[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

[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

[Sandra]

It varies by state. In WA pretty much any CPA can verify your experience. I realize I'm pretty lucky though that our external CPA is willing to do it. I know its a huge problem for some people in WA

[Sandra]

It varies by state. In WA pretty much any CPA can verify your experience. I realize I'm pretty lucky though that our external CPA is willing to do it. I know its a huge problem for some people in WA

[HSP_CPA]

UPDATE:

Hi all, I wanted to update you on my situation.

I called the board this morning to verify my former employer's status while I was working with her. She was in fact considered “Inactive” but had been renewing her license since '95 (just was not fulfilling CPE hours). She was telling the truth surprisingly.

I can't get my hours signed off by an external CPA and I can't have the senior accountant (inactive CPA) sign off if she wasn't active during my time here. Apparently other states allow this, but not CA. I asked CBA (CA Board of Acct) what my options are. She said simply to find another job. I planned on doing so anyway, but I wish it weren't so black and white.

By the way, for those of you who are working on fulfilling all your CPA education, exam, and experience requirements, I would hurry up and do so by 12/31/13 because starting 2014, there will be new education requirements to be licensed (i.e. a Masters). Unfortunately, this gives me a year and a half to find another job, quit this one, and work a full year.

Best of luck and thank you for your advice!

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

[HSP_CPA]

UPDATE:

Hi all, I wanted to update you on my situation.

I called the board this morning to verify my former employer's status while I was working with her. She was in fact considered “Inactive” but had been renewing her license since '95 (just was not fulfilling CPE hours). She was telling the truth surprisingly.

I can't get my hours signed off by an external CPA and I can't have the senior accountant (inactive CPA) sign off if she wasn't active during my time here. Apparently other states allow this, but not CA. I asked CBA (CA Board of Acct) what my options are. She said simply to find another job. I planned on doing so anyway, but I wish it weren't so black and white.

By the way, for those of you who are working on fulfilling all your CPA education, exam, and experience requirements, I would hurry up and do so by 12/31/13 because starting 2014, there will be new education requirements to be licensed (i.e. a Masters). Unfortunately, this gives me a year and a half to find another job, quit this one, and work a full year.

Best of luck and thank you for your advice!

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

[namtracxtra]

Hi!

I have a similar problem as HSP_CPA had. I am employed at a company and started working here under the Controller under the pretense that I was trying to get my CPA and that working here would fulfill my needed year of experience. Fast forward a year a half and I have acquired enough full time and part time experience to get my full year, have passed the CPA exam and have sent my license application. About a month after I had sent my application, my company finds out the Controller who signed my form gets fired under bad circumstances. About two weeks after that I get a letter saying the person who signed my form wasn't a licensed CPA during any of the time of my employment.

Hiring another CPA isn't really an option at this point, and they're trying to get a consulting firm to help with the accounting. I am in California, and have called the board and they said the CPA has to be an employee of the company, however I have looked online and nowhere does it mention this. It just says they have to be an active CPA who has regular supervision over your work. Does anyone know anything about having a non-employee CPA sign off on your work in California, or possibly any other ideas or solutions?

[namtracxtra]

Hi!

I have a similar problem as HSP_CPA had. I am employed at a company and started working here under the Controller under the pretense that I was trying to get my CPA and that working here would fulfill my needed year of experience. Fast forward a year a half and I have acquired enough full time and part time experience to get my full year, have passed the CPA exam and have sent my license application. About a month after I had sent my application, my company finds out the Controller who signed my form gets fired under bad circumstances. About two weeks after that I get a letter saying the person who signed my form wasn't a licensed CPA during any of the time of my employment.

Hiring another CPA isn't really an option at this point, and they're trying to get a consulting firm to help with the accounting. I am in California, and have called the board and they said the CPA has to be an employee of the company, however I have looked online and nowhere does it mention this. It just says they have to be an active CPA who has regular supervision over your work. Does anyone know anything about having a non-employee CPA sign off on your work in California, or possibly any other ideas or solutions?

[Author]

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