[Terp14]

Hey all,

I’m a recently graduated Accounting/ Finance major with the requisite credits to sit for the CPA exam. I’m also working for a Big 4 firm, on the strategy consulting side, starting in early October. I had planned on taking three parts of the CPA exam and retaking the GMAT (710 first time, but an ugly “split”) in the four months I have before I start working, but upon further researching the work experience requirement, I’m unsure if the majority of the experience that I will be getting will qualify (while I will be doing management advisory work, its more-so focused on business strategy and operations…although I could get a lot of finance work due to my background). Furthermore, 99% of the people working above me in my division are NOT CPAs (who I need to endorse my application). In order to get licensed in my state, I need an active CPA to endorse 1 year worth of relevant experience, and I’m worried that my experience will not qualify AND I won’t have a supervisor who is a CPA.

My question, then, is taking the exam worthwhile for a candidate like me? I have no question that I will be able to pass the exam provided I put in the required work, but I am worried that the only way I could actually get a license is to either switch companies or switch lines of service at some point (which I don’t want to do). Obviously, I’m a little iffy about spending the time and money preparing for the exam when I may not be able to even become a CPA without derailing a potential career in management consulting, but it has always been a professional goal of mine to get the CPA, and I know the value it can have in the long-term for my career. I’ve talked to numerous people about my situation already, but I’m still very conflicted, and I don’t have long to decide, so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ahugemistake]

If you have the time take the exam, you never know where your career will take you and having the exams out of the way will be a big boost, and later getting licensed will immensely help your professional progress.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[WanderingAcct]

If you are going to work at Big 4, I think you should go talk to someone in HR or your recruiter. They should be able to tell you the preferred credentials for your service line and they may be able to tell you if you can get the CPA experience requirement done in your job position (they should know if other people have done it before). And at the very least they can tell you if you are eligible for a review course and exam fees paid for by the firm. If you are eligible, then the above poster, ahugemistake, makes a good point that you can get the exam out of the way now and see later if you fulfill the experience requirement.

FAR - 99 (5/14)
AUD - 89 (8/14)
REG - 93 (4/15)
BEC - 5/18/15

NINJA Framework: Ninja Notes & Becker

[mla1169]

You need to call your state board and ask these questions. In some states the work requirement is very broad spectrum and the person who signs off need not be your direct supervisor as long as they are familiar with your work. In other states the requirements are more specific. I'd get the answers from the source to be sure.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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