[Lisa_Jane]

I majored in Art years ago and even got a Masters in Fine Arts, but I realized that I didn’t want to teach art as I originally planned. While I was in college I worked at a bank and I loved working with numbers. I did accounts receivable at a doctor’s office and enjoyed that, too. I got a job as an Executive Assistant at a Big 4 Accounting firm and met a lot of great people who encouraged me to study accounting, which I did. I earned a post bachelor’s accounting certificate at a well-known university. I took 54 credits in Accounting and Business classes to sit for the CPA exam. I passed the CPA exam a few years ago. I got a job at a not for profit doing sales and use tax and the Form 990 and other state reporting returns. I’ve been here nearly 5 years and there is no chance for promotion because people rarely leave. I really want to do more with accounting and I’ve had recruiters contact me, but more and more companies are rejecting me because I don’t have an actual Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, even though I’m a CPA. One recruiter told me that she had a job seeker with a degree in Music who was a CPA with good accounting experience, but his lack of accounting degree prevented him from getting interviews.

I’d like to get some experience with internal audit and corporate federal taxation. I was wondering if a small CPA firm might be a good idea. Does anyone have any ideas how I can break out of my career rut and deal with this issue about being a CPA without a Bachelor’s in Accounting?

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[CISNC]

Our firm is alway looking for staff. Want to forward me your resume? We are located in dc. I don't think we have pm here but I dont want to break any site rules…

FAR - Pass
AUD - Pass
BEC - Pass
REG - September

[PNS2CLT]

If it puts your mind at ease, you should pursue a second degree — between the credits you earned for your bachelor's and certificate, you might already be there and if you aren't, at most it'll be a few classes. But I doubt it's what's holding you back — passing the CPA demonstrates mastery of the entire undergraduate accounting curriculum as well as basic business classes (economics, finance, etc). Are there issues with the way you present yourself? Is your work experience lacking? Do you lack professional references?

Most colleges & universities offer lifetime employment assistance; check and see if the schools you attended do so. Nearly all medium & large CPA firms utilize campus recruiting to fill entry-level positions, so if you're interesting in pursuing that position, participating in the campus recruiting process (meet-and-greets, career fair, etc.) may be a viable option. The downside is that starting salary for entry-level staff positions is typically non-negotiable. But hey, if they're aware of you, they might have something else. Never hurts to ask!!!

[Anonymous]

Any recruiter who doesn't know a CPA>BS Accounting either doesn't know what they are talking about or you are applying for too junior of jobs meant for recent grads without a CPA. I don't think you should be showcasing the fine arts degree/experience on your resume, though. You should be showcasing your accounting experience.

[Lisa_Jane]

@CISNC I have to figure out a way to contact you. I will ask Jeff. Sorry- I have not checked this blog in awhile!

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[Lisa_Jane]

@Akkula The problem is that I probably don't have enough experience. A co-worker who is a CPA got a Senior position at a local gov't and she basically already does everything in the job description at the old job as the new job. I work at a not-for-profit and I don't do a lot of federal tax because we do mostly SALT and the Form 990. So, I lose out because of no federal tax experience and no public experience for the jobs I want.

I list my bachelor's degree as “Bachelor of Arts” and for some reason they always ask about it and I say I majored in Art. I don't dwell on it but it becomes an issue with recruiters.

I interview very well (I'm told) and I have good coaches. I make a great appearance I'm told. My lack of experience is the problem I'm learning. In this job market you have to already do the things in the job description. They don't want to teach you if they can get someone who already does it.

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[Anonymous]

Lisa, I think you're probably right that the lack of job experience is more important than the lack of accounting degree. However, if you really think that the art degree is hurting you, do you think you could deflect the question somehow? Like when they ask what it is in, say something like “Oh, it's a totally unrelated field”, and then see if they drop it? Or, alternatively, find a way to tie it in or use that question to sell yourself. “My degree is in Art, because I had wanted to teach art at the college level; however, while I was in school, I had part-time jobs in the business and accounting world, and decided that I'd prefer to pursue accounting, since I enjoyed it more”, or something like that (only if it's true of course 🙂 ). I think a lot of times people see someone with an unrelated degree and think “s/he really wants to be doing ____ and is just interested in this job to pay the bills for a couple months till they find their way back into their preferred career”, so if you can find a way to make mention of your unrelated degree also be something that points back to what you're applying for, that may help. I'll admit that I've interviewed people that had a degree in XYZ and it sounded like their 10-year plan was to be established in XYZ career, and my thought was “If I hire them, they'll be looking for the first ship out to move to XYZ, cause accounting and XYZ have nothing in common”. So, if you're feeling like the art degree discussion changes the tide of your interviews, it may be due to assumptions like these, and you might be able to find a way to deflect them.

