[Allergic2CPA]

I have a few questions for those that have experience in the oil and gas industry, especially if located in Houston.

Not sure if this info is helpful but I have my MBA and CPA with 9 yrs. overall exp with none in the oil and gas industry.

I’m applying for a Management Accountant position with Schlumberger (supplier of technology to Oil and Gas clients). After working for this type of company, what type of exit opportunities can one have? I have no supervisory exp and the position does not offer any exp. Not sure how likely it would be to advance in this type of industry/company.

I’m looking for general pointers as to what areas to avoid in Houston as far as crime and traffic. In addition, what type of salary is sufficient for a single person. I haven’t been able to get promoted with my current employer so it seems that I’ll eventually have to find something in Houston or some other big city in Texas.

If you have exp in the oil and gas industry located anywhere, your feedback is more than welcomed!

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[Never_Give_Up1]

Yeah I am married and I don't drink… but I am still up for a good time! Be nice to experience things a little… at least for my wife's sake. She has never lived outside of a 5 block radius growing up until she married me.

Ill be out duck hunting in the winter and fishing in the summer.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[UCMCPA]

I will be married when I move as well. My fiance lived with me during my internship and we got to see some of the areas we were going to think about living at, etc.

From what I was told, and it ended up being true, it's a city where it doesn't matter how much you make, it only matters how much you spend

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

I will be married when I move as well. My fiance lived with me during my internship and we got to see some of the areas we were going to think about living at, etc.

From what I was told, and it ended up being true, it's a city where it doesn't matter how much you make, it only matters how much you spend

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Allergic2CPA]

@UCMCPA…which big 4 firm do you work for? I think my credentials are solid and not sure if GPA matters at this point but I did pull off a 3.5. SInce I have no public accounting experience, I presume I'll be considered entry level. Generally speaking, what type of salary range are we looking at regarding your firm in the Houston area for an entry level position? I'm definitely open to the idea of working for a big 4 but the salary might be a deal breaker.

I specifically mentioned OIl and Gas industry since an opportunity to work for such industry might become available but dont really know for sure and I dont necessarily have a specific desire to work in that industry.

I'm definitely looking for something that can propel my career and getting some type of position in a large international organization who just happens to be in one of the largest cities in one of the largest industries would help, at least I think it would. The other option is big 4 as it has many exit opportunities.

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[Allergic2CPA]

@UCMCPA…which big 4 firm do you work for? I think my credentials are solid and not sure if GPA matters at this point but I did pull off a 3.5. SInce I have no public accounting experience, I presume I'll be considered entry level. Generally speaking, what type of salary range are we looking at regarding your firm in the Houston area for an entry level position? I'm definitely open to the idea of working for a big 4 but the salary might be a deal breaker.

I specifically mentioned OIl and Gas industry since an opportunity to work for such industry might become available but dont really know for sure and I dont necessarily have a specific desire to work in that industry.

I'm definitely looking for something that can propel my career and getting some type of position in a large international organization who just happens to be in one of the largest cities in one of the largest industries would help, at least I think it would. The other option is big 4 as it has many exit opportunities.

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[tough_kitty]

@Never_Give_Up1 – You would “love” to move to Texas?? Where do you live now, if you don't mind me asking? 🙂

BTW, it's funny how our scores are so similar….I am wondering if I get another 81….. 🙂

Sorry for OT….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@Never_Give_Up1 – You would “love” to move to Texas?? Where do you live now, if you don't mind me asking? 🙂

BTW, it's funny how our scores are so similar….I am wondering if I get another 81….. 🙂

Sorry for OT….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[UCMCPA]

@allergic, PwC. In houston, I'm not sure. But for Dallas I start in the mid-low 50's with 5k bonus for exam + bonus at year end. I'm not sure if the COL is different between the two. Also, I'm not sure if you would be considered entry level, etc.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

@allergic, PwC. In houston, I'm not sure. But for Dallas I start in the mid-low 50's with 5k bonus for exam + bonus at year end. I'm not sure if the COL is different between the two. Also, I'm not sure if you would be considered entry level, etc.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Never_Give_Up1]

@tough_kitty I currently live in Utah. And I always said growing up, if I ever leave Utah, it will be for Texas. But right now since I am wanting to get back into public accounting I would go just about anywhere to get back in. I miss auditing bad.

