[Anonymous]

Hello to all those who already have a job within Public Accounting CPA Firms, I just get a few questions regarding the entry-level job. Hopefully it won’t take too much of ur time.

Does passing all 4 CPA exams actually help u finding a job in Public Accounting CPA Firms? I know nothing is guaranteed, but will it give u a competitive edge over those who doesn’t have it?

I am a Canadian and a recent university accting graduate. I wanna work in New York City, and I don’t mind a entry-level CPA job in a small public accounting firm, so will it really help me finding a CPA job if I passed all 4 CPA exams?

Do employers expect candidates to have some audit/tax experience for entry-level positions?

Also, I need a firm to sponsor me for a TN-1 work visa, I heard canadians are a lot easier to get sponsors?

If possible, plz give me some professional advices from those experienced CPAs.

Much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

@CPA_Rookie

Lol…I thought you wrote: Anyone already in Public Accting Firms, plz GET me out of here!

I don't know the answers to all your questions, but from the many people in different positions who have given me advice, passing the CPA exams gives you a competitive edge against those who have not passed them. It definitely helps.

[Minimorty]

@CPA_Rookie – There is no need to create multiple threads on the same topic. This one works just fine.

Yes, passing the Exam gives you a competitive edge over those who havent.

In most entry-level positions, experience is not required.

Work visas are expensive, so this will put you at a disadvantage over a U.S. applicant. You'll have to show your employer why you are a better fit than the U.S. person also applying for the job.

[Anonymous]

@Minimorty: so sorry for the multiple-threads. Cuz I thought my topic was better suited for the careers section, so I tried to re-post it there, but it kept on disappearing, so I was like this was soooo weird. Promise I won't do it again, I thought it was my internet problems or something lol

I did some research on visas, Canadian TN-1 visa is a lot faster (maybe cheaper) than other foreigner's HB-1 visa, so I guess it might be better off. But I am willing to accept a lower salary rate to overcome the high visa cost, do u think that will help when I say that employers?

Also, how much does a work visa cost? Is there a website that shows it?

Thx u so much for the reply, really helped =)

[Minimorty]

No problem at all. I moved it to the Accounting Careers Forum. I'm not even sure if it matters what forum it goes in to. When I login to the site, I just see a list of topics. It seems like all the different forums are grouped into one list anyway.

I do not know much about the visas, but I guess it makes sense that Canadian visas might be cheaper and quicker. The U.S. probably has some sort of deal with the Canadian government. I had a buddy from Germany and our company sponsored him. I know it was thousands of dollars.

In terms of negotiating, I would not tell your employers that you are willing to accept a lower salary. See if they'll sponsor you first at the normal salary. If it is a dealbreaker for them, then maybe make some concessions.

[Anonymous]

omg that expensive? Was ur buddy from Germany applying for a senior level position? Maybe the cost of visa also depends on ur job levels? Like entry-level positions maybe lower?

oh man, that really discourages me.

ok, so maybe I should go to a city like New York City, where there are more foreigners than locals? Cuz that is what my aunt told me, she lives in NYC for over 20 yrs. Maybe NYC has more firms sponsoring foreigners than any other cities?

[jamesjohnson11]

I'll throw in my two cents here. Any semi large accounting firm will pretty much expect you to have work experience in audit/tax or some business position in an office. If you don't have experience you'd better have a damn good reason or excuse. I think the only way it doesn't matter too much about your work experience is if you have kick ass grades and held some type of position in a bunch of clubs.

Does the CPA exam help you get a job? Absolutely. I have two parts passed and it helped me get a job very quickly with the smaller firms. The larger firms don't really care and they expect you to have it done so they aren't impressed.

I can't really tell you anything about the visas because I don't know. But I do that when I interned in the city for a top 6 cpa firm, one of the girls was here from ireland.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Anonymous]

@jamesjohnson11: I am pretty much headed for small or mid-size CPA firms, of cuz the bigger the better. But small CPA firms would satisfy me. R u from new york city btw?

Thx a lot for ur comment =)

[Minimorty]

@CPA_Rookie – Is English your second language (French your first?).

Try to look at it from the employers standpoint. Why would the employer higher you (visa issues/expensive) or someone with equal qualifications from the U.S.? You have to give the employers that reason. Maybe its because you've passed your four exams (when you do). Maybe its because you graduated magna cum laude from a top notch school. Maybe its because you know the bosses daughter. You hyave to look for some angle that will set you apart from Joe Blow who is just like any other applicant out there.

[Anonymous]

@Minimorty: English is my first language, sorry I was just typing really fast and talking to my friends over MSN at the same time. When I looked at the forum again for new replies, I realized some of my sentences didn't flow, so I re-edited them.

But hey, thx a lot for ur tips. We get to think outside the box, right? =)

[Anonymous]

It's going to be very difficult to find an accounting firm willing to sponsor you for an TN visa but that visa would be your best shot at working here in the US. I'm sure the TN visa is relatively easier to get than the H1-B but you never know when it comes to US immigration.

The funny thing is that I live in NY and I was checking this out as well because I want to work in Montreal or Toronto in the future. I know it's probably rare for a US citizen to probably want to relocate further up north but I just want to experience because I love those cities.

All the best!

[Anonymous]

@bullandre: thx u for ur reply.

I did some detail research on TN-1 Visa for Canadians, the company doesn't even have to pay anything to hire a Canadian. All they need to do is to provide an employment letter, and the Canadian candidate would have to pay only $56 at US border to get the TN work visa!

How Much Does The TN Visa Cost?

Can u believe it? Thx to the NAFTA agreement, this would apply to u as well if u want to come to Toronto or Montreal. Just have to find a job and get an employment letter. The work visa is so cheap u could actually pay for it urself at the US & Canada border.

[valueofnothing]

a girl in my start class is getting sponsored for her HB right now… but i feel like it's definitely rare and on a case-by-case basis.

REG - 81
BEC - 88
AUD - 85
FAR - 81

[misanthrope87]

Yes it would. A lot of people in my firm don't have previous experience but they passed their tests.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[jomarie]

So where are you from in Canada? Did you ever apply for your CA? Or just went straight for the CPA? Reason why I'm wondering is I live in Canada, but I'm a US Citizen. I wish I would have known about the visa a lot soon. I may not be where I am today.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[rknight21]

Passing the CPA will definitely give you a competitive edge.

I work at a big4 member firm. One of the girls in our training was Canadian…I have volunteered for OCR and the question of sponsorship was asked way more than I would have expected. The recruiters answer every time, is that it is rare a company sponsors someone because it is expensive. It is possible because they have done it before but it is rare. Can run into the 30 grand… A guy at my firm is hoping they will sponsor him when his work visa expires and I am hoping they do. It would be sad to see him go. I believe firms are more will to do this when the employee fronts the cost.

As entry-level no experience is required but. Just have the right attitude. P.S always talk about your excel skills on your resume… Having good excel skill is better than any popular accounting software.

Why move to NYC? Like Bullandre my goal is to move to the greater toronto area within the next 5 years. My dad is a citizen there. I try to go every year. I might even go next week. I love it there… It is like a chill version of NYC.

[Author]

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