. Your internship company should have evidence that you worked there even though your supervisor might not be there anymore. Background check just calls and asks if you worked there don't worry about it too much 🙂

    AUD - 89
    BEC - 97
    FAR - 85
    REG - 91
    Future CPA over here. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT??????
    #2706549
    TheeAccountant
    Participant

    I'm saying tell them which it is, and leave it at that. That's what they asked you, which one is correct? Simply respond to whoever you're supposed to respond to and say the school is correct. Unless, if you took classes at another college your aggregate score could be higher than the one at that one school, which is why they're asking. Some applications don't have space for multiple colleges. What I'm saying is don't offer an explanation of why this happened unless they ask you for it. If they care, they'll ask, if the don't care they won't, and so in which case there's no reason to volunteer information. If they do ask why the discrepancy, tell them the truth. In my case I have multiple colleges I went to. I would have had no idea what my undergraduate GPA was without asking someone at my last school for it (their computer calculated it). I actually thought my undergraduate GPA was a 3.8 and it was a 3.72 – our brains probably like to round the numbers up LOL. The two numbers are not really that different. It's not like your GPA was 2.0 and you put 3.0. If they ask why, tell them you thought it was 3.0 and in good faith that's what you put. You're surprised that it isn't 3.0 but the school must be correct. Honestly, I'm a big fan of pleading ignorance, and in this case that's really what happened. You didn't purposely lie, you didn't know. Sheesh if they're not going to hire you over 0.14 GPA, you probably didn't want to work for them anyhow. Everyone makes mistakes. The problem becomes when you don't take responsibility for the mistakes you make. Whatever you do, don't lie about it. Remember, Judge Judy says if you tell the truth you don't have to have a very good memory.

    EDIT: If you feel the need to explain why because it makes you feel better, keep it as concise, short and simple as possible. The more people ramble about something, it usually makes others think they're lying, even if they're not. You can tell them you thought it was 3.0 and are quite mortified that you made such a mistake. Or something to that effect. And then shut up. Whatever they do they will do and it will be the way things are supposed to go for you. Everything happens for a reason.

    AUD - 85
    BEC - 92
    FAR - 84
    REG - 88
    I've found an anomaly in the Space-Time Continuum. NASBA and the AICPA are in the 19th century. They use slide rules to score the exam, and then they send the scores by Pony Express to the State Boards. That's why it takes so long for them to do a score release.
    #2714424
    asdf
    Participant

    bump! any update? hope everything's going well!

    FAR - Passed

    REG - Passed

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    BEC - July 2020 - PASSSSED!!!!!

    -----------------------------------------

    PETH - Oct 2020 - Passed  😉

    #2714628
    Journeyman
    Participant

    Integrity is a big deal, there are no shortage of young, motivated, highly successful (academically for the most part) new accountants wanting to get in. I would be proactive, answer the question that the lower one is correct and you mistakenly put the wrong GPA for the Undergrad but correct one for your Graduate. I would follow TheeAccountant’s advice and just state it very as a matter of fact and straightforward.

    The question is, would they have given you an offer initially if you had originally reported it correctly? At this point, the best thing, and only thing you can do is answer the question and let them make their decision. Trust me on this though, you want to have input so be proactive and reach out, don’t let them have the conversation when all they have to go off of is they think you intentionally lied on your resume.

    I wish you the best, I think it is more likely than not that you will be okay. Reach out to your recruiter sooner rather than later. Keep us posted.

    AUD - 87
    BEC - 81
    FAR - 78
    REG - 87
     

     

    #2714679
    Recked
    Participant

    I can't really offer any advice but I usually round as well.
    I had 68 credits with a 3.2159 GPA and 58 with a 2.96 GPA.
    I usually just say a 3.0
    Waiting to hear how you made out with this.

    Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

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    #2714805
    Jona
    Participant

    Thanks for pitching in everyone. I called my recruiter earlier this week and left a voicemail because I thought chatting on the phone would be better than email, but I have yet to hear back from her. Unsure on if they're just busy with recruiting or discussing this matter.

    I think I do need to send an email and hopefully she responds to that?

    Unless they just found out about the GPA and didn't care..but I doubt it?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)
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