Yeah when I got that last score I kind of chuckled at it. Almost wish I had gotten an 81 on audit. I would have started a thread in the passed section called “another 81.”

Good luck on Nov 10!

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[Never_Give_Up1]

@tough_kitty I currently live in Utah. And I always said growing up, if I ever leave Utah, it will be for Texas. But right now since I am wanting to get back into public accounting I would go just about anywhere to get back in. I miss auditing bad.

Yeah when I got that last score I kind of chuckled at it. Almost wish I had gotten an 81 on audit. I would have started a thread in the passed section called “another 81.”

Good luck on Nov 10!

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[tough_kitty]

@Never_Give_Up1 – I see. Well, I hope you get the job of your dreams soon! And in the dream location, too! My friend, a CPA in Utah and Idaho, lives in Utah and she always had tax jobs, so I guess auditing is not as popular out there?

Haha, I hear ya about the score….I was kind of glad to get a different score on REG or I was ready to think that those scores are fixed or something! I mean, what are the odds?!?

Thank you – I hope I get a passing score…doesn't have to be an 81 😉 but would be funny….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@Never_Give_Up1 – I see. Well, I hope you get the job of your dreams soon! And in the dream location, too! My friend, a CPA in Utah and Idaho, lives in Utah and she always had tax jobs, so I guess auditing is not as popular out there?

Haha, I hear ya about the score….I was kind of glad to get a different score on REG or I was ready to think that those scores are fixed or something! I mean, what are the odds?!?

Thank you – I hope I get a passing score…doesn't have to be an 81 😉 but would be funny….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[ti807910]

Background: I work for Big 4 and moved to Houston last year. Most of the office is oil and gas.

Oil and gas companies have a lot of money so the offices are really nice from the ones I've visited at clients. they have a lot of free things like snacks and soda and random fun stuff like ice cream parties. It's like they can't figure out more ways to spend their money because they have so much.

Most people work a few years at Big 4 and then switch to a nice comfy position somewhere between 70K-90K (if you left as a senior) or more if you left as a manager. Going to industry is end game so if you are not thinking this is a position where you want to spend the rest of your life, maybe go Big 4 instead if you can. The salary you start with is pretty much where you will end at.

In my opinion, Houston is pretty crappy. Crime is scattered all over the city so it's hard to find ‘safe' areas. In general, the Heights, Memorial, Galleria, etc are nice but very expensive. If you want safe and affordable, you'll have to move out of the city to Woodlands or Katy but look forward to nice long commute to work (at least one hour.) Traffic is horrible no matter what time or what place. It's ALWAYS bad.

FAR: 72, 68, 73, 78 (passed)
REG: 61, 70, 73, 63, 78 (passed)
AUD: 65, 84 (passed)
BEC: 89 (passed)

NASBA gave Doby a passing score, Doby is freeee!!

[ti807910]

Background: I work for Big 4 and moved to Houston last year. Most of the office is oil and gas.

Oil and gas companies have a lot of money so the offices are really nice from the ones I've visited at clients. they have a lot of free things like snacks and soda and random fun stuff like ice cream parties. It's like they can't figure out more ways to spend their money because they have so much.

Most people work a few years at Big 4 and then switch to a nice comfy position somewhere between 70K-90K (if you left as a senior) or more if you left as a manager. Going to industry is end game so if you are not thinking this is a position where you want to spend the rest of your life, maybe go Big 4 instead if you can. The salary you start with is pretty much where you will end at.

In my opinion, Houston is pretty crappy. Crime is scattered all over the city so it's hard to find ‘safe' areas. In general, the Heights, Memorial, Galleria, etc are nice but very expensive. If you want safe and affordable, you'll have to move out of the city to Woodlands or Katy but look forward to nice long commute to work (at least one hour.) Traffic is horrible no matter what time or what place. It's ALWAYS bad.

FAR: 72, 68, 73, 78 (passed)
REG: 61, 70, 73, 63, 78 (passed)
AUD: 65, 84 (passed)
BEC: 89 (passed)

NASBA gave Doby a passing score, Doby is freeee!!

[Author]

Replies