[Anonymous]

Hey everyone!

I post from time to time on here and read a lot of what everyone has to say about particular topics, but I have a situation that I may need a little advice on. I need to start my career in the accounting area! I graduated April of 2013 with my Bachelor’s in accounting and I have yet to land an accounting job in public, manufacturing, healthcare, or anywhere for that matter! I got so fed up with the negative results from going to interviews that I completely stopped looking and have focused on the CPA exam. Also, I have had no success with the exam thus far either. I am 28 years old, married, and have two children ages 2 and 4. I also work at a warehouse loading trucks and stacking boxes that I have had since I graduated high school. I actually started college when I turned 21 because I knew I did not want to work like that for the rest of my life. (i.e., long manual labor hours, low wage, and they try to work you 6 days a week all year). I am stuck there since I need money to pay for my family’s day to day life and I have been unsuccessful at landing any job in the accounting field because I lack “related” experience. I am located in a roughly small town that is growing in Georgia which is around 75 miles from Atlanta. I have applied to places in Atlanta, but they shoot me an email back saying there are too many local candidates for the positions. I mean I can’t relocate without having a job lined up first! I also can’t start my own business seeing that I am not licensed and do not have a lick of accounting experience besides school! I fear that the longer the gap gets between my graduation date and the upcoming months or years will make it even harder to get a job in the field. I’m sure someone out there has been in this situation before or are in the situation currently. I have invested way too much time and money in this thing to just throw my hands up and say screw it, so that is not an option. I have seen people go to the local area technical school in my town and have a job when they get out. I mean it’s nothing I want to do, but they get jobs for what they went to school for! Here I am graduated with a 4 year degree from an AACSB accredited program and came out with nothing but a bunch of debt and a bunch of No’s from employers! I can’ let my wife and kids down either because I have promised them that one day we will be able to have a better quality of life. So that being said….. does anyone have any helpful advice?

[G3]

@mia1169 and @stoleway

I live in Texas, so a non-reporting license is not an option for me 🙁

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[mla1169]

But you can get your license through MA, was our point. If you're not going into public (and it doesn't sound like you intend to), and sometimes even if you are in public you can have a license in a state other than your home state. Plenty of people get the non reporting license through MA without ever stepping foot here, we don't have a residency requirement.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Op, I was hired by Big 4 in my late 20's with a family as well and no accounting experience whatsoever, not even an internship. It's not even remotely impossible to get your foot in the door. However, I also had a cushion of not having to work non-stop to support my family so finishing my masters was not an issue. If you can't afford the time to dedicate to networking or internships, you'll have to set yourself apart somehow with a great GPA or by having the CPA totally finished. Something to get you on even ground.

[G3]

@mia1169

Would a non-reporting license be recognized by employers in Tx?

If I used my credits/scores to get the non-reporting license, could I transfer them to a Tx license once I have experience?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[stoleway]

@G3

I have never seen any CPA write those three letters after their name and also added their STATE to it. Full reporting CPA license is required for independent auditors who signs off attest and other audit paperwork. Most audit associates in public accounting firms don't even have the power to sign off on audits even though they are CPA's, there is usually someone in the firm who reviews all the work done and append his or her signature to the audit.

If you're a CPA and work in private, your independence is impaired anyways and you cannot sign off audit for your own firm, so who cares if your license in reporting or non-reporting? MA license gives you the urge to call yourself a CPA while waiting for experience (if you really need it for full reporting).

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[mla1169]

well as I said there is no difference between a non reporting and reporting license UNLESS you are going into audit. The better question is will there be employers who prefer a TX CPA license, and the answer is it depends. If you're going into industry or govt I can't see how it could possibly matter. In public they truly may prefer a TX license.

Regarding transfer, look up the reciprocity between TX and MA, or better yet call your board and ask if a MA license can be transferred once the experience is completed.. Chances are yes, but you are far better off to get that information directly from your board than a message board.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@mlindse5 I actually live in the west part of GA. I have been trying to get the exam done but I find myself looking for jobs on occasion when I think about why I set out for college………. to stay away from warehouse work! lol ……..I have a few connections here that are partners of local accounting firms but they have nothing available. The only thing booming around here is KIA and its suppliers which is mainly assembly line work.

[G3]

Thanks @mia1169 and @stoleway

I will look into it 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Anonymous]

Life can be rough sometimes. I failed out of college when I was 21 (I was more interested in beer & women), then moved to the beach and worked as an ocean lifeguard and bartender at a beach bar for basically my entire 20's (this part wasn't too rough). Got back into county college, worked my buns off, got accepted into a brand name school (better than the one I failed out of), and graduated with a 3.9. Good grades got me a ton of interviews, but believe it or not, my completely unrelated work experience did too.

I'm still convinced some partners (and corporate VPs) brought me in just to find out what the heck I was doing leaving a lifestyle like that behind. I had some ask me about women, frozen drink recipes, micro-brewed beers, and fishing. One even went into a spiel about how he always wanted to learn how to surf after retirement. A partner at one firm that actually vacationed on a street I used to guard on (didn't get the job though- I dropped the ball on the second interview). I ended up accepting a litigation consulting position at a regional firm in a top five city where one of the partners was a patron of the bar I used to tend at. I'd buy his first round form time to time.

I almost forgot, I did a brief stint at a warehouse slinging boxes. It is rough work. I'd recommend that you try to relate as many skills as you can from that work that would apply to an accounting setting. There are some skills that may apply:

1) Checking work for accuracy. Its all numbers either way.

2) Team based performance improvement accomplishments

3) Any prior assistance with audit counts.

4) Customer service accomplishments.

There are probably more if you think hard enough. You may want to try selling your work ethic in a summary on top of your resume which includes your family, work hours, and academic accomplishments. I know how hard it is working 60 hours a week and going to school. It's even harder with kids. Employers know this too.

Also, get involved with a good not-for-profit, preferably in Atlanta, if that's where you want to work. I know its far, but you can go once a month if you want. The boards are normally loaded with professionals. If you do enough research, you may be able to find one which happens to have a lot of CPAs. Off the top of my head, a VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a great one. Network, network, network!

[Kesto]

@mlindse5 I am in the same situation. I have many years of experience but almost no experience in Accounting. I have passed three sections of the CPA exam and am studying for the forth one (BEC). I live in Georgia (Atlanta) and would like to send you my resume.

[G3]

Good tips @billbrasskey 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

Contacted my state board via email. Just got their reply and suggestion of giving them a call to go over all my options.

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

The non – reporting license is not an option for me since only a reporting license can be transferred. I have applied to join the TSCPA and am furthering my Jo search and networking.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Anonymous]

I just accepted an offer! YESSSSS! First accounting job and the journey continues with the CPA Exam!

[Sarah1421]

Congratulations, DreamChaser2014!!!! I'm inspired… I'm in a similar situation with no accounting experience. I hope to be in your shoes soon!!

Good luck on your exams and the new job!

FAR - 90
AUD - 91
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[Author]

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