[Anonymous]

I’m currently looking to meet the 1 year working experience requirement in order to get my CPA. I currently working at a small, not-for-profit company. I work in the Accounts Receivable dept. and mainly do bank reconciliations and adjusting entries. We’re a very small firm and our Accounting dept is very small. It mainly consists of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. There are a couple of people that work in tax and internal audit, but only a couple. Like I said, we’re a very small firm.

Anyways, since my job is so low level and our accounting is so low level, I feel pretty certain that nobody there are CPAs and therefore, I cannot get certified at my current position. I doubt CPAs are working in A/P or A/R. And also, the way people act at my company too…. well, let’s just say it isn’t the most professional. So, I never bothered asking because not only might it make me look silly asking them, but also, I don’t want to expose that I’m over-qualified for my position. That could be a bad thing.

Now, I was just speaking to my neighbor, who is a former CPA. I was telling her about my issue fulfilling the work experience requirement. She said there MUST be a CPA at my firm. She said there needs to be someone higher up that’s a CPA, especially if they’re doing things like closing the books.

Is that true? Is there a good chance that someone in my firm is a CPA and can certify me?

[Anonymous]

“And talk to your career services at your alma mater. “

I'm Facebook friends with the Director of Career Services there. I'll send her a message. Thanks.

[kgirl]

“Like I said, me asking will expose that I'm overqualified for my position, so what should I do?”.

After thinking it over, I change my response to definitely try to land another position. Especially as once it's apparent that you are overqualified for your job, the organization may not mind or they may hold off on assigning any more advanced projects to you as they label you a flight risk.

Either way, good luck!

[Anonymous]

@momto5 — about your comment “Ultimately I would like to work for a CPA firm anyway, I think.”

I am thinking of that too but my thoughts are that CPA firms prefer new grads even if they say they are an equal opportunity employer. Do you know anyone who has worked in the industry for two decades but without audit experience and get an offer from a CPA firm? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

“And with tax season approaching, is there a chance you could land a position with a CPA firm and have the possibility of staying employed there after tax season?”

That's exactly why I had to turn down the CPA firm that offered me a job a month ago. I applied for a permanent position and instead they offered me a internship instead where I will work mainly in tax. They claimed there was some sort of mix up with coding of the applications and there were no more openings for the permanent position. And the internship they were offering me is only a 3 month internship, Jan-Mar, just in time for tax season. There is a chance they can hire me permanently after the 3 months, but why take that chance? I've worked in a CPA firm before during my college years. They're hire an insane amount of interns during tax season and then dump them all when tax season is over, me being one of them that was dumped. Not a good chance to take. It broke my heart to turn it down since it fulfills the work experience requirement, but I didn't want to give up my current full-time position. I get benefits and all and to give that up for a no-benefits internship that will most likely end after 3 months is not a risk I was willing to take.

[momto5]

@cheska_0222 – I am not really too familiar with any of it. I have a cousin my age that was hired at a nearby firm after graduating a couple years ago but is not a CPA, nor is she attempting the exam. I am planning to talk to her to get more insight. I live in a small town (about 9000) but am also close to a bigger city (100,000 – still small to the big city people) so I will be looking into much smaller firms than what most people are looking for. Just praying that the right thing will open up.

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[momto5]

@CPAMan – wouldn't you still need higher level accounting experience in order to get the CPA to sign off? I didn't think it was just a matter of working under a CPA, but also of getting the level of experience required. Do you know what your state's specific requirements are, or are they pretty liberal?

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

@momto5- Here in NY, it's pretty vague. All they say is that you need accounting experience under the supervision of a CPA. That's it. In fact, here's the form that the CPA licensee needs to fill out:

https://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/cpa4b.pdf

I guess what I do falls under Category E. “Bookkeeping Services.” So maybe working in A/R does qualify. I don't know. They don't say what percentage of what area you need. They just say you need accounting experience and the CPA licensee puts the % of time spent on that category. And there's even a Category K. “Other.”

Very vague.

[Anonymous]

@momto5 — thanks for your reply. That's what I am banking on too … that the right doors will open. I am thinking, just focus on passing the exam first and when that's done, then grab the opportunities that may be available. That's better than not being prepared when there are opportunities. Prayer does work for me. I know He has been guiding me…

[momto5]

@CPAMan – That's great. The state of Wisconsin has a specific statement in their rules that says “Bookkeeping and elementary individual tax return preparation are generally not considered to be qualifying experience.” So I would guess my experience in A/R, A/P, and Sales Tax would not qualify. I am figuring I would either need a promotion to a higher level or I need to find a new job.

@cheska_0222 – The Lord has guided my entire life and has not let me down yet! Sometimes He took me a different path than I expected, but He knows what He is doing! I think just like you – first things first, one step at a time. What state are you in and what are its rules for experience?

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

@momto5- That's the thing, I don't know for sure because like I said, it's too vague. I don't want to submit something that says I'm doing bookkeeping and then have it rejected because I didn't meet the minimum requirements. I'll have to see if there's someone I can email there to ask exactly what kind of experience is needed.

With that said, the career services director at my school got back to me and said she is more than willing to help me out as they have a lot more recruiters now than the time I graduated. I will see if I can get myself a better job before resorting to asking that CPA at my current company.

[Anonymous]

@momto5 – California. Pathway 2 – requires one year general accounting experience under a CPA with attest experience. General accounting experience per the state board's definition “includes providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills.”

Those applying licensure with attest experience will have another set of requirements, such as 500 hours of attest work, etc.

[Author]

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