[rknight21]

What are the typical tasks/assignments an entry level auditor can expect in his first year or busy season???

[jimboace88]

I think it depends on the size of the firm you're working at. I think in general terms a larger firm means you will be doing more “grunt work,” whereas in a smaller firm you will likely have to tackle more challenging tasks early on.

For tax season, you probably can't escape taxes in a smaller firm, but in large firms the audit staff may never have to see a tax return.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[rmm91909]

I have worked as an auditor for five years at a medium size regional firm. As a first year associate I mainly audited cash, AP and AR. Sure I did the grunt work but to be honest I still do the grunt work! However its my own where I run my own jobs now. I just remember being annoyed by people on power trips which you may experience so I try never to be that way. My first tax season I probably worked 50 – 55 hours per week up until the March 15th deadline and then it slowed down. Your first year will be a little stressful and you may feel “dumb” a lot but its all expected and don't let it get you down. Remember everyone that is an auditor has once been in your shoes and knows how it feels not to know anything. What you learned in your auditing class in college doesn't matter its all about the experience. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions during your first year! Good luck!

[rknight21]

@rmm91909 thanks alot for you reply. you definately gave me all the details i wanted and it is similiar to what i have heard so far that auditing cash will be my main focus. AR & AP is a sweet plus…its with a medium size firm so i am definately looking forward to the more hands on exposure i will be given..I also heard about the grunt work like ordering lunch or dinner and doing photocopies…. I dont mine that stuff at all. I would expect the newest member of a team to be the one for such assignments.

and like you said i also heard the real experience is nothing like text book and i should ask plenty of question. Which i am eager to do.

thanks again for the insight

[Anonymous]

@rknight21: what high school did you go to in Jamaica and are what grad school are u in over here?

[rknight21]

I am at QC and attended ST. Jago….. what about you?

[Mmilito]

@rknight: Queens college? I just graduated from there

FAR 92
AUD 91
BEC 11/06/2011
REG 02/01/2012

[Soproudofmyself]

grunt work includes assisting your team members completing their assigned areas (such as vouching, tracing, etc….all the not the fun stuff). But you learn a lot!

Cash

AR

AP

Prepaid

Fixed Assets

Those are the kinda areas you'll most likely be assigned. But that could change with how risky a client has been in the past (within those areas).

[rknight21]

@ mmilito small world huh? when exactly did you graduate & what program? I graduated 2009 with my BA and started the MS in January..

[rknight21]

@wishing itneverstarted

Thanks for that info. All those areas sounds good and i guess after my first year i should have learned a lot. I am excited finally I'll be getting some real accounting exposure…..

you are the second person that said vouching and tracing wasnt excited. Why exactly do ppl hate doing them

and i have to ask, how is it you did so well on FAR and failed BEC(isnt FAr harder)? I am just curious because i am taking BEC next month

[T-rex]

@rknight21,

BEC is bizarre. Don't underestimate it. What I saw on the exam was nothing like what I prepared for using Becker. Somehow I managed to pass anyway. If you're using Becker, I recommend supplementing it with something else.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[rknight21]

thanks T-rex what you said is consistent with what i have read about BEC and becker not doing a great job….I have supplemented it with wiley, ninja notes and cpareviewforfree

[IwannaBaCPA]

@rknight21: I used Becker, NINJA and cpareviewforfree for BEC and still had questions from outer space on my exam! I think that using the resources you mentioned will certainly increase your chances of passing…I somehow managed to pass even though the exam upset me quite a bit. Just be prepared that there will be questions you have never seen before and don't waste too much time getting mad about it…

Good luck!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Mmilito]

I just graduated from QC with a BA in accounting in May 2011. Did you get your job through OCR? I was able to get about 6 interviews, with 1 second round but it never materialized. I liked the queens college staff alot (Kirschner and Mazzo especially) and found it to be one of the most enjoyable experience.

FAR 92
AUD 91
BEC 11/06/2011
REG 02/01/2012

[rknight21]

@iwannabeacpa I'll keep that in mind during the exam..such questions i wont sweat i'll just flag it and go back to those at the end..

@mimilito i didnt really get the job thru ocr since i wasnt there for last fall recruitment but the job was uploaded on the on campus Expereince site at the end of june. i applied, did a phone interview, then went in on 07/11/11 and was extended an offer 07/19/11….

dont stress not having anything materialize the first time around. i assumed you passed FAr after ocr now if you go back for the MS and do the ocr again you should have a better chance. just research each firm and truly know what you want.

I too back in fall 2008 got interviews with 2 of the big4's and a bunch of other firms(about 8). I ended up doing one 2nd round interview and still nothing materialize. you cannot imagine what that did to my mojo… i seriously fell out of love with accounting then and even took 1 1/2 years of from school… Admittedly when i now look back on things i wasnt prepared in the slightest and wasnt even interested in working in public accounting. These interviewers they can tell right away if this person is serious or not and they all smelled it on me that i wasnt..lol.

i started aviation school last year and quit because it showed me accounting is my calling so in janaury i was prepared to go all the way in accounting so i started the masters and started focusing on the cpa and with gods help within 7 months everything is starting to look up for me. i am so prepared this time that i expected numerous offers this fall's ocr but before that even happened i got the first job i applied and interviewed for… one shot one kill 🙂

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Ardenne in 2002. I'm planning to go to Grad school so I can get into Public Accounting; the job market kinda rough…All the best on tthe rest of your exams

[Author]

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