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My story is not completely unique but it is different. I can’t help but thank this place for some encouragement and you guys didn’t even know it! I graduated in the mid 90’s with a degree in Management because my father was an accountant and I didn’t want to do what he did (famous last words). During my banking tenure I got an MBA in finance, and I figured I would retire as a banker. Well I ended up in the banking profession for 10 years and I got offered the opportunity to go to work for one of my clients as their CFO. Basically the company was owned by a French company and they had sent a replacement CFO and he lasted about a month. I thought this was an opportunity that I could not pass up and I made the leap. And what a leap it was, not only changing jobs, but careers too.
In hindsight, the American President wanted someone he felt he could control and most importantly wasn’t French. Within six months our relationship deteriorated drastically, as I was frustrated with the 40 year old systems in place that I was working on revamping and other financial decisions that I felt obligated to report to France. Needless to say my eyes were opened from switching from the banking side to the operational side. I learned a ton! Our parent company was a Paris Stock listed company and I first heard those dreaded 4 letters IFRS in 2003.
About the time that I got settled into the role and job our parent company listed us for sale. Within a span of 2 years we had been bought and sold and my boss was out and I was in, running the company and things couldn’t have been better. My new boss was a former accountant at C&L if that dates anyone and the big boss was with E&Y. At that point, I felt that I needed to brush up on my GAAP knowledge but finding the time was more than difficult. I had more than enough hours to sit for the CPA but not enough accounting. Well during 2008-2009 I ended up taking 24 additional hours of accounting to get qualified. I was burnt out but satisfied with my accomplishments. I even applied to the state board and they issued me a NTS. I figured what the heck and I would try it. I got a review book, never found much time to study as I was constantly putting out fires with work and working 80 hour weeks. Probably studied 20 hours total and took FAR in 2009. Left the testing center thinking I was the biggest moron on the planet!
Holy cow, I didn’t know a thing. Ended up with a 67 and I suppose in hindsight that wasn’t too bad but I kept looking for an answer to the Not for Profit questions – D. It wasn’t a good idea. The exam nearly left my mind, as the economy turned, our parent company was in trouble with some other divisions, and we had to pick up the slack. Then our business hit the skids in 2010! Everything was bad, 1 step forward, 2 back. The decision was made to sell off our division to help the parent company. So I went through that process and eventually we were sold to a VC firm that had bought a much smaller competitor that I bid on under the old French owners.
I didn’t want to move to the Boston area for family reasons as my youngest is in high school so I ended up taking a job for a company 2.5 hours away in Missouri that I had done some consulting for on the side. They were going through a sale as well and I was consulting the owner. Well, I guess I should have learned my lesson switching sides but I didn’t. Nothing I was promised came to fruition. The owner I was to take over for never left, heck the out going CFO never fully left as he kept coming in a couple days a week! As you can imagine, any thing I tried to change was met with harsh resistance. All but 1 of the family members stayed with the company against what I was told. Well coupled with the long drive and being away from my family I walked out in April 2013. I decided to get serious about the CPA exam and finally pass it.
As all of you know it is not a simple undertaking. I decided that the Becker products, while great, where not for me. I was 41, now 42 and I have self diagnosed late onset adult ADD. I decided that my attention span needed short spurts of information and I went with CPAExcel. It is not for everyone, and there are some QC issues but for the most part I am very grateful for this decision. I started studying and I took my first section AUD and passed with an 87! Really the confidence boost that I needed. I took BEC next and I passed that as well with an 85. I can’t believe this, I might actually do this. Then I took REG in December and squeaked by with a 78. I just took FAR on the 27th and I am hopeful like many others out there. I know this has been a bit long, but I hope that I can give back just a little bit and inspire just one person to keep going and reach for the stars. If I don’t pass, I will pick myself up and start studying again next week. But the point is, if someone without an accounting degree can do it and at 42, nobody has an excuse.
I was told my whole life the things that I couldn’t do. For instance I was told at 12 years old that I was wasting my time putting all my effort into playing football as I was too small and slow. Well, I ended up playing football for a major college and it paid for all of my education. I took great pride in making that person eat his words. I was told many times that it was too much, too hard, I was too old, whatever to do this. The point being is the only person that matters is you. In this world we can do anything!
God bless and good luck to everyone on here. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for keeping this old guy going even when I didn’t want to.
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