[GSU-CPA]

My initial plan was to go to a regional firm or one of the big 4 firms but lately i am strongly against that idea mainly because i cant even imagine working 55-60 hrs. Even though i work from 8:30-5:30 i still feel like most of my time is spent at work and i can only imagine how it would be if i actually worked 12hr shits.

Another thing is i really like the job i am in now and i just dont see my self leaving. I am in private sector with a company that is growing.

Furthermore i just started a side business with a friend so i barely have time to study.

As i await my REG score on August 1 i keep asking my self will CPA really benefit me that much considering i have no plans to go into public accounting. Would my time be better spent focusing on my side business?

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[kwebbvols2344]

I work for a large corporation and a CPA is a must for promotions.

AUD: 4/2
BEC: 5/14
FAR: 7/30
REG:

[UNC MAcc]

“I work for a large corporation and a CPA is a must for promotions. “

THIS

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Anonymous]

“‘I work for a large corporation and a CPA is a must for promotions. ‘

THIS”

+1

I work for a F500 company and most of the people involved in financial reporting (Controller, Ast Controller, Dir Internal Audit, Manager Financial Controls) are CPAs. It's possible to move up without being a CPA if you're not interested in financial reporting but most finance/accounting jobs posted at my company say that “CPA or MBA or in the process of obtaining either is preferred”.

Just to be safe I'm becoming a CPA now and I'll get my MBA later.

[jpowell31]

i hope so because i never want to be in public and i'm going for it! it provides flexibility too i think. i'm in insurance for example….i have a lot of opportunities with this (huge global) company but…who knows where i'll end up. i'm still pretty young and don't know what i actually want to do so am just trucking along and keeping an eye out for opportunities, which seems like where you're headed. while i've gotten great experience i don't want the fact that i worked in a pretty small field in terms of accounting/managing hold back other opportunities should they arise.

it's also important for promotions, $$$ and perhaps if you want to own your own business one day.

boost yourself on paper where you can and it's relevant. if you're not big on personality, it helps and if you are big on personality some people may think you can talk the talk but not walk the walk…back it up

[How many letters do you need]

Ill even go a step further. I don't even plan on being in corporate accounting by the time I receive my CPA. I'm going back into corporate finance. I spent a good amount of my career chuckling at how big of a deal the CPA is, and especially in Finance I used to argue that it's not even relevant. Obviously my opinion has changed. I am going back into corporate finance a 10X stronger finance person than when I left. A part of that is the accounting experience I've gained over the last few years, and a large part is also the CPA. I've gained knowledge I never would have had otherwise, and taking that knowledge into finance really helps me to connect all the dots; it's a perspective most of my competition just doesn't have and since most CFOs have the CPA, they know it too. Add to that the respect the certification has, and how versatile it now makes me (in corporate versatile = valuable) and I say it's worth every penny and every drop of blood, sweat and tears.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Partially Deaf]

Having a CPA license is important for two reasons:

1.) Accounting is the language of business. The fact that the exams are “an inch deep but a mile wide” and that many just cram for the exams and forget the material notwithstanding, the knowledge gained from the test (at least in theory) is very useful.

2.) the CPA designation is widely known. With a CFA, people just think you're a certified financial planner, but laypeople will think more highly of you if you have a CPA license

MBA Candidate - UCLA Anderson School of Management

REG 89 - 4/9/2012
BEC 88 - 5/29/2012
AUD 93 - 8/20/2012
FAR 83 - 2/4/2013
-All passed on the first attempt!

CFA Level 1 - Passed on first attempt in June 2014

[Author]

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