[Elaine]

I’ve been working as a financial assistant for 2 weeks now at a private company going public next year. Pay is much better than my previous internship, and I’m given more responsibilities and much more direct contact with the controller, so I am liking it.

The problem is with my hours. During the interview, I told my now-boss that I was looking for a position where I could get my hours signed off by an active CPA, and she said the CPA, who had been doing taxes for the company, could do it for me since she is not a CPA. That sounded good to me, the pay was better and she seemed excited about me, so I accepted the job. Well apparently, it turns out that she wasn’t 100% sure about it and that tax CPA told me 2 days ago that he felt uncomfortable to sign off my hours at this company without my working for him directly. So my boss said she would look for other CPAs that she knew.

I like everything about my job, but this annoys me to be honest. I told her before and during the interview that I wanted my hours to get signed off, to which she said it was possible, and now I’m not sure if any CPA would be willing to sign off my hours worked at a non-associated company. And I want to get a year of experience fulfilled before the rules change in 2014 for CA. What should I do? Wait until she finds a CPA who can sign my hours, or look for a new job? :/ Thanks for reading!

[littlenumberrobot]

Elaine – I don't think you can just have any CPA sign off hours in CA. I have looked into this in great detail. I believe they have to oversee and review your work. Look the the CA CBA website for details. I would post the link but everytime I do, my post doesnt show up.

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[mla1169]

I'd look for a new job. Your boss sounds like he/she would say ANYTHING even without knowing any facts, that's a bad omen of things to come. But common sense really screams loud here, to think a CPA would sign off on hours they did not observe directly. Sure there may be a few who would, but I'd question their ethics.

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[Sandra]

In WA state its totally ok for an external CPA to sign off. I already have the hour certification part done and it was signed off my the companys external tax guy. Maybe your boss is not originally from CA and was just confused? Ultimately though I think getting a new job will be your only option unless you can get a CPA in CA to somehow agree to do it. Sounds like its much more strict for you guys.

[Elaine]

I interviewed with another company too, and their staff accountant (who had worked there for a year) said his hours could get signed off by an auditor who worked with the company. That's why I thought that was possible… Well, I'm partly to blame for not doing a detailed research, and I guess I will stat a job search again. =(

[Tux]

Don't put your career in the hands of your boss.

1 – start looking for another job

2 – in the meantime, try to find out if you can get an external CPA to sign off on your work. If so, you may not need a new job, but it might cost you money to “hire” a CPA that will review your work and sign off on it. Or, that may not even be allowed ??

Contact your board to find out the details

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[Elaine]

I too don't think it's possible to get an external CPA's help. I am in California, btw. Thanks guys for your opinion!! 🙂

[NYC_CPA]

I also had a similar situation, whereas, my previous employer was not a CPA and we had an external CPA come once a year to perform a review. When I asked NYS about this, here is NYS's response(word for word) :

“If the outside CPA is reviewing work once a year and not at any other time during the calendar year the outside contracted CPA may only sign off on the amount of time he/she has determined that it took for your to prepare the paperwork being reviewed.

For example –

At the year end for each year he/she is reviewing your work the CPA needs to make a determination on how long it took for you to prepare the paperwork. (Example year 2012 – 4 weeks). “

Hopefully this somewhat helps.

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[Elaine]

Thanks NChoney for your input! I'll keep that in mind 🙂

[Author]

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