[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

As the title suggests, I’m looking for advice on my near-future plans. Feel free to tear it apart if you please, of course.

I’m currently employed as a staff accountant, and am starting an online (real school, NASBA certified) accounting masters. I’ll be taking this 6 credits at a time, putting my graduation date at August 2015, though I’ll have 150 credits at the end of 2014. In the meantime, I hope to complete the CPA exam within the next year, starting with FAR in a couple months. Then, I will jump in full bore on the 2014 recruiting season with CPA exams (one can only hope) and grad GPA in hand. I’ll be networking as much as I can in the meantime.

I should note that my undergrad GPA (graduated last May) was a 3.2… my freshman year was rough (aka drunk immaturity). I hope to mitigate this with passing the exam and having a good grad GPA. My goal is essentially a regional firm or larger, I would be happy with that.

What kind of position for recruiting would I be (as in what kind of firms are out of reach, what ones are in range, etc), assuming I have a good grad GPA and have the exam passed?

Thanks for your input.

[tough_kitty]

All are within reach but all will start you at an entry level despite your education & experience if it's not in public accounting.

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

[tough_kitty]

All are within reach but all will start you at an entry level despite your education & experience if it's not in public accounting.

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

[barelystayingsane]

Sounds like a great plan! 3.2 is not a bad GPA, especially if you can explain how you worked hard to bring it up from freshman year. With the CPA exams finished and a grad degree, you should have access to a lot of opportunities. I presume you've checked this out already, but just to be sure…some states won't let you start taking the exams until the degree in which you achieved 150 credits is complete (if that makes sense). So even though you'll have 150 credits by the end of next year, your state may not allow you to take the exams until closer to your graduation date in 2015. Sounds like you have a handle on things, so you've probably already looked into this, but I like to make sure people have all their bases covered! Good luck!

[barelystayingsane]

Sounds like a great plan! 3.2 is not a bad GPA, especially if you can explain how you worked hard to bring it up from freshman year. With the CPA exams finished and a grad degree, you should have access to a lot of opportunities. I presume you've checked this out already, but just to be sure…some states won't let you start taking the exams until the degree in which you achieved 150 credits is complete (if that makes sense). So even though you'll have 150 credits by the end of next year, your state may not allow you to take the exams until closer to your graduation date in 2015. Sounds like you have a handle on things, so you've probably already looked into this, but I like to make sure people have all their bases covered! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input guys.

Exam wise I am all set for sitting since I live in NY, FAR is in November!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input guys.

Exam wise I am all set for sitting since I live in NY, FAR is in November!

[Author]

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