[Jack_J]

Hi CA CPA residents I have been approve by the CBA to write the CPA which I have target 2014 as my completion date I intend moving to CA permanently to practice the CPA .I am currently based in MD and want to start seeking for jobs in CA so that once I complete CPA I just do one/two year practice to satisfy the licensing requirement since I really have not worked under a CPA supervision .My quick question is how do I approach my job search (any suggested websites,agencies) and what is the employment situation like in CA. I really love the state great weather except the standard of living I am told is a bit high but once i get an accounting/auditing job I believe I should be fine. How easy is to get a job in CA applying from an out of state?

[NeverGiveUpCPA]

@Kitty…and by the way, I am NOT one of the state bashers. I LOVED my job with the state…worked there 10 years, but I have more opportunities in federal government.

[tough_kitty]

NeverGiveUpCPA: You left the state after 10 years? I guess I have plenty of time then 🙂 only has been 3 years for me (plus 4 years at CSUS but not in accounting).

I do love to travel! I am a traveling auditor now. So, I fly to SoCal a lot. Will be in downtown L.A. Feb 10-14 so maybe I'll see what Monk is talking about 🙂

I actually want the internal auditor job with Oracle which is 50% international travel but the rest is in the office in Redwood City, over 2hrs away from my house so not sure how to fix that problem without having to sell my house and renting it isn't an option. I don't want any strangers touching my stuff… 🙂

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

[tough_kitty]

NeverGiveUpCPA: You left the state after 10 years? I guess I have plenty of time then 🙂 only has been 3 years for me (plus 4 years at CSUS but not in accounting).

I do love to travel! I am a traveling auditor now. So, I fly to SoCal a lot. Will be in downtown L.A. Feb 10-14 so maybe I'll see what Monk is talking about 🙂

I actually want the internal auditor job with Oracle which is 50% international travel but the rest is in the office in Redwood City, over 2hrs away from my house so not sure how to fix that problem without having to sell my house and renting it isn't an option. I don't want any strangers touching my stuff… 🙂

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

[Liss, Master of Coin]

@Tough Kitty, CPA love the name change – congrats!

I love living is SoCal. Can't beat the weather. The other day it was mid 80s – in January!

The only part I dislike is that the cost of living here is very high; the person who said 90k in CA is worse off than 60k in the midwest has a point. But then again I don't have to run my heater in the middle of winter either so I guess I save money there. I personally rarely have to run the A/C; only on when it's over 100 degrees.

Most days I don't mind the traffic either, but I don't have to go over the hill anymore (I'm in Northern LA County). So no more dealing with Hollywood or the 405/101 for this girl. I can't handle Downtown, so have never lived or worked close enough to have to deal with that.

My dream is to afford a house at the beach! I spent Christmas over in Laguna, it's so beautiful there. Unfortunately the only way I'll ever be able to live there is if I win the lotto.

Maybe I'll spend next Christmas in San Diego and check out home prices there.

@mystical guy, I live in an area that has a lot of crazy forest fires, last one was in December. Fortunately none have come close to my house, so it hasn't been too bad. But I have seen several; most of the time I just see the smoke in the sky, but there have been a few close enough to make out the flames. I confirm every year with my insurance agent that my home owners insurance will cover me in case of a forest fire. If you just make sure you don't live near the mountains, you should be fine.

@Jack_J, regarding job searching, pick a few companies that you'd like to work for and check their websites for any job postings.

I work in the entertainment industry, this site I used when I first moved to CA is this: https://www.entertainmentcareers.net/jcat.asp?jcat=101 I haven't had to apply to anything in years so not sure if its still as good as it used to be.

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[Liss, Master of Coin]

@Tough Kitty, CPA love the name change – congrats!

I love living is SoCal. Can't beat the weather. The other day it was mid 80s – in January!

The only part I dislike is that the cost of living here is very high; the person who said 90k in CA is worse off than 60k in the midwest has a point. But then again I don't have to run my heater in the middle of winter either so I guess I save money there. I personally rarely have to run the A/C; only on when it's over 100 degrees.

Most days I don't mind the traffic either, but I don't have to go over the hill anymore (I'm in Northern LA County). So no more dealing with Hollywood or the 405/101 for this girl. I can't handle Downtown, so have never lived or worked close enough to have to deal with that.

