[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I passed all my exams in Dec of 2013 and got licensed as a CPA in the middle of last year. At my firm we have cubicles for the staff accountants and also offices that supervisors and seniors get to share. Well me and a Senior accountant were both going for our CPA’s in 2012 and 2013. I passed my exams and the Senior did not pass theirs. In fact that the senior has now ultimately decided not to pursue her CPA anymore.

Since that time my billing rate has increased to the same as theirs….. and for this upcoming tax season, the managing partner has told me that my billing rate will now be higher than the Senior accountants and my title will now the same or actually a higher titled position than theirs.

He also brought up if I don’t like the fact the I’m still in a windowless cubicle while my co-worker (who has decided not to pursue the CPA designation after being unable to complete the exams with a passing score), Has an Office…and To be honest, it does. My billing rate is higher than theirs and management has told me that my skill level has surpassed theirs in many areas of tax and accounting.

My question to you all is this……..I know if we switch desks, it would be awkward in the office, but at the same time, I have earned my spot in the firm through hard work and through hours of studying to advance my skill to get my billing rate up……..So, should I feel bad or not try and push the issue? Or should I tell him that I do deserve the switch and push the issue (he already told me that he is strongly considering it before I even brought the topic up)?

Thank you for your input.

[Martin]

After struggling with this exam the one thing we all learn here is to be humble. This exam really test us in every way, and you learn to respect others at least intellectually. You also come to the realizations that you are not better than anyone else, and it takes a lot discipline to become a CPA. I see that it has taken you around 19 months (dont know how many times you failed each part) to complete all 4 parts, and I dont think you receive high scores either. You come across as very arrogant, and I dont understand why you are not more humble. You act as if you had completed all 4 parts in one window, i dont get you. You need another 19 months to learn work politics too and to be more humble?

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Peterman25]

If you are in fact promoted to a supervisor supervising people then yes, you need an office no questions asked.

How about coming up with a plan to create a space that anybody can use at any time to meet with clients? Not necessarily a conference room, but an actual office that can be scheduled like a conference room and has all of the materials necessary for you and anybody else to have a client meeting. Take a conference room and convert it into 2 offices?

The office I strive for is the one right outside my bedroom door that lets me work in my underwear.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[Anonymous]

ScarletKnightCPA – Thank you for your post

Martin – I passed all of them the first try except Aud that I took during the tax season window and which I had no experience in. LOL – 19 months? you only get 18. So I don't know what that has to do with anything. I'm talking about work performance and generated revenue for the firm. It sounds like your just a sub par worker and you feel insecure because your afraid your gonna get passed up at your work because your scared of competition and have no drive. How am I arrogant???? All I am doing is stating facts – higher position – higher billing rate – CPA – and have been told by 2 different managers that I have passed them in skill….And the Partner asked me if I wanted the office.

Mia – Ah ya…. actually he did say I passed them in skill. We have an open and competitive environment here. That's why we get big raises and is why he is probably asking me if I want an office. If your afraid to compete…then that is your own issue. This is a business not a PC camp. And no offense – if you haven't worked in public accounting for at least a year or two…then you should not be commenting….cause you don't have any experience in a CPA firm to contribute. Thank you

To others – I'm not sturring up drama at work or going to affect my career negatively. MY BOSS IS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT IT UP – NOT ME. So I don't see how I'm starting any drama. I have already talked to other CPA's at my work and they all agree I have earned and deserve the office.

Like an earlier poster said – “She new she was giving up the office the moment she decided not to pursue her CPA”.

[Martin]

I'm counting the months it took you to pass REG, the 18 months starts with your first pass (REG), I though it was obvious,sorry. The point is that you have struggled with this exam like many of us and I dont see you learn anything from your struggles. I wouldn't want to see a sharp version of you who actually passed this exam in 3 months rather than 19. You need to mature a little, and learn how corporate America really works, it is not as Black/white as you think. Time will make you understand what you did wrong in 2015.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

Martin – I don't work in corporate America – I work in Public accounting at a CPA firm. The cultures are vastly different. Your promotions and raises are based on proven and factual skill. In public accounting you cant fake your skill. If it takes you 5 hours to do a project that should take 3 hours…your going get time written off your billable hours and it will show where you are at sill wise. I would never want to work in corporate accounting – not for me. In public the better you are – the more your rate goes up and the more you get paid and receive benefits like an office.

