[Gronk-a-donk]

Hi All,

I wanted to get some input from neutral parties in the accounting world, as my co-workers and friends are biased in my given scenario.

I am working at a private company as a staff accountant and have been here since March. I left my previous position at a start up to find a position with a little more room for growth and, quite frankly, job security. Lo and behold, I just assisted in the layoff of 25% of the staff at my new company (about 125 people before the layoff) and the future is uncertain at best here. Since I found out I can take the necessary classes to obtain my CPA without taking on extra student loans, I wanted to use this job as a learning experience for 2-3 years while obtaining my CPA and then find work at a public firm. After the layoff, though, I started looking for jobs. Between paying for the exam and buying the materials, and the plan to propose to my girlfriend next year, I really can’t afford to be unemployed anytime soon.

Yesterday, my recruiter contacted me for an interview with a college football bowl committee which would essentially be the same position as my current spot. I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for how to proceed? I still plan to take the CPA next year and I want to get in to public accounting as soon as I can. Do you think it would be wise to try and find a new position in private with the idea that I eventually want to leave for a public firm? Or would I be better off riding it out at my current job and stick to the original plan. As a side note, my recruiter is sending my resume to smaller public firms, but nothing has come of it yet. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

FAR - Passed!
BEC - Passed!
AUD - Passed!
REG - August 2016

"Be the type of person that when your feet touch the floor in the morning, the devil says 'aww s***, they're up'" - Dwayne Johnson

[mena je twa]

Gronk!!!

honestly, recruiters rarely get any leads for public accounting jobs. The best way to get public accounting jobs is through college recruiting and net-working.

In your situation, college recruiting is out, so what you can do is seriously network with all friends, co-workers, broehters, sisters, send them an email and ask them if they have contacts. you will be surprised how effective this is.

I would not jump ship from one private company to other, if your goal is to get a public acctg job. ride this train for a bit, and see if you land something. It took me 9 months of effort, before i landed a public acctg gig from private, so hang in there.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[acamp]

How many more classes do you need to be CPA eligible and will you be taking these classes at a campus that is recruited by public accounting firms?

I would make it your mission to get into public as soon as possible. They will generally want you to be CPA eligible on day 1, but you might be able to swing an interview/offer if you can demonstrate how you'll be CPA ready by your start date.

Extra years in private will do basically nothing for your public accounting career; a best 3+ years in industry *might* equate to coming in as a “2nd year” associate, but this tends to be more of a curse than a blessing in my opinion.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Ssbknyc]

Get into public as fast as you can, do it now. If you have no public experience and jump to public from private with few private years experience, you will be a high ranking staff at best depending if you are top of the class.

if you go to public now, get you CPA while working there, you will have the public experience and probably be a senior associate by the time you pass your exams.

Done 08/2014-08/2015

[Gronk-a-donk]

@mena je twas Thanks for the advice! It seemed like an ill advised move, but I also hate the idea of another layoff hanging over my head while I work. I think I am fairly safe so I will ride it out. Thanks for the tip about recruiters for public firms!

@acamp I need 4 classes total. I am taking them through LSU Distance Learning (online) so on-campus recruiting is out. Thanks for the advice though, I will push forward for public positions!

@Ssbknyc Should I look in to associate positions for a public firm? I am 3 years out of school so I don't know if that is frowned upon. I have no qualms about starting at the bottom and moving up, I just wasn't sure if age factors in to the equation. I was a low GPA student at school (2.8/4.0) so I was hoping to get my CPA to have a work around in place for that. But I might start sending my resume in to the mid to large sized firms in the area to see if I can get a bite.

FAR - Passed!
BEC - Passed!
AUD - Passed!
REG - August 2016

"Be the type of person that when your feet touch the floor in the morning, the devil says 'aww s***, they're up'" - Dwayne Johnson

[Author]

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