Is there any other certification needed after CPA? - Page 2

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  • #176146
    sln1000
    Member

    Is there a need to study further after CPA or Is CPA enough to get us a good career?. I sometimes feel that if we keep on updating ourselves, CPA should be enough. What is the point in holding too many qualifications? Even if you are doing something, you may actually not be learning anything new. Are employers satisifed with a CPA?

    Your comments please

    BEC: 77(Nov 2010), 81(Jul 2012).
    FAR: 80(Jul 2012).
    REG: 72(Jul 2012), 78(Oct 2012).
    AUD: 71(Nov 2010),74(Jul 2012),74(Oct 2012),75(Jan 2013)- Thanks God, without you i couldnt have done this. I'M DONE !!!

Viewing 11 replies - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)
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  • #404129
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @andy2013. Oracle has Hyperion and Essbase. SAP has Outlooksoft and Cartesis and Business Objects. IBM has Cognos. All of these packages are related to consolidations and budgeting. They also have G/L, ERP, and MRP packages which are the source systems that feed these higher end tools.

    My point to anyone interested in systems work is that you are going to enjoy working on nearly every area of accounting rather than specializing on one area and growing bored from it.

    #404130
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    After becoming licensed last May, I decided to pursue my CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) designation since I work in the Internal Audit space for a Big 4 firm. I'm currently 75% of the way there with the last part coming up in a couple of weeks. I would also consider pursuing the CFE, since being cognizant of fraud schemes and “red flags” is part of an auditor's day-to-day regardless of conducting internal or external audits.

    Other than that, I think it depends on the requirements of your job. CPA is definitely the most prestigious and important certification to have. After you achieve that, evaluate whether or not there are any niche certifications that would add value to your career.

    #404131
    jeff
    Keymaster

    My friend (just turned 30) has CPA, CMA, CIA, MBA

    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

    #404132
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    OVERACHIEVER!

    #404133
    Kay
    Member

    I am doing IT Audit in Internal Audit. From IT audit's perspective, there are some integrated audits with Lines of Business auditors such as Finance and Actuarial. We need to understand business stuff to better coordinate the integrated audits. Likewise, I think Business Auditors also need some basic understanding about IT Audit, so if you have chance to work with IT Auditors, it would be beneficial to have a try to do CISA.

    I conquered CISA exam first, and am currently working on CPA journey – I am sure this will boost my corporate ladder climbing.

    If you love numbers, and auditing, then you could try ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries), but be mindful that it has 4~5 exams, and usually take 3+ years to complete all exams assuming that you are working and studying at the same time. Once you get ASA, then you may be able to get Actuarial Audit job easily, and get paid more. (In my company, IT Audit, and Actuarial Audit are paid highest, and Investment Audit, and Finance Audit go second.)

    Currently:
    CPA - Class of 2013
    ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
    CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

    In Progress:
    ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

    #404134
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have an undergrad in math and know something about the actuarial exams. They make these CPA exams look like small lap dogs. The very first exam is based on Calculus 1,2,3 and Differential Equations. Successive exams deal with statistics like average business major will never see or experience. Further testing in Linear Algebra and programming and operations research. Each test, unlike CPA, is progressively harder and there are 10 of them to be exact that you will need if you ever want to make big bucks. Don't let me discourage you, but a CPA and MBA are enough for anyone interested with few specialized certs to splash in.

    #404135
    FlipACoin
    Participant

    bryan-I've heard about those Actuary exams. I know somebody who passed the entire CFA and CPA all on first attempts but pretty much gave up on the Actuary exams after the first one. From what I can gather, it's a different type of exam than anything else out there. Less on data retention and much more mathmatical manipulation. The good news is that most companies will start you after just one or two exams passed and they are usually really flexible with study time as you take the remaining exams. But it's hard as hell and you really have to have a special understanding of the material. That's why the compensation is so nice….

    #404136
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I work in Information Technology, so I plan to research the Certified Internal Auditor exam next. I am so glad that I finally passed the CPA exam though which for me is the ultimate.

    #404137
    Kay
    Member

    @beechcrest

    Are you planning on moving to Audit career? Then you may want to try Certified Information System Auditor (CISA). It would be more useful than CIA because it is more specialized in IT Audit.

    I am doing IT Audit, and passed CISA exam in 2011. So once I pass all CPA exams, then I may try CIA when I have time, but it is just for certificates collection purposes. I do see many CISAs in my IT Audit team in Internal Audit department, but do not see many CIAs in entire Internal Audit department.

    Currently:
    CPA - Class of 2013
    ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
    CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

    In Progress:
    ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

    #404138
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @KAY Thanks for the information. I will look into the CISA. Thanks for sharing!

    #404139
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I might go for CIA, I have been in the public accounting field all my life and internal audit sounds really great to me. I think once I have the CPA, the CIA will be really faster.

Viewing 11 replies - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)
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