[MrCPA2B]

Today I talked with a few of my friends that I graduated college with and for the most part they are all unemployed accounting graduates. I recommended them to join this site and seek guidance from peers, some of which who have been down the same path as them. MY friend pointed out that it is really difficult to get into public accounting right now, I know that they really do require a lot out of recent grads as far as grades, internships, and everything else. The thought of the demands made on recent grads on the public accounting side had me thinking why recent grads don’t look for accounting experience in private? It’s like every accounting major I know flee to public. Some are so determined to get into public that if they can’t they give up all at once. Instead of getting some experience the best way you can and then moving on from there. (As I told my friends today, this is “Crawling before you walk”). Anyway, MY question is what benefits can starting out in private accounting provide to a public firm if a recent grad wishes to switch? What can a former private accounting employee say in a public accounting interview when asked, “What do you think you will add to this firm”?

I’m just curious to know because I see so much about Public to Private but you rarely see anything from Private to Public and I feel those guys need love too. (In my opinion they need a whole lot of love) 🙂

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Anonymous]

This doesn't really answer your question. But many public firms prefer to hire fresh graduates only. So thinking that you will go into private and then switch to public is somewhat misguided. I'm sure it happens, but its not the norm. Also, most candidates are thinking about meeting their experience requirement and its not possible to work under a CPA in some private situations.

I'd like to hear what others have to say.

[Anonymous]

This doesn't really answer your question. But many public firms prefer to hire fresh graduates only. So thinking that you will go into private and then switch to public is somewhat misguided. I'm sure it happens, but its not the norm. Also, most candidates are thinking about meeting their experience requirement and its not possible to work under a CPA in some private situations.

I'd like to hear what others have to say.

[MrCPA2B]

@bluegirl..your points make very good sense to me. But what I was trying to get to is why people set around and wait and wait for a public accounting position. I mean some people even wait like a year after graduation looking and looking for a job in public, would it make since to just go ahead and get a job in private to get some kind of experience and hope that you can switch to public shortly after?

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[MrCPA2B]

@bluegirl..your points make very good sense to me. But what I was trying to get to is why people set around and wait and wait for a public accounting position. I mean some people even wait like a year after graduation looking and looking for a job in public, would it make since to just go ahead and get a job in private to get some kind of experience and hope that you can switch to public shortly after?

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Anonymous]

Some people say it's easier to get a job when you have a job. I have always thought the concept was backwards: public then private. The best manager I had as an auditor worked in private for years before going back into auditing, she had a great handle on how things really work. I feel so often the questions/concerns auditors have are based on not understanding of how private accounting works vs theory they learned in college. At least that's been my experience. So you could always sell your private accounting experience in an interview that you will require less on the job training and can apply the knowledge learned in private to being an effective auditor – maybe that's not what they want tho? Maybe someone who hires auditors could shed light on that. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Some people say it's easier to get a job when you have a job. I have always thought the concept was backwards: public then private. The best manager I had as an auditor worked in private for years before going back into auditing, she had a great handle on how things really work. I feel so often the questions/concerns auditors have are based on not understanding of how private accounting works vs theory they learned in college. At least that's been my experience. So you could always sell your private accounting experience in an interview that you will require less on the job training and can apply the knowledge learned in private to being an effective auditor – maybe that's not what they want tho? Maybe someone who hires auditors could shed light on that. 🙂

[MrCPA2B]

@dmars327 I agree. I feel like it would be best to have experience with both parts. I work in accounting for a manufacturing/direct mail company and often times I see external auditors stop by the company especially after year-end. Those external auditors often have many questions about certain things, I guess this help them understand internal controls and what not, but the way I see it someone who has had experience in private would know whats going on. Seeing both sides of the spectrum makes you a better candidate so I agree.. Thanks for your input!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[MrCPA2B]

@dmars327 I agree. I feel like it would be best to have experience with both parts. I work in accounting for a manufacturing/direct mail company and often times I see external auditors stop by the company especially after year-end. Those external auditors often have many questions about certain things, I guess this help them understand internal controls and what not, but the way I see it someone who has had experience in private would know whats going on. Seeing both sides of the spectrum makes you a better candidate so I agree.. Thanks for your input!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[ruggercpa2b]

I worked in Private for 5 years as an auditor and made the switch to Public. I worked under a CPA in Private and those 5 years will count for my experience sign off once I pass the exam. I had always wanted to work in Public but I think its because when I was in school Public accounting was what was always encouraged. I am not too crazy about Public and plan on going back to Private next year after passing the exam. It will be great for me to go back to Private with a Big 4 on my resume.

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.

[ruggercpa2b]

I worked in Private for 5 years as an auditor and made the switch to Public. I worked under a CPA in Private and those 5 years will count for my experience sign off once I pass the exam. I had always wanted to work in Public but I think its because when I was in school Public accounting was what was always encouraged. I am not too crazy about Public and plan on going back to Private next year after passing the exam. It will be great for me to go back to Private with a Big 4 on my resume.

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.

[MrCPA2B]

@ruggercpa2b Do you think that your private accounting experience has helped you in your current public accounting role?

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[MrCPA2B]

@ruggercpa2b Do you think that your private accounting experience has helped you in your current public accounting role?

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Anonymous]

Since my third year of college, I have worked in private for the past 8 years, and just recently (09/2013) started at a private forensic accounting firm. My manager used to be a Sr. Audit Mgr at a Big 4, and said he loathed it. He didn't agree with the recruiting process (only hire fresh grads and burn them out with little reward and regard for work/life balance), but he valued the things he learned through various cases and felt like it helped his abilities in private.

I personally never had the urge to work in public even after being fed the whole time in college that that's the route I need to go to succeed. I also believe a private job is a lot more willing to look past your GPA and other criteria and in turn focus on your personal traits and characteristics. They want someone personable most of the time who gets along with the team.

My 2 cents!

[Anonymous]

Since my third year of college, I have worked in private for the past 8 years, and just recently (09/2013) started at a private forensic accounting firm. My manager used to be a Sr. Audit Mgr at a Big 4, and said he loathed it. He didn't agree with the recruiting process (only hire fresh grads and burn them out with little reward and regard for work/life balance), but he valued the things he learned through various cases and felt like it helped his abilities in private.

I personally never had the urge to work in public even after being fed the whole time in college that that's the route I need to go to succeed. I also believe a private job is a lot more willing to look past your GPA and other criteria and in turn focus on your personal traits and characteristics. They want someone personable most of the time who gets along with the team.

My 2 cents!

[StephAV]

I think the entry level private positions are generally fewer and farther between?? My own experience when I graduated back in 2005 was there were about 10 CPA firms recruiting multiple grads per firm and then there was much fewer private industry recruiting 1 grad each. Also, I think there is a big push by college professors to go into public get your 2 years of experience there so that you can get an unrestricted license (or at least that is how it was in California but things are changing). Also, the tradition is once you have that public accounting experience the private industry is clammering for those people… Maybe clammering is a little exagerative? But in 2008 when I left public accounting I was getting lots of interviews and attention from recruiters.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Author]

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