[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am currently study for my CPA right now and I am wondering if anyone can give me some advice regarding my career change.

I got a job as media research specialist at a large corporation, after 8 months I realized I love Excel and financial modeling too much so I quit my job and completed my 150 hours at a community college.

I recently just finish my 150 hours requirement, and I am studying for my CPA at the moment. Honestly, I don’t find the CPA that challenging like most folks here (Not sure if it is a good thing or bad thing), but I do have to admit that there are a lot of materials. Ultimately it is how much you “Understand” rather than how much memorize you know.

I am currently working as IT/Staff Accountant at a medium size manufacture company (Cash Basis. Yuck) and I automate Excel reporting using Excel VBA, computer diagnose. My responsibilities include monthly bank reconciliation, payroll, internal audit, and some other office works. It is not a big company and I literally automated all the reporting, so basically I have very little to do at work except browsing internet and study CPA.

I am currently looking for position at public accounting, but I don’t know where to start. Now a day public accounting either recruit directly through colleges or referrals, so I am at a loss here.. I am highly experienced with Excel (Vlookup, Excel VBA/Macro, Nesting bunch formulas together, creating complicate pivot tables, etc). I am looking into Financial Analysis and Public Accounting. Any advice?

[potatogun]

Networking would be the way to improve your chances along with just trying to apply as much as you can.

Not sure why you want to go the public route if you enjoy financial analysis though.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

[Anonymous]

Hey Potatogun,

Thanks for your replay. Well, couple of my friends who work for CPA (although we are not really close) they always talk about how challenging their work is and how much they use Excel and I enjoy being able to work with people a lot. And I am not exactly sure how to penetrate financial analysis field at a large company since most of them want the people from top tier school with high GPA. (I was working 2 full-time jobs and going to school full-time to pay for my tuition, so my overall GPA is 3.0 and my major is 3.4, which is not very impressive).

I do a lot volunteer works (Tax Assistance Program and tutoring on the side even while I am studying and working full-time). I applied couple jobs and e-mail several e-mails to recruiters at large public accounting firms (not big 4) and I haven't heard anything back from them. Due to this is tax and audit season so I am not putting my hope high at this point.

My job was fun in the beginning when everything was new and challenging, but now everything is improved and automated, I just don't see my point staying with my company anymore since most of the works I do are office work.

So yeah, I am stuck like a stick.

[potatogun]

You definitely can impress a recruiter with your full time working while going to school to ‘excuse' your GPA. That's definitely more impressive than getting say at 3.75+.

You just need to network as much as you can to get that introduction so you can impress someone with your experiences.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement. Yeah, I am networking as much as I can, however, sometimes I feel rude to ask the people I just met regarding any job position available. It just makes me look desperate won't you agree? I want to make sure whoever refer me knows my qualifications and my capability for a job that I am applying to. After all my job performance will impact their reputation if I do not meet the company's expectation, and that's the last thing I want.

Potatogun, if you don't mind ask, do you work for Public Accounting? If so what is it like? For some reason, working for regional size + Public Accounting just sound really attractive to me. And you sound like you have a lot of experience in term of Accounting, Networking, and Building Personal Relationship.

Right now, my goal is to pass the CPA which is going to starting from April and end in August, then I am going to take my GRE and hopefully I score high enough for me to get into a top tier school with good master in finance program. I do intend to study for CFA in the future. (I skimmed through the material and I actually found them very fun. Not sure if that's the word I am looking for)

[I can do it cpa]

@ChiTownExcelAddict,

Could I ask about your experience with Tax Assistance Program ?

IL
FAR-80 |BEC-85 |REG-72,82|AUD-81 |Ethics-Done
Getting it done in 2010! -> GOT IT DONE IN 2010

[Anonymous]

Sure. What do you want to know about the tax program? lol I live in Evanston. By any chance do you live in Chicago too?

[Anonymous]

I volunteer with Go Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program on Saturdays. I choose this one over others because this one is the most organized and with the best opportunities in term of networking. I met many CPAs (all Big4 are sponsors of the program), professionals, and other college students via this program. I love it though personally because I am into volunteering, and great experience too.

[I can do it cpa]

What are the chances! I also live in Evanston!

I will definitely look into it! Thank you so much for sharing!

IL
FAR-80 |BEC-85 |REG-72,82|AUD-81 |Ethics-Done
Getting it done in 2010! -> GOT IT DONE IN 2010

[Anonymous]

Haha. Wow. Where do you live? I live by McCormick and Oakton. If you are interested in volunteering just let me know, I can give you more information.

Do you work for Public Accounting by any chance?

[I can do it cpa]

I live near Northwestern campus on Chicago ave. I'm currently working for a healthcare company in Evanston and also interested in going into public accounting now that I passed all of my exams. I've been looking into LIFT program since there's one in Evanston but I'd love to get more info on Ladder Up too!

IL
FAR-80 |BEC-85 |REG-72,82|AUD-81 |Ethics-Done
Getting it done in 2010! -> GOT IT DONE IN 2010

[Anonymous]

NIce. I think LIFT is more towards college students and is focus more on financial assistance program overall. (The requirement is also more strict in term of volunteering)

Ladder Up is mainly focus on filing income tax for low-income families where you will actually meet people from different industries and different professions. I met bunch CPAs (Since Big 4 are major sponsors of the program) and people who are in the bank industries through the program. It is a little bit far, but the experience and the network opportunities is well worth it.

[Anonymous]

ChiTown, you might consider finding contract work with a good contracting agency, maybe Robert Half or I know some tech type companies that you might consider. It gives you the opportunity to work a lot of different areas and if you find a company you like and do good work they tend to hire you on.

When I did contract work as a project manager I enjoyed it very much and once I finish my CPA this year and work on my CFE/CFA I want to do contract work again.

[Anonymous]

ChiTown:

Have you ever thought of forensic accounting? I work in Forensic Accounting for a large regional acctg firm (PA). If you like accounting and databases it might be something to look into. Sometimes we deal with very large data sets that we have to analyze.

Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

@ ChiTownExcelAddict

“I don't find the CPA that challenging like most folks here (Not sure if it is a good thing or bad thing),”

Wow, that has to be the most smug thing I have ever heard and thats showing alot of disrespect to alot of people here. Yeah I wish i could take it easy at work like, but unfortunately some of us have to work our butt off in this economy and then go home dead tired and start opening a book at 10pm. I espcially have a lot of respect to those who have kids on top of everything too.

Sorry to the rest of this forum, but that just really bugged me.

[Anonymous]

Hey Car16015 – No I never looked into forensic accounting since I don't have much information about it. Would you mind giving me more detail?

Drod- Sorry if I offend anyone and shown any sign of arrogance, I wasn't trying to be brag or anything just a personal opinion. I work full-time just like everyone else does on the forum, and I volunteer on a weekly basis at for a Tax Assistance Program waking up 5am in the morning and other errands which make me to use every minutes and second I get to study for the CPA efficiently.

I just landed an interview with Grant Thornton for a Financial Analysis position on Thursday and I hope I get it. I have been preparing for this interview literally 3-4 hours non-stop.

[Author]

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