My dream is to afford a house at the beach! I spent Christmas over in Laguna, it's so beautiful there. Unfortunately the only way I'll ever be able to live there is if I win the lotto.

Maybe I'll spend next Christmas in San Diego and check out home prices there.

@mystical guy, I live in an area that has a lot of crazy forest fires, last one was in December. Fortunately none have come close to my house, so it hasn't been too bad. But I have seen several; most of the time I just see the smoke in the sky, but there have been a few close enough to make out the flames. I confirm every year with my insurance agent that my home owners insurance will cover me in case of a forest fire. If you just make sure you don't live near the mountains, you should be fine.

@Jack_J, regarding job searching, pick a few companies that you'd like to work for and check their websites for any job postings.

I work in the entertainment industry, this site I used when I first moved to CA is this: https://www.entertainmentcareers.net/jcat.asp?jcat=101 I haven't had to apply to anything in years so not sure if its still as good as it used to be.

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[samdiegoCPA]

I'm in PB in San Diego and it's not that much more expensive than anywhere else. Yes, we pay more for rent, but we also pay so little in gas and electric compared to the midwest (where I am originally from). We pay so little for produce and organic food compared to the midwest.

One bedroom is about 1000-1700 in my neighborhood.

Look on craigslist and indeed.com for jobs.

*Pacific Beach is right on the water extending directly out east about 2 miles. We also have the bay right south of us, I walk from my house to the bay in 3 mins and walk to the ocean in probably 10-12 minutes.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[samdiegoCPA]

I'm in PB in San Diego and it's not that much more expensive than anywhere else. Yes, we pay more for rent, but we also pay so little in gas and electric compared to the midwest (where I am originally from). We pay so little for produce and organic food compared to the midwest.

One bedroom is about 1000-1700 in my neighborhood.

Look on craigslist and indeed.com for jobs.

*Pacific Beach is right on the water extending directly out east about 2 miles. We also have the bay right south of us, I walk from my house to the bay in 3 mins and walk to the ocean in probably 10-12 minutes.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[tough_kitty]

Liss_will_be_a_CA_CPA – thank you so much 🙂 at least 2 people noticed 🙂 I partially copied the name idea from Lilla, but I hope she doesn't mind 🙂

And yes! A house by the beach is my dream too. One day, maybe…..

I don't think $90K is a bad salary in CA comparing to $60K in the Midwest. I'd rather make $30K in CA which I did when I worked at CSUS and I was able to survive and even bought a decent car. But it was in Sacramento. Now, I make more but it seems like it's never enough 😉 …happens when you buy a house and want it to look pretty but I get to enjoy it!

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

[tough_kitty]

Liss_will_be_a_CA_CPA – thank you so much 🙂 at least 2 people noticed 🙂 I partially copied the name idea from Lilla, but I hope she doesn't mind 🙂

And yes! A house by the beach is my dream too. One day, maybe…..

I don't think $90K is a bad salary in CA comparing to $60K in the Midwest. I'd rather make $30K in CA which I did when I worked at CSUS and I was able to survive and even bought a decent car. But it was in Sacramento. Now, I make more but it seems like it's never enough 😉 …happens when you buy a house and want it to look pretty but I get to enjoy it!

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

[tough_kitty]

Wow, I just found out it costs $450 to renew my green card! I guess I'll be better off applying for the US citizenship before my green card expires….

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

[tough_kitty]

Wow, I just found out it costs $450 to renew my green card! I guess I'll be better off applying for the US citizenship before my green card expires….

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

[mystical guy]

Thanks so much, everyone. I'm trying to get a hold of a printer to print all these useful comments lol. My first job interview is in Cleveland, Ohio. It's frozen but glad we're heading toward Spring. Interestingly, my buddy just quit his Ohio job and is moving to LA for PWC.

@Tough Kitty, CPA, good luck with applying for Citizenship. My G.C. expires in 10 years but thinking of taking that citizenship test too. hmm… First things first, getting a job lol

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

Thanks so much, everyone. I'm trying to get a hold of a printer to print all these useful comments lol. My first job interview is in Cleveland, Ohio. It's frozen but glad we're heading toward Spring. Interestingly, my buddy just quit his Ohio job and is moving to LA for PWC.

@Tough Kitty, CPA, good luck with applying for Citizenship. My G.C. expires in 10 years but thinking of taking that citizenship test too. hmm… First things first, getting a job lol

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Author]

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