[GTank22]

Hi all,

The situation I am in now is I began working as an “A/R specialist” a couple of years ago and recently began my endeavor of the cpa. Still being in my 20’s I am living with my family to save money/focus on studying however they are looking to retire soon so I began job seeking as a “cpa candidate” in a new area while I study.

My main focus is to work under a CPA so I can kill two birds with one stone and continue studying as well as earn the hours required by the state. Is it possible to be a viable candidate for a cpa firm’s “staff auditor” role or should I focus on something different while job hunting? I am interested in audit but I feel my resume isn’t competitive enough to get an entry-level position without those three letters.

Also I am open for suggestions if it seems I am approaching this wrong. I find audit interesting and would like to go into it but let me know if I should go about this differently.

Much appreciated and thank you,

MK

[jbergmann1]

What size of firm are you targeting? I would say most firms don't require a CPA for entry level positions since you would need experience under a CPA to get the CPA. I would also say some positions at smaller firms may say entry level but would still require 1-3 years experience.

Do you have a master's or desire to obtain one? Even though you may have the hours to sit for the CPA exam, it may be helpful to have a master's for many positions since they may prefer it. Another reason to get a master's is for campus recruiting. Many firms recruit from schools rather than people with experience with another firm so they can train you their way.

Passed all 4 parts of the CPA exam!
License application in progress

[GTank22]

I would target a large/Big 4 firm to a medium size firm which I guess would go from 50-200 people. Also I feel like that’s the running joke to have an “entry-level” position open but then demand up to three years of experience.

Before I took my current job I finished taking a “graduate certificate” course for Accounting at my local community college since it was a cheaper option at the time than the part-time MBA. So as of now I have over 150 credit hours toward the CPA in that regard. So to answer your question at the moment I do not plan on doing a master’s course unless its truly crucial.

That being said am I truly at a disadvantage while still preparing to pass the exams?

Thanks,
MK

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