[IWPGirl]

So I talked to my boss today and I thought I’d throw my situation out there for some Ninja advice…

I am in my early 30’s and passed three sections with one more to go in July. My current job in private accounting is the only accounting experience (2 years). I always wanted to work in public accounting to get wider experience and to work for a bigger office. I interviewed with two firms within the last year but there was no hiring decision.

So… my boss wanted to know whether I am currently looking for another job because we have some people leaving and he might need to hire (which I understand). But some interesting points came up during our conversation.

1) Passing exams and getting a license is really nothing without work experience. So what to do and where to go to get that “great” working experience that will get most benefit in the future?

2) Smaller CPA firms do not pay well to start if there is no experience (pay cut). Bigger firms avoid hiring people after 30 if they come from private because these people do not stay. So are there any Ninjas who went to public at my age or is it something people do straight out of college? Any experience to share?

All comments are appreciated…

AUD - 90
REG - 78
BEC - 84
FAR - 91 woo hoooo!!

Becker and Ninja MCQ

[How many letters do you need]

Mayo – nothing against networking, I think it's great but I still think having passed 4 parts of the CPA is stronger for most people. If you happen to be super social or be extremely good looking then perhaps it may work just as well to get you in the door but then you are in the door and won't get very far (in public accounting) without the CPA. Plus, the local CPA groups will help in the networking process and in those groups I think it helps huge to be able to say you passed the exams and are just waiting on the experience.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[acamp]

Passing the exam is great resume material for entry level positions, will it GET you the job, no, but it helps. It shows intent and that you're serious about your new career. Not to mention, studying for the exams a couple years into your public accounting career really sucks!

Big4 will hire you. People with a few years of outside “real world” experience bring a different flavor to the engagement. You just need to be prepared for a mid-twenties person who likely has never worked outside of public accounting to be your supervisor. If you can get over that, you'll be fine.

Network, network, network. Join your local CPA society and attend an event, send messages to campus recruiters on LinkedIn, etc. Its not that you need a best buddy on the inside, but an acquaintance who might reach out to recruiting on your behalf, to get your resume from the electronic hiring wall to a person. For example, I had a friend from grad school email me about her boyfriend wanting to get into accounting. I met with him to discuss, he seemed like a great candidate and I pestered our local recruiting to make sure he got interview (he received and accepted an offer).

Maybe your school has an accounting career fair that is open to alumni?

Being a bit older won't hinder you and I strongly suggest going the public route as its like experience on steroids; you do a relatively short number of years and will end up in a fairly senior roll when you leave. Whereas, those same years spent in industry from an entry level position likely not produce the same results.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Mayo]

“I think it's great but I still think having passed 4 parts of the CPA is stronger for most people”

Agree to disagree then 🙂

To clarify, it'd probably be best to have a couple of sections passed, while networking heavily. Much better than ignoring networking in place of 100% studying.

My point is: Don't just study. Get out there and meet people too.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[nicole2035]

The CPA is worth something, that's for sure. How many people do you know have said ‘well i almost got the CPA exam' ..or make up some excuse for why they don't need, etc. I dont' think you need the CPA exam to be successful especially if the job you ideally want doesn't require it. CPA firms just like any other place have to do some kind of training, it's expected, and plenty of places are fine with it but what they want to do is lessen their risks and costs for an employee. Hiring a new graduate is ok, but let's be real, how many stay? Not many, then they still have to pass the CPA exam etc. A lot of risk with that, so i think you have to try for it. Screw what everyone else says unless they are a CPA and were in a similar situation, or can help you with your situation. Your boss has his own motives, one is prob to discourage you from seeking another job or try to downplay your accomplishment

As others said, you have to know people. I've began networking. Hate where i live, but you can't isolate yourself. And just from my viewpoint, i'd never talk with a boss about me potentially moving on unless me and that boss are best friends

[Tux]

Focus on your long term goals. Early 30's is still young. I'm older than that and have very minimal accounting experience. I'm getting my CPA as a career change.

Even if you have to take a pay cut, initially, you won't regret it if it puts you on a career path that you really want.

I've sacrificed a lot, financially, to make this career move, but I won't look back because I was really unhappy in my old career and I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life in a miserable career.

And, BTW, even if you ARE looking for another job – if your boss asks you if you are looking, JUST SAY NO.

You need to do what's right for YOU. Leave when you're ready. Don't give them a reason to kick you out before you have something else to fall back on.

Lastly, no negative thinking. Don't think in terms of statistics – “Bigger firms avoid hiring people after 30 if they come from private because these people do not stay” – You are NOT a statistic. You are a unique individual who is very capable of making things happen for yourself. That kind of thinking creates victims.

You can network and bust your butt to meet new people and get your name out there and find out about opportunities that you never otherwise would have known existed.

Look for the way IN – Not the way OUT.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[ruggercpa2b]

I started at Big 4 at 33 so they do hire people older. Now I have to focus on passing the exam because while I have experience most job interviews I have gone on they have expressed wanting someone with a CPA. For me getting that CPA means taking my career to the next level.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

I started in public at 42 after changing careers. I did three years and moved up to senior. I got a job as senior accountant at a large bank last week. I don't have my license yet but I am going to get it because I want to be a controller or CFO at some point. The way I see it is you can do anything if you work at it so it really doesn't matter what order you do it in. You just need to find the right fit. Some firms would rather you have the license because they can always teach you to audit. They are hiring you because your are teachable they don't need to reinvent the wheel.

