[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?

[teeteenounouche]

impska, you are not lying…I have seen people literally put resumes in their garbage cans after a just a glance/once over.

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Skynet]

With way more retail experience than accounting experience, passing the CPA exams is my Hail Mary to hopefully landing a job. It's tough when you only have 2 years of AP experience 5 years ago and one tax season under your belt. Not giving up though that's for sure.

I always tell myself when I'm studying, “I refuse to go down without a fight.”

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Well I'm doing it but I am not sure that it will be helpful. It is an objective measure of your abilities though.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[Lindrobe]

funtiks, I was not trying to make anyone angry. Just an example of how experience can come into play. And I hope nobody on this thread assumes that I think that a great job is just going to find me. I have been networking left and right. I've sent resumes to small CPA firms that don't even have jobs posted. I have been working with two different outside recruiting firms. I had a third firm contact me on Friday and asked if I could meet with them to discuss my experience. Emailed them back right away and then never heard from them again! I also have submitted my resume through employee referral at one of the large regional firms in my area (Crowe) and tried to make it as clear as possible that I expect no more than an associate position with my experience.

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"

[teeteenounouche]

Lindrobe, I think he meant it in a good way, a show of support…

I also have 10 years of experience in various roles but not specifically in what I wanted to do. I had to get in a position I didn't really want to do forever and work my way in the company to the position I wanted. I know this will not work in all cases but I got myself in front of the people I wanted to hire me. I asked about projects. I helped people out. I said yes to everything they asked me to do in my current role. I then approached the person I wanted to work for and asked to be thought of when the next available position came around. She had already seen my work and I let her know about studying for the CPA. 5 months later I got the position. One month later I was licenced and now work in public accounting.

Moral of the story is you can take a job that leads you to where you want to go if you can't get there directly.

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[taxman89]

your current title is “auditor” even if its not relevant exp (which is what you said) it looks like relevant exp to other companies. since it looks like relevant exp you should be able to get in the door for other accounting positions. Once you get into an interview its up to you to spin how your current position is super relevant but the skills it taught you will make you not only the best accountant that company has ever seen but the best team player they have ever seen as well.

to answer the original question, of course a CPA helps. It makes it that much more likely they bring you in for an interview. and getting you in the door is all any cert/exp/anything is worth. after that its up to you to sell yourself

AUD - 75
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 82

AUD: 61-67-75 (Thanks ninja aud)
BEC: 77
FAR: 78
REG:69-73-70-82

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[Mayo]

” 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?”

This is probably something you need to find out from someone in the company or from your own knowledge. Each company is different. Some value certifications, some experience/background, and some both.

If the departments you mentioned tend to internally hire, then I'd say it's a good sign. If it's more of an external hiring hub (especially for the position you want) then it might be hard to get an in.

As I've said in the past, the CPA is best combined with networking and adequate experience. Don't expect a certification to do everything for you. I recommend that you begin to network within your company and start laying down the groundwork early.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[GoVPI]

I am working as an intern in a private software company. The first thing the CFO told me when he interviewed me was he is going to hire me based off the fact I am currently studying and pursuing the CPA. Himself and the controller are the other only 2 in the office who have it. 9 other staff accountants don't. CPA isn't a big deal to some people but to some it is.

BEC - Passed

AUD - 74 🙁

REG - TBD

FAR - TBD

BEC 8/14/14 - Passed
Graduated from college 12/13/14
AUD 8/31/15 - 74. Retake - Passed
REG
FAR

[John Tucker]

As I always preach, the three key components of job promotion are:

– Relevant Experience

– Relevant Education

– Relevant Professional References

This is why colleges should do MORE to make it a requirement that students do serious and quality Career Planning because, it's really hurting not only the job market, but the lives of these graduating students.

It doesn't matter if you have 20 years of “experience,” if it's not the relevant experience within the job position area you are applying for, then it's irrelevant.

> To Lindrobe, if your experience for the previous 5 years is working for a non-profit doing their tax related activities, why not go back and work in a non-profit setting doing something else/related? That's where the bulk of your professional experience is at.

> To Determined, you mentioned that you audit/examine medicare cost reports, but you said it's a non-accounting related position. It appears as though it would classify under Healthcare Administration, right? Okay, why not stay in that field and seek promotional positions in that area? Seeing as though that's where the bulk of your professional experience is at, right?

For every decent career level position you want, there's a promotional ladder associated with it. For Financial Accounting positions, these always require starting as an intern or bookkeeper of some sorts. If you have an MBA, a CPA and 10 years of professional experience doing something else and now you all of a sudden want to “change,” that doesn't mean you don't have to CLIMB the promotional ladder, start at the VERY BOTTOM and climb up like everyone else had to. The issue is that once you are a grown adult, you can't afford an internship or apprenticeship or some $15,000 a year paying job to gain the 2-3 years of experience. That's why you need to stay in your current lane and use the relevant experience you have to climb up to the higher paying jobs within that sector.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[studylongUstudywrong]

I remember studying for the exam and asking myself: “Why am I putting my family through this?” “Will this actually help my career?”

I have been a licensed CPA for 3 months. In that time I have had 5 interviews and just recently accepted an offer with a 30% raise. Each of these positions required a CPA license. Changing jobs is hard/scary, but I believe I have landed an amazing opportunity. I only posted this to encourage those who are looking for motivation. Push yourself.

Licensed Texas CPA

[tomq04]

great motivation!

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Author]

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