[LL Cool Jim]

Hi All,

I need some advice. I’m 38 years old, yes, I know I’m a tad late to the CPA game. Nevertheless, I’m one test away from passing all 4 parts. I have AUD left and I’m taking that in August. I’m currently employed but does not work under a CPA nor in the accounting or tax field. Will accounting firms hire someone like me that has years of work experience? I need to get the one year work experience in public or under a CPA to get license.

FAR Done
REG Done
BEC Done

[Nessie]

Some states don’t require the experience, but no, it is never too late to learn and having experience in another field will give you an advantage. Imagine if you were to audit a company in a field similar to your previous experience. I think that would be big plus. A lot of hiring occurs between the fall and Christmas with the larger firms, so keep that in mind. I think the big firms like to hire younger people, but they also like to hire some more seasoned employees as well.

You know a great way to get an introduction is through the accounting partner who does work for your current employer. Ask the man or woman who signs your company’s tax returns or does the audit to get you an introduction. That’s how I was hired.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[bhunt815]

I'm 47 and half way through. You're a youngster.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[ultrarunner]

I'm in my 40s. I just passed my last section. Some employees in my accounting dept. are over 50s. Most of them are not CPAs, but they are making good money. If I were you, I would start looking for accounting job. I became accountant in my mid 30s. It could happen. Good luck!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Track55]

I'm 40. It took me a year after graduation to find a job. You only need to work for a cpa. It doesn't have to be at a firm.

I reached 2,000 hours last March.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[fuzyfro89]

Unless you plan to retire early, you have 20+ years left in your career. So no, it's not too late…

Since you are not in school, you will have to network and get in through non-traditional channels. No easy or clean way but to start introducing yourself to people and eventually get referrals.

[Anonymous]

The short answer to your question is “yes.” With the CPA license you have demonstrated that you have a command of the subject matter that public accounting firms deal with on a daily basis. I’m 38 years ‘young’ and have been in public accounting for the last 10 plus years and finally got started with the cpa exam last year. I will finish up by the end of this year. Public accounting is a great place to learn all of facets of accounting – tax compliance, bookkeeping, auditing, financial reporting, business advisory and everything else in between, and think it's a good place to start.

[LL Cool Jim]

Thank you all for the advise.

FAR Done
REG Done
BEC Done

[Lost1]

Absolutely. Small firms will hire you. Small firms value long term employees and people know older candidates tend to be more mature in terms of being dedicated and looking for long term opportunities. Demonstrate that you can learn quickly and you are detail oriented. Be proficient in MS Excel (be able to use functions to manipulate data). My advice is to consider a tax career, especially a niche market – estate or partnerships. If you can pump out better quality returns in a more efficient manner than everyone, you are a rockstar, period. It's all about how much you want it. Believe me, if you want it more than anyone else, and put in more work than anyone else, you will surpass your seniors and managers in technical knowledge quicker than you think. Most tax accountants either don't have the motivation to do more than mindlessly copying prior year returns, or intellectually incapable of learning the concepts and applying them in a creative fashion. If you can think at work, not just do, you will be a superstar. Just trust.

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[Author]

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