[Kianoush]

Hello,

I haven’t really posted much on this forum, but now I’m in need of some serious advice. I won’t bore you with a lot of details, so the short version is that I received an offer letter to work for a public accounting firm in another state. This job has many benefits, some if which are that I don’t have to relocate, so I can pretty much work remotely with some occasional travel to the main office location. Another huge benefit is that the salary is excellent. However, one of the downsides is that I would have to travel frequently to the Middle East to a highly hazardous location, and although I was assured that security would be provide, this still makes me very nervous. Other than this last detail, this is pretty much my dream job. I have been trying to get into public accounting for years now, so this is my opportunity.

What would you do? Anybody been in a similar situation or know of anybody in a similar situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. When I talk to family and friends about this, they usually just make me doubt myself.

[ipasscpa]

I won't mind risking my life for public accouting; espically if it's a dream job..lolZZ(just kidding) Go for it and enjoy the journey. I would have taken this…good luck

CPA- VA

[ipasscpa]

I won't mind risking my life for public accouting; espically if it's a dream job..lolZZ(just kidding) Go for it and enjoy the journey. I would have taken this…good luck

CPA- VA

[Prove You Are A Human]

I would encourage you to ask some prying questions to the employer. Not all countries in the Middle East are extremely dangerous. What would they be doing to guarantee your safety while there? How long would your assignments be? Would you have an interpreter while there (if needed)?

On a lighter note, what sort of life insurance policy are they offering?

CPA

[Prove You Are A Human]

I would encourage you to ask some prying questions to the employer. Not all countries in the Middle East are extremely dangerous. What would they be doing to guarantee your safety while there? How long would your assignments be? Would you have an interpreter while there (if needed)?

On a lighter note, what sort of life insurance policy are they offering?

CPA

[Study Monk]

I probably wouldn't take it even though its a dream of mine to be able to work remotely. In risk of being politically incorrect I would be more open to taking a job like that if I appeared more ethnic. A security detail sounds kind of cool as it will make you feel important, but important people also make better hostages. Good Luck!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

I probably wouldn't take it even though its a dream of mine to be able to work remotely. In risk of being politically incorrect I would be more open to taking a job like that if I appeared more ethnic. A security detail sounds kind of cool as it will make you feel important, but important people also make better hostages. Good Luck!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[jeff]

I would find someone who has actually been to this location to get the scoop.

I traveled a year and a half ago to Honduras for a missions trip (drilling a water well in a remote village).

Honduras is the murder capital of the world and we traveled 8 hours in-country in a van without armed security and stayed at a motel in the middle of the country – again, without security.

The key was that the local organization there that was our host knew what was ok – and what wasn't.

For instance – we weren't allowed to go next door to the grocery store alone or outside at night, period.

It might be a situation that you don't want to be in – or it might be an awesome opportunity…you really don't know.

Would I go back to Honduras? Yes…absolutely. Is it still very dangerous? Yes…absolutely. Did I ever feel in danger? Never.

I just wanted to throw that out there.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

I would find someone who has actually been to this location to get the scoop.

I traveled a year and a half ago to Honduras for a missions trip (drilling a water well in a remote village).

Honduras is the murder capital of the world and we traveled 8 hours in-country in a van without armed security and stayed at a motel in the middle of the country – again, without security.

The key was that the local organization there that was our host knew what was ok – and what wasn't.

For instance – we weren't allowed to go next door to the grocery store alone or outside at night, period.

It might be a situation that you don't want to be in – or it might be an awesome opportunity…you really don't know.

Would I go back to Honduras? Yes…absolutely. Is it still very dangerous? Yes…absolutely. Did I ever feel in danger? Never.

I just wanted to throw that out there.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[acamp]

While staying in a hotel working on an IPO:

Me: …yeah nice hotel, but its kind of a sketchy area to walk through on the way to my hotel.

…

Manager: Ooooh, well, send me your carbons before you leave haha. (aka send me copies of the files you're working on)

To your question, ask them how frequent they require you to back up to a remove server, if its by the minute I'd be worried 😉

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

While staying in a hotel working on an IPO:

Me: …yeah nice hotel, but its kind of a sketchy area to walk through on the way to my hotel.

…

Manager: Ooooh, well, send me your carbons before you leave haha. (aka send me copies of the files you're working on)

To your question, ask them how frequent they require you to back up to a remove server, if its by the minute I'd be worried 😉

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

@OP – please clarify “highly dangerous location”

I've lived in Cairo for two years and have traveled to multiple countries in and around the region. The only “dangerous” countries perse are – Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen. If it's not one of these you'll be fine.

Don't believe everything the media tells you (i.e Fox News). Try being open to other cultures and you'll see how receptive those cultures are to you.

[Anonymous]

@OP – please clarify “highly dangerous location”

I've lived in Cairo for two years and have traveled to multiple countries in and around the region. The only “dangerous” countries perse are – Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen. If it's not one of these you'll be fine.

Don't believe everything the media tells you (i.e Fox News). Try being open to other cultures and you'll see how receptive those cultures are to you.

[Quinacridone]

I work for the Department of Defense as an auditor…one of the auditors in our office just got back from Afghanistan. Another was in Kuwait or Qatar (I don't remember the name) a little while back. All of the auditors that have gone there have come back not regretting the experience.

I think this is a really cool opportunity for you – as long as proper security is in place. Ask more questions – and see if they will let you talk to some of the other employees who have gone.

REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

Florida CPA 24 July 2014
(Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

[Quinacridone]

I work for the Department of Defense as an auditor…one of the auditors in our office just got back from Afghanistan. Another was in Kuwait or Qatar (I don't remember the name) a little while back. All of the auditors that have gone there have come back not regretting the experience.

I think this is a really cool opportunity for you – as long as proper security is in place. Ask more questions – and see if they will let you talk to some of the other employees who have gone.

REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

Florida CPA 24 July 2014
(Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

[Julia_anika]

Would you have to audit Al Qaeda's financial statements somewhere in Afgani village in the mountains?

If not, I thing you should be fine.

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[Author]

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