[pikachu]

Hey y’all. I graduated with a degree in accounting 3 years ago. Couldn’t find anything in public accounting, audit, tax, etc. I had good grades, got interviews easily, but I never interviewed well :/

Found a job after college, $17 an hour, which was alright, as a “project accounting specialist”, kind of like accounts payable, but more complex. Rough hours for the first few months, 12p-9p. I got promoted in about 9 months to a less rote position, and more analyst type, learning Excel and stuff, $40,000.

I left maybe 5 months later to work for a big corporation, financial reporting specialist, $45,000. It’s been wrecking my brains for the past year and a half that I’ve been here, just SQL statements and Excel, mostly the SQL hurts my head. I’ve noticed a lot of the leadership and executives at this corporation had CPAs so I decided to go for the CPA this January (felt marginalized and unrecognized under my direct management). As soon as my NTS was approved, I started studying, and took the test a month later, studying long hours after work and during the weekend.

I wasn’t entirely focused though, I get distracted easily, and I didn’t completely shut out family/friends. Took the test Sunday, should get the results 3-10, or hopefully, 3-7. I think I did alright, I glossed over government.

Meanwhile, I got a great offer from another firm, same kind of role, databases, SQL, Excel, finance, 33% raise. I guess if/when I complete the CPA, I would need to work under a CPA, leave my Excel and database experience behind, get ready for a life of journal entries? :p

Anyone been in my situation? I do see posts out there looking for CPAs with SQL experience, but I’m not sure if anyone would hire me if I’m making a generous amount now (just to fulfill CPA experience), or how I would maybe go back, get my masters, get into public accounting if they see my salary history. Talking about a few years down the line, I don’t plan on being a job hopper

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[How many letters do you need]

There are plenty of CPAs in industry, even in finance, you just might have to be patient and make that a priority in your job search at the time. What is your preference as far as Finance/Accounting? Do you actually want to be in public accounting or just considering it for the experience/CPA sign off? Having experience on both sides in corporate (but admittedly never public accounting) I honestly think the two fields are merging, which is one of my main reasons for pursuing the CPA.

Over time, I think the demand for Finance people who REALLY understand the financials and can work hand in hand with auditors will continue to increase (and the salaries along with it); while the demand for Accountants who can provide sound analysis and the ability to guide management will continue to increase until both fields are basically looking for the same person.

I guess my main point here is, if you are considering the corporate world don't worry so much about getting pigeon holed. I would suggest to think long term and do both, especially if you already have outstanding modeling skills (and it looks like you do). If I had it to do over again, I would start off in Accounting (probably public), move into corporate accounting and stay until I had 3+ years of management experience. THEN transition into finance and own the world. 🙂

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Anonymous]

I entered my current company as a financial analyst doing SQL and lots of advanced Excel, but I sort of became the back up for the accounting department in my “spare” time when anyone would go out on medical leave or vacation. I learned so many of the functions that when the position of accounting manager/assistant controller because available they asked me to transition into that position and go back to get my CPA. I think it helps to have the SQL/Excel background in the accounting department. I've been able to automate a lot of the accounting processes because of that background. I reported to the same person under both positions so the year work experience was gained quickly and I still provide backup for the new financial analyst. It really just depends on the type of company you get into. i won't lie though, special projects was more exciting than journal entries and reconciliations, but finance jobs are becoming very technological with Business Intelligence, etc. It depends on what you see yourself doing in the long run. I would rather be the VP of Finance than the CFO someday, but I could do either with a MBA/CPA combo. Without the CPA I wouldn't ever have a shot at CFO.

[teeteenounouche]

Can you guys suggest how I get SQL experience? I can learn through self study or whatever you suggest…I just need to be pointed in the right direction…I know excel so I would love to gain the SQL skills along with it…

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

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I'm not sure how you would get SQL experience without it being through your job. SQL queries off of databases so it would hard to just practice it without having a database. I guess it would be the same as learning access since they are so similar, but it's much easier to practice from an established database than having to create your own. Our SQL software is attached to our Accounting Enterprise management system. It has POs, Receivers, Sales order, general ledger, AP, AR, inventory, etc. So I just spent 6 weeks creating a bunch of different queries and making sure I can tie it back to the GL to confirm the query was accurate. Once you have queries that you know work you can add criteria to them to manipulate the results to your specified criteria. That is how I was able to automate so much of the accounting department functions once I transfered to the accounting department. Lots of trial and error until I had queries that I knew worked. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Study Monk]

You mentioned that you already worked under CPA's. Depending on your state their sign off my count regardless of your job title.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Anonymous]

It depends, some of the states require you to put the percentage of your work experience in specific accounting areas. You should go to your state board and print off the work requirement form to see what they will require your boss to sign. Florida is very basic and doesn't require percentages at all, but I think other states required _% bookkeeping, _% journal entries, etc. to account for your entire year of work history under the CPA.

