[ajurew1]

I was told by a recruiter that passing the CPA exam won’t help me find a job, and employers will not take it into consideration since I don’t have the kind of experience they are looking for.

I have been working as a lease/recovery accountant since I graduated college. I read tenant leases and bill the tenants based on the terms of their leases. I have been unable to get interviews for Staff Accounting type jobs. Do I have any way out of this position and into something that offers more career growth?

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[san4596]

I see Public Accounting wanting worker bees, and Corp Accounting wanting long term employees. In Corp, you can move up fairly quickly depending on the company, but they want people that are going to make a life with them.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Shan]

@ajurew1–Well, I have to say we are having same problem! My manager and my supervisor seem not really care about it! Our office doesn't actually have a lot of CPAs so I thought I may be given more opportunities or a raise after I got my license. But, well, I am still doing what I was doing before without a raise. So I am looking for a new job too and hopefully I am not unemployed any more.

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Shan]

@ajurew1–Well, I have to say we are having same problem! My manager and my supervisor seem not really care about it! Our office doesn't actually have a lot of CPAs so I thought I may be given more opportunities or a raise after I got my license. But, well, I am still doing what I was doing before without a raise. So I am looking for a new job too and hopefully I am not unemployed any more.

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Study Monk]

“Public wants movers and shakers and corporate usually wants people that are going to stick around for a while in one position. ” -So True

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

“Public wants movers and shakers and corporate usually wants people that are going to stick around for a while in one position. ” -So True

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[ajurew1]

The first thing I was asked when I interviewed for my position was if I planned on staying for awhile in the same position.

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[ajurew1]

The first thing I was asked when I interviewed for my position was if I planned on staying for awhile in the same position.

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[Anonymous]

The training is the main reason they would want you to stick around for a while. You would have to be trained on their AS400 system, their fixed asset software, their banking websites, the general flow from department to department because everything flows into accounting. Depending on the size of the company you'll need to learn about their products, their warranty programs, their consignment accounting, etc. It would be bad business to spend the time and money training someone on all facets of the department for them to turn around and leave or move to another position.

[Anonymous]

The training is the main reason they would want you to stick around for a while. You would have to be trained on their AS400 system, their fixed asset software, their banking websites, the general flow from department to department because everything flows into accounting. Depending on the size of the company you'll need to learn about their products, their warranty programs, their consignment accounting, etc. It would be bad business to spend the time and money training someone on all facets of the department for them to turn around and leave or move to another position.

[ajurew1]

I wouldn't want to leave. Id be happy just moving to a Sr role after a few years.

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[ajurew1]

I wouldn't want to leave. Id be happy just moving to a Sr role after a few years.

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[Anonymous]

I think you'll do well ajurew1. My advice was not to make you feel like you went into the wrong career. It was to just show a different perspective from being in corporate accounting. The Atlanta job market could be completely different than where I am and other companies in my city could be completely different from the company I work for. I took temp and contract jobs to get experience in AP, AR, and Inventory accounting for 2-3 years before utilizing my MBA in a financial analyst role that ultimately pushed me back into accounting as the manager and seeking my CPA. Everyone's career path is different. You'll find that some recruiters are awful and negative and won't care about you or your career and you'll find that some really want to find the right job for you. I've had experience with both types. Good luck on your last exam and on your job search!!

[Anonymous]

I think you'll do well ajurew1. My advice was not to make you feel like you went into the wrong career. It was to just show a different perspective from being in corporate accounting. The Atlanta job market could be completely different than where I am and other companies in my city could be completely different from the company I work for. I took temp and contract jobs to get experience in AP, AR, and Inventory accounting for 2-3 years before utilizing my MBA in a financial analyst role that ultimately pushed me back into accounting as the manager and seeking my CPA. Everyone's career path is different. You'll find that some recruiters are awful and negative and won't care about you or your career and you'll find that some really want to find the right job for you. I've had experience with both types. Good luck on your last exam and on your job search!!

[How many letters do you need]

I agree with most so far. The vast majority of recruiters are crap. However, regarding the advice I semi-agree but with a big asterick. For the majority of Staff Accountant positions they are going to want some experience with hard core GL type stuff. If you have none, even with a CPA it will be difficult to obtain that position. However, to say the CPA won't help you is utter BS…Two candidates side by side with no experience and similar education…The CPA will get the nod for an interview over the other guy 100% of the time. The downside though is that the CPA still isn't a substitute for experience, especially if the company doesn't have much growth to offer and is just looking for somebody who will do the job and keep their head down. Your best bet is internal transfer with your current company or move to a company who is growing doing what you are doing and look to be promoted. Companies will very very rarely promote from the outside, because quite frankly if they wanted to promote somebody they would usually puck somebody from the inside and get some goodwill from that.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[How many letters do you need]

I agree with most so far. The vast majority of recruiters are crap. However, regarding the advice I semi-agree but with a big asterick. For the majority of Staff Accountant positions they are going to want some experience with hard core GL type stuff. If you have none, even with a CPA it will be difficult to obtain that position. However, to say the CPA won't help you is utter BS…Two candidates side by side with no experience and similar education…The CPA will get the nod for an interview over the other guy 100% of the time. The downside though is that the CPA still isn't a substitute for experience, especially if the company doesn't have much growth to offer and is just looking for somebody who will do the job and keep their head down. Your best bet is internal transfer with your current company or move to a company who is growing doing what you are doing and look to be promoted. Companies will very very rarely promote from the outside, because quite frankly if they wanted to promote somebody they would usually puck somebody from the inside and get some goodwill from that.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Author]

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