However, your conclusion that the experience is really the problem is probably more likely. Your first post had asked about small accounting firms, and at a quick scan of the thread, I'm not sure anyone's really addressed that. I would think that would be a good place to try, though. Often things like 990's and SALT are pains in their side, so your expertise in that could be valued. Especially if you were to add some experience through VITA or a program like that so that you had experience with basic federal tax returns, I'd think you'd be able to offer attractive skills for a smaller-size accounting firm. That might help you to branch out of the narrow set of knowledge you currently have. I think, too, that small firms are more likely to accept something different than the standard set of requirements, since they're not as set in stone with their policies. Some small firms are very egotistical and if you didn't do exactly what the owner did, they don't talk to you (so, if s/he took 6 hours of Fed Tax and 3 of auditing, you'd have better not done 6 of auditing and 3 of Fed Tax!), but others are very open to different career paths. Small firms often pay less, but if you're wanting to make a move that may be a compromise you'll have to make.

[MOAC]

Like most posters here mention that you should focus on your certification and experience on your resume. write a career summary which summarizes your experience and certification. Your education should be towards the bottom of your resume. Like most people I am also quite surprised that you're being turned down due to your degree. At this stage of your career your degree shouldn't really matter. After CPA's license most employers don't even care about your major, at least that what I have been told.
You should send out your resume to small to midsize public accounting firms they would care about your CPA license much more than private sector employers. also you need to look into government civil line examinations. You have to apply to experienced jobs. They come under “promotion jobs”. Also there are many senior accountant government jobs as well which you can apply directly. I think you will qualify for those jobs.

Good luck! Don't think you're in a bad place just need to try a bit harder.

FAR May 2012 81 (lost credit, didn't sit for other sections.)
FAR 86 Aug 2015
AUD 85 Nov 2015
BEC 84 Dec 2015
REG 78 Mar 2016

Passed ALL sections in first attempt!!

[Lisa_Jane]

@MOAC- thank you very much for taking the time to reply and I will definitely follow your advice. There is a small local CPA firm and I know a recruiter who would love to get me in there, but I am not ready to take the public plunge yet.

@Lilla- I really appreciate your detailed reply and you are right- I never thought that they were thinking that I was just interested in paying the bills. I thought they considered artists flaky. I actually haven't painted in so long but I keep up with my interest in art. The truth is I worked at a bank when I was in school and I love working with numbers. Customers who were accountants were telling me to study accounting (and how I wish I had then). So, I will weave a concise explanation about my art degree. I think they ask because they want to make sure I have a degree.

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[Anonymous]

Are you talking about linkdin recuriters? I'd be extremely skeptical about anything an unsolicited recruiter told me. Extremely. In fact I'm annoyed that anyone would pitch that to you, because it's so implausible. You have studied accounting and you don't need a consise explanation about your MFA. People might bring it up in an interview because it's a great conversation starter. It's not a negative – not even a little – if you have a certificate and a liscence.

[Lisa_Jane]

@CPA2021 – Everyone I've interviewed asks about the art degree. I don't take the unsolicited recruiters that seriously, but I've seen so many job postings where they say you must have an accounting degree or you won't be considered. Thanks for your feedback!

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[Missy]

Don't take job listings at face value especially the requirements part. They throw things in like “BS Accounting required”-but the truth is that's only to discourage people with no accounting aptitude at all from applying. I think your biggest challenge is that with a CPA employers assume you'd bounce from an entry level job as soon as you got a better offer and you don't have the experience they expect for senior position. It's not an impossible obstacle but you'll likely have to work harder to find something than some of your competition will.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[gigabyte2001]

As a hiring manager, I once had HR software ignore a candidate who was graduating with his Bach in Acct'g the following month. That led to hiring the employee-who-wouldn't-work, firing said employee, and fortunately the other guy applied again when the job was reposted and I promptly hired him. Simply put, the software decided he didn't meet the required qualifications so it didn't select him. After that, I insisted HR give me EVERY RESUME that came through the door or alternately, I go direct to a temp agency so I can get around my own HR dept.

B - 11/11/16
A - 4/16/16 87!!
R - 2/17/17
F - 7/26/16 - Waiting for 8/23

[Lisa_Jane]

@mla11692 and @gigabyte2001
Thanks for the feedback and perspective. I am hanging in there and not giving up. I check online postings every day and one of these days the right job and I will meet. I really appreciate everyone's feedback and support!

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[Anonymous]

I went back to school and took classes in Accounting (my bachelor's was in another business discipline).

I was close enough to a degree (with ACTG classes + transfer credits) that I took the extra 2 classes and finished a degree, so I can say I have an accounting degree. This is to get past the HR gatekeepers who are looking for a degree in accounting.

[Author]

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