[PCO2727]

Ok, so here is my situation. I am looking to one day become a CPA, but don’t have an accounting degree. I have a degree in business finance. However, I will have all education requirements for liscensure at the end of 2015. I have a 2.8 gpa so far from 2 different schools acumulated. I have no relevant work experience. So I am wondering how to actually get a job under a cpa so i can actually obtain my liscense and meet experience requirements.

My plan is to obtain my enrolled agent liscense, and at least get some experience preparing taxes this season at either a local firm or H&R block (at least SOMETHING concrete to put on a resume). By the time I actually get ready to apply to jobs, I will have my Enrolled agent, a tax season preparing taxes, and 2-4 sections of the CPA passed. I just wonder if this will be attractive enough to firms and employers to offer me a full time position. I know most people have an accounting degree, and a much better gpa. Im also going to be 29 at the time with only experience waiting tables to put on my resume. If there is any feedback or input or advice you guys can offer, I would appreciate it.

[PCO2727]

Anybody?

[MaLoTu]

I do not have a concrete or clear cut answers for you. However, I am in a similar situation in that I am 32 and just starting my accounting career. I have other work experience which I have found ways to make relevant to roles at a CPA firm. I suggest that you analyze some job listings to jobs you are interested in and try to tie the description or requirements into what you already do or have done.

I say this over and over, but networking is the only real way to get an advantage. You need to join your state's CPA society and look for networking opportunities. If you are a woman or a minority there may be other social outlets for financial professionals.

Hone in on what you want to do. Public or industry, there is a huge difference and if you want to go public they are going to want to know why.

Entry-level positions rely heavily on personality, which goes back to networking.

I wish I could be more help. It isn't as easy as it seems it should be to get into accounting 🙁

[PCO2727]

I have personality and thick skin. To be a waiter while going through school, you have to have those things. I have tons of experience directly facing customers (clients), and have plenty of cash handling experience as a waiter. I will be technically proficent at excel and quickbooks, as well as already passed all 4 cpa parts. I just hope that after that, my resume will get looked at. Ill take whatever I can get, though I would prefer to work at a local or regional firm where the hours are better (though pay is less). After a few years, I intend to go off and start my own practice. But I know how important the CPA credential is in showing competency to employers and clients

[MaLoTu]

Your biggest sale is going to be your expertise in dealing with clients. Accounting is a service based industry. You encounter jerks whether you are dealing with restaurant goers or managers at a corporation. I have been on a few interviews and customer service is important to these firms. Cash handling is going to be a lot less relevant. For most firms QB is not too important and Excel is a must, they don't even ask, it is expected that you know how to use it.

Even though you want to have your own practice I would not get into that at any interviews. They do not want to hire and train people that are going to leave in a few years. Although it seems like you would be showing ambition, they are interpreting that as throwing out money.

Definitely figure out how to network. All my interviews and recruitment has been a direct result of my networking. I have yet to hear back from a CPA firm where I solely submitted an app through their online system.

[PCO2727]

I wont mention the part about starting my own practice at all. Just get the proper training, do my job very well, and whenever the time is right, slowly transition. But as long as it seems hopeful for me to actual be considered a viable candidate, Im fine with paying my dues.

[Anonymous]

I can only offer my experience and opinions, although I don't know how well they will related to your specific situation.

Although I have many years experience waiting tables (and I believe there is no better way to get customer service skills), I do have more recent business experience. I have been a supervisor in accounts receivable in a Fortune 500 company and I have been the General Manager (running GL, AR, AP, HR & IT) for a small family-run business. But when I was looking for a job 2 yrs ago, I had a bachelor's, but it was was in Biology, and I could not even get an interview without some kind of degree in accounting. They were interviewing those with an associates & no experience, but not me. (Ok, I exaggerated, I did actually get one interview.)

The economic environment was a little different even two years ago, and your degree is at least related, so you may find circumstances different. But once I decided to go back to school and get a masters in accounting, the whole world changed. It turns out my school (a state school) is highly targeted by public accounting firms. In the classes, they would talk about how to get a job in public accounting. There were various events held by the school to get the students & the recruiters together. I joined Beta Alpha Psi, and that gave me more opportunities to meet & greet. I was able to go to school full time and will finish my degree (and other prerequitsites they gave me because I had no educational background in accounting) in a little over a year (started last summer, taking my last 2 classes this summer). I start at a Top 10 firm in the fall.

If you can, I would highly recommend going after your masters. I would do it at a state school so that you have more exposure to recruiters. I would join Beta Alpha Psi. I would do it in two years, rather than one, as that will give you two seasons of exposure. You will have a much better chance of landing a job if you can network, and it would be better if you can make contacts one year and then already know people when you are actually applying. Ask about internships. (I don't know much about them.) Especially if you are waiting tables, I think this could be extremely doable for you, but of course you will have to research & decide for yourself!

[Author]

Replies