[Anonymous]

I have been finding out how difficult it is to find work in the current job market for CPA candidates, especially with regards to software. I have seen job postings citing software and programming languages that I have either never used, or even never heard of, but are of particular interest to employers (examples include: Peoplesoft, SQL, SAP ERP, etc). From your experiences, what software is most beneficial to a CPA or CPA candidate?

*rankings and explanations appreciated 🙂

[spongfunk]

Focus on Excel. Honestly learning any other software at this point is just a waste of time. Not all firms use the same software so you may spend 2 weeks learning prosystem and then get hired on at a firm that uses a proprietary system that you couldn't possibly have had access to ahead of time. Instead of focusing on mastering different software at this point, focus on writing a really strong resume, networking, and most importantly, perfect your interviewing skills.

FAR: 85
AUD: 80
REG: 78
BEC: 82

[Liss, Master of Coin]

Hello everyone,

I dug out an old post because I have a similar question.

Last night I saw a job that would be great for me, part time looking for a CPA candidate (which would be great, because it's for a company I'd like to work for, it would help me earn the experience requirement for my CPA license; since it's part time I could do this without having to quit my current job.) Even though I'm still studying for the exam, I know I'll regret it if I don't at least apply for the job.

This job specifically says “SAP preferred.”

I've never worked with it. I'd just hate to think that I didn't get it because I currently haven't used a program that I can learn quickly.

So I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about it.

What is it? I'm picturing something that is part Quickbooks accounting program and part Filemaker database.

Also, does anyone know of a free demo site anywhere or even a course I can take to learn about it on my own? In the past I tried looking myself, but there appeared to be multiple versions of SAP so I got confused.

Thanks!

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[abranaugh]

SAP is a very large and expensive ERP system that comes in different modules. Each module deals with different business areas, so there are supply chain, finance, etc. I have worked with it, but on a developer level and only with the business intelligence area. I know the finance are is part of the business suite, but thats the extent of my knowledge of the finance and accounting section. When I worked with the BI module, it had a very outdated user interface, I am not sure if I was working with an older version, but I am assuming the user interface is similiar between the different suites. Here is a link to their website which should be able to tell you more information and you might be able to find a demo on the entire business suite: https://www.sap.com/software-free-trials/index.html

[san4596]

The program depends on the industry you want to work in. Going into public accounting, I would suggest getting certified in Quickbooks and Excel. Anyone going to college in the 21st century has experience in Word/Excel/PowerPoint, and I personally do not put that information on my resume. However, I would include the information if certified in Excel. I know the oil industry went to SAP along with some other industries. Most colleges have a course in SAP.

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

[Liss, Master of Coin]

Thank you so much for the link @abranaugh!

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[Study Monk]

I just had a conversation with a friend who said SAP is a big deal for large companies. He told me that SAP specialists can make 120k a year. Based on what he said SAP has accounting software for each business process and people actually specialize on one component of it in some cases. It sounded like it was very complex and that it is nothing like Quickbooks. My friend is a fairly smart IT guy and said there is money to be made with SAP, but I doubt there is any time for you to learn it for this job posting.

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]

abranaugh response was what my IT friend told me. My above response was how my non IT brain translated it lol 🙂

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"

[teeteenounouche]

I see so many job postings that say SAP required or preferred…I wish there was a way to learn it if your current company doesn't use it…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Texas CPA]

As it was explained to me, quickbooks is like buying a house already built with little to no options. SAP is like getting all the building materials delivered to your lot and you have to build the house yourself.

SAP is too big and complex for most medium sized companies. Our company tried to install it 8 years ago and failed.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[mystical guy]

My experience in the market, as a Business-IT guy has been that it depends with what area you're going to. I'm now heading to IT advisory services so they definitely need the data manipulation software experience (like CPA Pending suggested, Oracle, SQL…etc. Having some experience in data analysis would require you to have use something that manipulated databases). Add some programming to this (Visual Basic, C++) and you're very attractive

If you're heading to audit, they love to hear you have experience in audit software like ACL, IDEA (both are pretty easy to learn, compared with the data manipulation software).

Anything else, I would agree that Microsoft Office applications would probably suffice. All this is just based on my experience and jobs I applied to.

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Texas CPA]

Mystical, how useful is ACL outside an audit function?

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[tough_kitty]

I used ACL at one of the state agencies. It was really helpful in auditing. Not sure about other areas. We didn't get the proper training on it….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[musicamor]

Advanced excel skills as an accountant are a requirement these days. You should be able to blink have Pivot Tables, V-lookups, Macros, etc. spit out. Anything less is unacceptable.

Large ERP (SAP, Oracle, JDE, etc.) experience is necessary as well. QuickBooks and Peachtree experience is not sufficient. One must understand tables, subledgers, etc – even as an auditor.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[Texas CPA]

Yep, strong database knowledge is key.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[Mayo]

@toughkitty,

We use ACL in Big 4 audit when we need to download journal entry data from a large ERP system. For large companies with tons of data it's very useful as it can work with many more rows than Excel. At the end of the day it's functionality is very similar to Excel, albeit a bit less user friendly. Instead of macros like in excel we use scripts in ACL. But it's the same concept really.

I've also heard it's very useful in internal audit at large companies for basically the same reasons. Ditto for Financial/Operational analysts needing to gather raw data and manipulate it.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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