[HSP_CPA]

Hi all,

I have a unique situation that I cannot find an answer to through my general online research. After college, I joined a private company in their accounting department and worked directly under the Controller, who was an inactive CPA. The CFO, who is the level right about the Controller, was to my knowledge an active CPA. This private company was a family-owned business and had a lot of internal politics I always witnessed but was never affected by it. As soon as I put in my two week notice to go to another job, they took it personally and dramatically changed the way they treated me. They haven’t really spoken to me and generally won’t respond to my random “hello” e-mails.

Ok, so I have been at my new job for over a year. I took this job because I desperately wanted to leave my old job. My new boss isn’t a CPA and he let me know that ahead of time. I said that was fine because I fulfilled my one year general requirement at my old job. Fast forward a year, I finally passed all my CPA exams, and am getting ready to apply for my license. However, I emailed the former CFO, who says she is INACTIVE (which I confirmed on the License look-up on the state board that this is true) and she claims that she was INACTIVE during the time that I worked at my old job. I am confused because I could have sworn that she was ACTIVE back then. I asked an ex-co-worker who also left the company, and she says that the CFO was indeed ACTIVE. So, my questions are (1) Is there a way that I can check via the state board her status during that time and (2) If she was in fact ACTIVE during that time, is there a way that I can report her for inhibiting my licensing process??

I’d really appreciate any advice on this, as I am very frustrated with my current situation. Thanks so much!!

REG- 87
AUD- 86
BEC- 76
FAR- 83

[Anonymous]

What state are you in? Louisiana has a license look up on their website. Try checking with the state board for her actual status.

[Anonymous]

What state are you in? Louisiana has a license look up on their website. Try checking with the state board for her actual status.

[Anonymous]

Lesson learned here is to always have your experienced signed off before you leave your job.

What I would do is email or call your state board and see what they can do to help you. They might be able to confirm whether the cfo was active or not during that time. Whether there are rules in your state that require a cpa to sign off?

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Lesson learned here is to always have your experienced signed off before you leave your job.

What I would do is email or call your state board and see what they can do to help you. They might be able to confirm whether the cfo was active or not during that time. Whether there are rules in your state that require a cpa to sign off?

Good luck.

[HSP_CPA]

Thanks for your advice!

@Kricket, I am in CA. I am planning on calling the state board first thing Monday morning to see if I can find out what her status was while I was employed there.

@cpham4, Argh, I know! I wish I had her sign off while I was still working there. I was too young and naive to realize the power politics play in the workforce, but I know better now (a little too late unfortunately).

Do you guys know if there is a “loophole” whereby I can hire an outside CPA to review my work (with the permission of my current employer) and sign off my hours? I think other states allow it, but not sure about CA. I'll bring this up with the board when I call Monday.

If she is lying about her status, I hope she gets reprimanded for her unethical (and immature) behavior. Wish me luck!

REG- 87
AUD- 86
BEC- 76
FAR- 83

[HSP_CPA]

Thanks for your advice!

@Kricket, I am in CA. I am planning on calling the state board first thing Monday morning to see if I can find out what her status was while I was employed there.

@cpham4, Argh, I know! I wish I had her sign off while I was still working there. I was too young and naive to realize the power politics play in the workforce, but I know better now (a little too late unfortunately).

Do you guys know if there is a “loophole” whereby I can hire an outside CPA to review my work (with the permission of my current employer) and sign off my hours? I think other states allow it, but not sure about CA. I'll bring this up with the board when I call Monday.

If she is lying about her status, I hope she gets reprimanded for her unethical (and immature) behavior. Wish me luck!

REG- 87
AUD- 86
BEC- 76
FAR- 83

[Sandra]

Well honestly it doesn't sound like it matters if she was active or not, because it does not sound like she is interested in signing off on your experience. I can't speak for another state, but in WA no CPA is REQUIRED to certify anything. Our external CPA has agreed to do it for me, but its his choice and his alone.

I cannot imagine that another state would require a CPA to help you out even if she was active. Sucks that she won't but you don't want to lose a reference too. If you make this a big ugly thing they are likely to respond the same way.

[Sandra]

Well honestly it doesn't sound like it matters if she was active or not, because it does not sound like she is interested in signing off on your experience. I can't speak for another state, but in WA no CPA is REQUIRED to certify anything. Our external CPA has agreed to do it for me, but its his choice and his alone.

I cannot imagine that another state would require a CPA to help you out even if she was active. Sucks that she won't but you don't want to lose a reference too. If you make this a big ugly thing they are likely to respond the same way.

[Sandra]

CA can be a pain from what I understand. She is also not required to help you.

good luck!

[Sandra]

CA can be a pain from what I understand. She is also not required to help you.

good luck!

[HSP_CPA]

I thought they would be required to sign off on my hours. I will check to see if there is something that the board can do. It is frustrating.

REG- 87
AUD- 86
BEC- 76
FAR- 83

[HSP_CPA]

I thought they would be required to sign off on my hours. I will check to see if there is something that the board can do. It is frustrating.

REG- 87
AUD- 86
BEC- 76
FAR- 83

[Sandra]

There is some weird loophole- they are required to sign off on hours, but they do have an out saying that you didn't get the experience required- ie saying you really sucked at your job. I don't know exactly how it works because I'm in WA but have a friend in CA who had the same sort of issue with her license. She met the hours but her employer didn't want to sign it. The difference was that she was still working there and there was no question as to the licensing status of her supervisor.

[Sandra]

There is some weird loophole- they are required to sign off on hours, but they do have an out saying that you didn't get the experience required- ie saying you really sucked at your job. I don't know exactly how it works because I'm in WA but have a friend in CA who had the same sort of issue with her license. She met the hours but her employer didn't want to sign it. The difference was that she was still working there and there was no question as to the licensing status of her supervisor.

[Whatdidyou]

I was thought that they are in no way obligated to sign off.

You need them to sign off that they've seen you do X, Y, and Z competently. Even if she was active, if you left the company on bad terms with both the company and her, I really don't think she would be willing to help you – especially since it in no way helps her company (as it would in a public accounting firm) AND she may not have supervised you doing X, Y, and Z.

I imagine, that unless you had a great relationship with the CFO, after leaving the job after 1 year, you'd be in this situation even if you had been at a different job. It's not internal politics, cause you are now external to the organization. Since you've left, its sort of like asking her for a reference. But a reference that she has to give to the state board (so it's even more of a favor).

It's interesting whoever said that the external auditor is going to sign off. I was always under the impression that it had to be someone you worked directly under…etc. But am not sure. Maybe it varies state by state?

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Author]

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