Maybe that is the confusion here – The public accounting and corporate accounting environment are vastly different.

And for 2015 – I am going to kill it this year by working hard, studying and researching on my own time, and trying to pick up clients to bring to the firm. That is how public accounting works.

Thank you

[Leach2587]

You must not be good at acting. Because I acted as a BIG 4 auditor for 3 years and always got exceeded expectations on my reviews. I could have been early promoted had I finished my last two exams and this upcoming busy season. Public accounting is all about massaging peoples egos, being a good people person and working with the client. And as far as pay and recognition, I left right after raises my 3rd year and now I make 10K more than what my raise was, and I get a 10% bonus, RSUs, Pensions, and 401K not to mention 9/80s. Somebody has drank a little too much of the public Kool aid. I love the corporate environment.

[san4596]

Martin – I guess your math confuses me as well. July 2012 – November 2013 is 16 months. Are you assuming it took him 3 months to study for REG?

dah – take the office and be done with it. Stop trying to defend yourself against those who oppose the decision. It will only make Drama Ninja appear and then nobody wins. 🙂

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Mamabear]

I worked as a manager for 3 years sitting in a cubicle. It's great that some of you can go your entire career without wanting an office or feeling like those that do are arrogant and think they are better than others, but people want things. It's not that unheard of. I hated having to give my employees reviews in borrowed offices when our two conference rooms weren't available. I hated not being able to discuss confidential issues with my employees without booking a conference room. I have an office now and it has made a difference in how I can perform my management functions. I can see how dealing with clients would be better with an office. I still don't think it should be up to an employee as to whether or not they get an office. The question should have never come from your boss. They should make the decision and make the changes without getting your “feeling” on the matter. I don't think you are arrogant. I think you feel like you've worked your butt off (for the exam, at work, etc.) and you want an office. Plain and simple. I don't know anything about public accounting so I cannot attest to whether it would make you look like a go-getter or like someone with an ego if you made it known that you wanted the office. I doubt it will make you any friends, but if your office is as competitive as you say then friends aren't exactly a necessity so do what you feel you need to do,

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Leach2587]

A little more advice. DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO! Don't look for approval from other people. Clearly this whole time you have wanted the office so just take it. Don't worry about what someone else says about it. We are all different but you don't have to look for approval from other people and feel like you have to defend your stance if someone thinks differently.

[Anonymous]

Your right, no more drama needed. Maybe we should just end or delete this post before it gets out of hand. I appreciate the opinions received from the Ninja forum (good and bad).

Thank you

[nicole2035]

it's ok if you want a office ok, but people are saying, what you OBVIOUSLY don't get is that you need to chill out.

1. This peer may be great socially. It's very obvious you are arrogant. If you want to debate against that, fine, you can have it. But there are other things that make you qualified than being a CPA. You can't fake things that aren't there, and it's so obvious you can't fake being humble,

2. It's very likely one of the partners is setting you up to see how you react, or is using you as a pawn. Seems like the bug was put in your ear, and they could be flipping it on you. If they're telling you these things, just imagine what they're telling her about you.

3. Wait for the office, why should she have to give hers up? That leaves a bad taste in mouths, and regardless the partner can spin it however they want. People who like her in the office are gonna think you are shady, you never know what people are in her corner, remember, she got that office somehow, though ‘lacking' skills.

4. Regardless of what you want, it is best to simply wait on it. If your boss wants to give you the desk, great, but the point is no matter if you push the issue or dont, it's not your decision.

Don't be an idiot. It's who you know at the end of the day, and you're burning a bridge and more than likely being set up.

[Anonymous]

@dahe… It's already out of hand, not only have you trolled the A71 community but now you are even featured on GC. Congratulations on yet another astounding accomplishment, you'd better share the links with your MP so you can bypass and head straight for SM!

[yanks2]

Hahaha I just saw the GC post too. Good stuff.

[Rocky123]

Uh… What is GC? MP? SM?

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[mla1169]

GC is a website called going concern…….gloves come off a bit more there.

MP is managing partner.

Not a clue about SM.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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