[Knicks1000]

Hi guys, great forum and really love all of the great advice on here. My situation right now is that I am planning on looking for my next job, and have been in contact with a few recruiters. I feel that it is time to move on, and have a meeting with a recruiter next week. I am at the senior level at a mid size CPA firm. What my end goal is, is eventually to own my CPA practice as a sole practitioner (possibly buy a retiring owned CPA firm). When I meet with the recruiter should I tell him this? It may not be for a year or so before I start the process of actually looking to buy a firm, but I really don’t see myself long term anywhere after this job. I was thinking I can mention to him if there are any small firms with a partner track and mention I am interested in eventually having my own practice. And also this is just a dream of mine, there is no guarantee I will definitely be able to buy or own a practice….but it is something on my mind. So I do not know if it is wise to tell the recruiter my long term goals. Thanks

[acamp]

I'd work backwards from your goal.

Goal is to own a firm by way of acquisition. Which means you need cash or credit.

Do you see yourself having enough cash to purchase a business?

If not, are you willing to take out a loan? This of course introduces a heightened level of risk.

Alternatively, you can have credit by way of experience, where the existing partner accepts payments from the business, but I would imagine it would be hard to convince an existing firm owner that an audit senior with 1 year of outside experience (given your target) has what it takes to ensure their practice will remain a going concern long enough to pay them off.

Might not be bad to hang out and reach a more senior level with your existing firm and then look for a target firm when you are (more) qualified to take it over. That way, you could specifically target a firm who is looking to sell, and you can go in with an explicit agreement about possible future ownership.

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California CPA

[acamp]

Oooooh right, what to tell the recruiter.

What positions do they currently think you are looking for?

I mean, do they think you're looking for a corporate accounting gig? Or are they trying to place you with smaller CPA firms?

If corporate accounting or private accounting (not public accounting), its not any wiser to tell a recruiter you might bounce in a year than you would a potential hiring manager. While recruiters get dollars for placement, good recruiters dont offer up poor prospects to their good clients (a poor prospect being someone who might leave in a year). So if this is the case, telling them your maybe plans, probably won't help you.

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

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