[Anonymous]

Currently, I work as an auditor and for the most part I review medicare cost reports. My current function almost has nothing to do with accounting. Our company has are several departments that are related to accounting, including Treasury, General Ledger Accounting, Cost Accounting, Corporate Audit (I don’t remember all of them on the top of my head) that I would rather be at any of these than where I currently am. I am just wondering, given the fact that my current job has almost nothing to do with accounting, would passing the CPA exam actually help in making a move to one of these other departments?

[Anonymous]

I definitely feel like it would make you more desirable. Does it guaranty another job? No..but your CPA efforts should give you a leg up on some of the competition.

[mla1169]

It's a tool, nothing more or less. Would be like asking if having a screwdriver helps with Ikea furniture.it helps, but there's so much more that goes into it-personality, performance,etc.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Lindrobe]

I agree with mla1169. Probably not what you want to hear, but experience personality, etc. are all very important too.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[philb]

I'd like to think that I have the personality to assemble Ikea furniture 🙂

[Anonymous]

@Lindrobe, mla119

Personality is not a problem. But it is hard get accounting experience when your job is not related to accounting.

[Lindrobe]

mla119, believe it or not, I am going through something similar to you. I totally understand what you are going through. I am now a licensed accountant with 10 years of experience and a MBA and I am applying to entry level positions. My most recent experience includes 5 years in non-profit tax and I have found out that this experience applies to absolutely nothing. To make matters worse, I live in a small town, so jobs are not real easy to come by. My husband makes fantastic money and loves his job, so moving is not an option. I have been incredibly depressed about my job hunt and I really have no idea what to do.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mjp44]

As others have said, the CPA is tool to help your career but certainly not an end all be all to success.

IMO the top 3 components to landing a job:

1. Networking/ who ya know

2. Experience

3. Degrees/Designations/GPA, etc

Alot of factors come into play but in the long run, having the CPA will certainly help.

FAR- PASSED (11/13)
REG- PASSED (2/14)
BEC- PASSED (5/14)
AUD- PASSED (8/14)

If it's important to you, you will find a way. If it isn't, you will find an excuse.

[philb]

You'll also need exceptional interviewing skills. Networking get you the interview, you get you the offer.

[impska]

I think in your case, it would be especially important (assuming you want to move to one of those depts).

Lay your resume against some random CPA's.

You are an internal hire with no practical experience.

They are a state-certified accountant who has taken a specific qualifying test that is directly applicable to the job. They may or not have practical experience, but they have the appearance of practical knowledge.

Now lay your resume next to theirs with a CPA. You are now an internal hire and a CPA. You're about guaranteed to at least get an interview now, whereas your resume might just have gone to the garbage can before.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Anonymous]

^^

lolz… “garbage can”. So brutal and awesome.

[funtiks]

@Lindrobe

This makes me angry, someone like you should be getting calls from recruiters left and right.

MBA, CPA 10 years of experience….

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[fuzyfro89]

“IMO the top 3 components to landing a job:

1. Networking/ who ya know

2. Experience

3. Degrees/Designations/GPA, etc”

+1 to this.

The graduates in the 2000s, in my opinion, are way overeducated.

People are getting MBAs/other certifications and don't have the requisite experience to get the true value of those degrees and certifications, and then complain when jobs aren't being handed to them.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be upset too. A lot of colleagues and old classmates of mine have been sucked into getting more education by institutions who really aren't that valuable, and then find themselves stuck. It stinks, but at some point employers need more than “potential”… especially as you advance in your career.

To answer your question: Getting a CPA won't HURT your chances of getting a better job, but it will depend more on how well you network/interview rather than having the CPA exams passed. To be honest, the exams are a very academic, not practical, venture.

The CPA license validates and adds to your experience, not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Interviewing and networking I can work on though.

[floacct]

Um yes, is this thread a joke? If u want something you have got to work hard. Passing the cpa exam will open doors for u that would never have been there. Anyone who says otherwise is thinking extremely short term. It's kind of like asking if putting bait on your hook will help u catch salmon.

[HopefulCPA0601]

if it weren't worth it or helpful we wouldnt all be wasting out days/months/years studying and would be enjoying time with loved ones instead

BEC: 65 - 79* - 84 DONE
AUD: 65 - 76 DONE
REG: 63 - 77 DONE
FAR: 65 - 63 - 67 - 69 - 73 - 71 - 83 DONE

Becker Notes & Flashcards, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja MCQ

[Author]

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