Finding My Calling

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  • #2790480
    bmj2s
    Participant

    So I’m still working on the whole CPA journey, currently grinding MCQs, but I’ve always been a little lost as far as what I want to do with it. Originally I was like “this is a tool I’ll be using all the time, with the way college talked about it.” but from a majority of people I know that’ I’ve asked it’s a “piece of paper that got them a manager title.”

    So thinking about that, I haven’t even been sure I want to go back into management. I used to be an AGM in restaurants while I was in college and I only liked the behind the scenes things with calculations, problem-solving, etc. I’m not even sure if I’m in the right line of work. Now I do already know that no one said Accounting was a “dream job of excitement”, but I’ve been in indirect tax, and month end close cycle for about 3 years now. But I’m still feeling this itch, like it’s not enough. I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed in sales tax, couldn’t get into income tax (CPA firms didn’t like my GPA as a full time student/full time employee), so I’ve been in corporate jobs. Month end close is just thoughtless to me. There’s no challenge, it’s only just been “Oh, we got this month’s bill, so re-accrue last month’s still unpaid.” or some scenario like that.

    What types of work do any of you interested folks do and am I really just being a bit spoiled in wanting a challenge or am I possibly in the wrong field? Like I don’t make errors in my boredom (or I catch them before my sups do and correct them), I just don’t feel like I’m being used to my utmost as a corporate staff accountant.

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  • #2790522
    aaronmo
    Participant

    First, once you have your exams passed, no firm cares about your GPA. You may not be big 4…so what.

    Getting your license isn't just about being a manager…it's about having a special, hard to get license, that will always make you desirable in the employment market. CPAs have a status and respect that no other business cert/degree confers.

    My path has been odd. I'm somewhat odd. I got my license later in life. By nature, I'm a conceptual person who is better high level/strategy than I am in following a process. As you can imagine, I didn't especially enjoy being a staff accountant. I was much better suited towards smaller firms than larger ones.

    I now work in a CPA membership society, and I write exam questions for CPE, help pick speakers and content for conferences, and help our team understand the in practice perspective. I operate as a high level generalist, and I've never been happier in my life. Every bit of work was worth it.

    #2798037
    Daniel
    Participant

    @Aaronmo I would love a chance to chat with you “offline” sometime. I opened this thread because I have some things in common with @Bmj2s, but not everything in common. I spent 2 years working for a smaller CPA firm (60 emp + 8 partners), and left to focus on exams and shift to corporate. However, like you, I struggle with the fine details as a staff, and feel I am better suited for, as you put it, “high level/strategy”. Obviously, this seems like a problem for a staff level accountant, but I think I have leadership and interpersonal intangibles if I can find the right fitting career. Please help!

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