[pikachu]

teetee, try these. If you have any familiarity with Access, you can explore SQL view as well.

https://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp

https://sqlzoo.net/wiki/Main_Page

Also, try installing Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition (with Management Studio) and install Adventureworks2012 (check out Youtube, it's kind of confusing to install). Oracle has a personal version too.

Thanks for the advice guys 🙂 Looks like a good thing to get. I've never really had “accounting” experience, that will kind of be scary, but I'm always open to change. I've never been directly under a CPA, but the department manager has one, as well as a lot of other managers in my group.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[teeteenounouche]

Thanks pikachu, I will check the links out!

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

[NYCaccountant]

@ Pikachu I'm interested in learning this as well. I'll look at the links you gave to @TeeTee.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[polar21]

Disclaimer: I read the first post but didnt read the subsequent replies.

I feel that my experience is similar to yours up to this point. I got extremely lucky when my previous company was bought by the Big D. Although the work expectations increased, the compensation increased. I also had to move from a little small town to Atlanta and managed to stick it out for 3+ years there before moving back to the small town (client lets me telework and the Big D has a small office in the small town). I will get my CPA license this year and already have the work experience, just need to pass the remaining 3 tests (last AUD was 73, kick in the sack). So, I am making really good money, but what happens when I get the license? I am moonlighting at a local cpa firm and the owner and I have had discussions about partnering with him in the future (me buying into his practice). So, am I going to take 4 steps back in the hopes that I can make really good money on my own? Add to that I have a wife and 2 small (both under 2) kiddos, so its not like I can take a $30k paycut.

I think for us older folks (I am 30) with family, getting the CPA license late in life is a challenge, both in passing the tests and knowing what we are going to do with it. Personally, I want to hang my own shingle and I have the people skills, business acumen, etc to do it. The question becomes how do I do it and support my family….it always boils down to cash flow, every time…

[Study Monk]

When are credible degrees going to start adding these computer programs to their curriculum. I would love to get a Masters in Accounting Applications(Excel, Oracle, SAS, and SQL), or a MSA program that teaching these programs. Unfortunately almost all MSA programs approach accounting from a purely academic conceptual perspective 🙁

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[pikachu]

I had to take Accounting Information Systems (Microsoft Access with emphasis on accounting) and Computer Information Systems (general Access). The most important thing about databases and SQL is relationships, primary keys, foreign keys. There is a ton of nuances, but the big picture is, understand how 1 table is related to another table.

Kind of like VLOOKUP, but more controlled. Or think of 2 tables, People, and States. The people table has unique values for person, but multiple people can live in Florida. The State table only has 1 instance of Florida. You can join the people table to the state table, to maybe pull in FL population or average weather if it's not already available in people.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[pikachu]

I was tired of being marginalized by my direct management, so I tried to get some respect with the CPA. 33% raise just kind of came 🙂

I think if I pass FAR, I will keep trucking. If not, I'll take it easy for a while, learn SSRS for my new job, might get back into the CPA. Relatively, I think I'm doing OK for an accounting major that couldn't find work in his field lol. FA hours are a lot better than Audit I think, 40 standard, very rarely, I might dip to 45 during the monthly close.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[pikachu]

https://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/20/3/08.pdf

:/ I've had lots of intense work, with numbers, code, but they don't count to CPA experience :/ I have experience implementing controls, calculating contra revenue accruals, maybe I could sway someone at the board lol.

I don't even have my 150 hours yet though. I think if my CPA results are good, and I keep studying, I might pursue my GMAT in a few years, get a full ride and study full time, recruit while I study.

My path hasn't been straight, but it's ok that I've strayed :p

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[Isostasy]

What are the hours like as a financial analyst? I'm looking to make the switch from public accounting but I don't want another job where I have to work 60 hours a week.

By the way thanks for the advice on learning SQL, that's definitely on my to do list as well as learning advanced excel.

[Author]

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