[Jeff987]

I’m a tax accountant (in public) and have a lot of free time since busy season. I don’t need any cpe till next year. What are some things I should learn or skills I should attain? Any other certs I should get?

Passed it

[Anonymous]

Maybe take the EA exam if you have some time on your hands and your serious about extending your tax career. Maybe even get a Masters in Taxation to enhance your overall knowledge in tax and excel with your company and your career as a tax accountant long-term. Hope that helps.

[mla1169]

Learn how to install laminate flooring lol! That's how I spend my weekends now that I'm done studying forever!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Skynet]

Try out for MMA. Be the first CPA to become UFC champion and represents all CPAs out there.

[Jeff987]

^^^Epic you two xDDD

I mean accounting related stuff that will help me in my career. Is CPA all there is for a tax accountant?

Passed it

[Anonymous]

Tax accounting is one of my primary interests and from what I've researched the EA is pretty much the gold standard for strictly tax accounting. However, having your CPA license already makes pursuing that particular license a bit impractical.

Have you thought of looking into pursuing a CFP or PFS credential? That's my next course of action once I've completed the CPA exam since I think a lot of the planning aspects tie in nicely with tax accounting. I know at least for the PFS credential (which is through the AICPA), tax planning counts towards the experience requirements needed, and the PFS requires less hours of experience overall than the CFP.

[Jeff987]

DW, I don't really want to go back to school. I agree with Amanda about the EA.

I'm not really interested in any financial planning stuff. I guess all there is now is learning more excel formulas and getting good at tax research.

Passed it

[Anonymous]

Super geek son is teaching me to write computer code. I'm still working on the basics of javascript. He says I have “A long, long, long, long way to go.” But it has kept me from going crazy the past 3 weeks. For a 16 year old, he's a pretty good teacher, but I'm kind of tired of hearing “Did you make sure your semicolon's are in the right place?”

[Jeff987]

Kricket, why are you learning to code?

Passed it

[Monkey Wrench]

^^ not that i am kricket, but coding is super interesting. and if you learn VBA then you can use it with all the office suite really easily.

[zieba]

Was just giving this topic some thought the other day. I'm going to pick up a books on advanced Excel and entry level Access skills. I want to be highly proficient in both.

After the CPA, I'm also going to tack on the CFE exam and I'd like a business valuation credential as well.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[san4596]

I am planning on learning another language after passing FAR. I live in Texas and there are a ton of Mexicans who cannot speak any english. So, I figure it would be best to learn their language to increase my marketability, and be able to hire some cheap labor when a large lawn project needs to be completed. 😉

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[zieba]

Sounds good! Now that you won't be running for office, like ever. lol

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Anonymous]

Well If I have passed Far then I am enrolling into a community college and will get some credits done so I can meet the 150 requirement.

So I will be super busy. Plus doing those courses will help me attain the CPE hours I need anyway for my other designation.

At some stage I will take a course in art and photography. it would be nice to learn something new.

Oh – I already know how to install flooring. I can do all three – floating, nail down or glue down. Glue down was the most messy but it was the best. My nails hated me for a few weeks…

[StephAV]

I also want to learn another language… My dream is to move to another country and use my CPA and my espanol! Sorry don't know how to do the n with the squiggly over it. That may be the first thing I'd learn. My spanish is not too bad. Not fluent but I understand pretty well.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Anonymous]

@Kriket “he's a pretty good teacher, but I'm kind of tired of hearing ‘Did you make sure your semicolon's are in the right place?'”

LOL!

me personally, i'm trying to learn some programming myself. thinking about switching to web development once i'm done w/the CPA. there are some programming bootcamps that have been trending these days. roughly $20k in cost, 12 weeks of 90-100 hour week intense lessons. but, they teach you everything you need to know to get a good tech job in the real world.

better than going back and taking on a huge debt (including opportunity cost of 2 years salary if you were to stop working to attend school) to obtain a masters or a 2nd undergrad in computer science.

i've heard good things: 90% graduation rate, $100k starting avg salary in San Francisco. they have very low admittance rate though, because they only want to admit people who they think will thrive. i'm guesstimating it would take me 5-7 years in public accounting to make $100k. plus, not sure i want to dedicate 5 months out of the year living in the office. i see my managers and i don't see how they can maintain their domestic obligations. it's got to be tough.

after a few years programming, coupled with CPA, who knows — maybe a business consultant? a programmer for CCH? ERP system implementor? any other ideas?

[Author]

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