[Anonymous]

hmmm!

That was the same question I asked for a big 4 recruitor 1 and 1/2 year ago! ‘ do you hire older people? ( I was 33 then)'. Then I was doing MSA and took and Passed FAR. Even if I didnt succeed in getting employed by a big four , I got Audtior job position in the Government.

When I look back ( I did one interview with 1 big four) it was my performanace at the interview and lack of internship that affected my chance of getting selected at the big four. I believe my age had minimum impact , if any in the selection process.

What matters most is motivation, networking, and the right attitude!

Good Luck

– Passed all exams ( awaiting work experience to be licenced!)

[stag]

I agree with @tes. I'm in my mid 30s and is just starting my accounting career. I failed to get any serious look by any of the accounting firms, national or regional. Then my luck changed all the sudden after I landed a staff accountant job (my first accounting job ever.) I got multiple interviews and ultimately multiple offers from Big 4 with a month of my new job. So I think experience, not age, is a bigger determinant.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Anonymous]

@stag….what type of firm did you get your first staff accountant position with? I'm having some trouble getting looks, and when I get looks, I'm not getting offers. I have strong academic credentials, 10 years experience as a bookkeeper, and I've already passed the exam. I even have two years experience on the board of a 15000-member nonprofit organization. I just got shot down by another Big 4 firm today after a pretty strong pair of interviews.

I'm in my mid-40s….I interview well. I think I've adequately answered any of the typical age concerns (I can work with younger people, I can work with a younger supervisor…and I have evidence that I have already done so successfully, etc….). All of the Big 4 recruiters, Next 6 recruiters, fellow students, and professors are astounded that I haven't found a position (although none of those recruiters has come through with an offer). I network constantly, and my list of acceptable locations to work is pretty large. My academic credentials are as strong or stronger than many fellow 22-year olds that got the opportunity to do multiple Big 4 internships, and I worked 25-30 hours a week in addition to taking 17-18 hour semesters. I'd like to say that age isn't a factor, but I've had multiple people tell me that if I were 25 instead of 45, that I would have had an offer a long time ago. Right or wrong, I have to answer multiple questions about how I would work with younger supervisors, etc…so I feel like I'm not starting on a equal footing with my peers when I interview. I seem to always be coming from behind.

I'm staying positive, and focusing on future opportunities, but I would welcome any constructive suggestions on how to handle the issue. Apparently whatever I'm doing isn't working. Personally, I think my age should be a nonissue, and I honestly don't bring the issue up at all unless I'm asked, and I frankly can't step into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine and turn back the clock 20 years.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

[number_cruncher_24]

I know of a number of people who started working in public accounting in their 30's. Big4 tends to hire right out of college, but I know of several people who started out at a smaller CPA firm in their 30's and then after getting a year of public accounting experience they had no problem getting a job with a large firm.

[stag]

@chappyfade I got a job at a private company with revenue around 20 mil. I do the very basic stuff like bank rec and updating schedules. What really helped was that I started right before the audit and was able to see how things were done on the other end. I think all that matter was that when I met the recruiters, the first thing they said was, “oh, you are working already.” A lot of my classmates (mostly 30+ with couple college age kids) are career changers and everyone of us had gotten offers at Big 4. So I don't think age is a big deal to Big.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[stag]

@chappyfade I got a job at a private company with revenue around 20 mil. I do the very basic stuff like bank rec and updating schedules. What really helped was that I started right before the audit and was able to see how things were done on the other end. I think all that matter was that when I met the recruiters, the first thing they said was, “oh, you are working already.” A lot of my classmates (mostly 30+ with couple college age kids) are career changers and everyone of us had gotten offers at Big 4. So I don't think age is a big deal to Big.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Anonymous]

@stag I'm then at a loss to explain my situation. I've gotten very few constructive answers, if any. I've consistently asked if there's anything I can do better, or anything I can do to improve my profile, and I've either gotten no feedback (majority of time) or an answer like “it's competitive out there, you're a good candidate, you'll get something soon….etc”

Area of the country might matter as well….I'm in the Midwest. Attitudes may be more progressive out toward the coasts and away from flyover country. I went to a big state school (and a top 15 accounting program), but all but one of my accounting classmates were in their low-to-mid 20s except for one, and he's 30 (and doesn't graduate until December, and he doesn't have any offers yet, either). So I don't really have any comparable in my program….I thought my experience would be a plus for me. It hasn't been so far. I've also struggled with finding an industry job around here…it's just frustrating. Internships were similarly frustrating, so I didn't have any luck getting one of those, either.

@numbercruncher….I am right out of college. I graduated with my M.Acc. three weeks ago. I'm still utilizing the business school career services, but there isn't a job fair again until September, and I'd rather not wait that long.

[stag]

@chappyfade my take on it is that your resume should leave a good first impression when the recruiter scan it. the reason why I said was that i was at a job fair for undergrads internship and leadership program. I was told its not their hiring cycle for full times, but after she took a look at my resume, I was told that there might be full time position available (I got an full time offer roughly a month later after couple interviews). but I talked to people i knew who also talked to the same recruiter and was told they got nothing. so have your professor help you with your resume, that's what I did.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Author]

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