[gorbuha]

Any advice will be appreciated. A little about my background: I am originally not from the U.S. but have been living in the States for over 12 years now. I did not get my degree here but re-evaluated my foreign diploma and also took accounting classes here to accumulate enough units for the CPA exam. Now that I have passed all four parts I am finding it very difficult to find a job in public accounting to get the required 2 years of experience for the licensure. I would appreciate any advice….

FAR - 89
AUD - 84
BEC - 84
REG - 49, 86
ETHICS - 96........ DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

The accounting experience doesn't necessarily have to be from public accounting to get your license. States' rules vary but usually general accounting, even accounting clerk level work, will qualify. Just make sure somebody with a CPA license is there so they can sign off.

As for catching on with a firm, apply to every job you can and be willing to move. Small firms are great too, so don't shy away from them.

[gorbuha]

But don't I need to get 400 audit hours?

FAR - 89
AUD - 84
BEC - 84
REG - 49, 86
ETHICS - 96........ DONE!!!

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Depends on the state. You can transfer your exam credit to another state that has experience requirements that you meet. Massachussets just requires a Masters degree for a non-reporting CPA, Colorado does not require experience neither but requires certain master level accounting classes, but they are changing soon (July 2015) from what I hear.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[pedrocerrano]

I was in a similar situation to yours last year. I had my CPA license with no experience (Colorado and Massachusetts allow you to be licensed with no experience). I had been years out of school and so no public accounting firms were interested, I believe partly because hadn't worked in awhile and (maybe) because I wasn't part of a campus recruiting cohort. But I wanted to do whatever it took to prove myself. so to get back in the game I networked at state society of CPA events and got my resume sent off to a few recruiters in the city. Through them I landed a paid hourly tax internship in private industry designed mostly for recent college grads (which I wasn't), but the company really had a need for a ton of help with the 9/15 and 10/15 corporate tax deadlines and thought id be a big help. Worked hard as an intern for awhile and then some opportunities in entry level or slightly above entry level public accounting (large and mid size) opened up for me.

[Anonymous]

^ Like ScarletKnightCPA said, depends on the state.

I'm in the great state of Washington (NOT D.C.) and they do not require audit hours. I have a friend in Alaska and he was required to get audit hours.

[Mayo]

Networking is your only option at this point. I'd do a search for “networking” on this forum. There's literally tons of good info for people in your shoes.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[gorbuha]

This is pretty disappointing to hear that networking is my only option now :(((((

FAR - 89
AUD - 84
BEC - 84
REG - 49, 86
ETHICS - 96........ DONE!!!

[Mayo]

Well, the main pipeline for accounting jobs at the entry level is university campuses. Outside of cold calling and applying for jobs, there's not much else to do beyond good ol' networking.

I mean this can encompass a lot of things, but I didn't feel like regurgitating a ton of info already out there.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[gorbuha]

If I search the posted jobs on LinkedIn is this called “networking”?

FAR - 89
AUD - 84
BEC - 84
REG - 49, 86
ETHICS - 96........ DONE!!!

[Mayo]

no. Get out and network.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Sir Study Alot]

Its kind of late in the year to take my approach but I basically enrolled in a masters program with the main goal to go to their recruiting fair. I will be on my 3rd and 4th class and will be able to put myself in front of 28 firms in the meet the firms event next week. Like you I recently passed the CPA exam and I will see if that is enough to get an internship/job offer. Chances are if I do not get an offer I will not finish the program,but it is one way to put yourself in front of firms. The experiment will cost me 12k…

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Sir Study Alot]

posted twice…

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[pedrocerrano]

Networking within your state society of CPAs could really help.

Start by attending all the state society CPA meetings you can and ask for advice from them on how to find a job. Some of them won't be of much help but they will likely introduce you to someone who can help you.

Get your resume submitted to some internships out there. Maybe a financial staffing recruiter will get a hold of it and be on contact with you and you at least establish an ongoing relationship while you're out there looking

Another option would be to visit a temp agency like robert half Accountemps and others and just take an hourly job for now to get some experience doing something – it probably won't be CPA work and it may not even be accounting work per se but just getting yourself involved in the corporate world would help and then while you have the BS low paying hourly job, keep in touch with recruiters letting them know you want public and keep attending CPA society events. I would think within 6 months something will pop up.

[Author]

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