[Anonymous]

After reading many forums, it seems just passing the CPA exam on its own, with no accounting experience is very difficult to get a good stable accounting job (think big4 and most mid tier). I should be done with the whole CPA exam by the end of this year (assuming I pass the remaining parts), but I’m nervous about my job prospect after passing all parts…I feel that getting a good job is really difficult for me because most of the jobs I apply for ask for either experience (dont have any) or high gpa (mine wasnt that good either). Should I go to a MAcc/MST after I pass the remaining parts? I tried networking and emailing recruiters, but didnt really hear from anyone back. I heard back from 1 midtier firm, but once I sent my transcript they didnt really seem interested anymore…

A bit more background info, I graduated with my BA in econ in 2010 and I went to a community college to get the remainder 150 units, since I figure at the time it was the cheapest way to get the remaining units. If i go to grad school it feels like I just wasted 2 years…

[Anonymous]

The thing about grad school is that you'd need to really impress a program director with a high GMAT, work experience, and probably an essay and interview to compensate for the GPA to even get into grad school. It is possible. I had some health issues during my junior and senior years which affected my GPA, but not my brain. I am finishing my Masters next week and it usually only takes about 10 months. If you can't get a job, a Master's program might be a new chance to impress the right people, change your work ethic, get to know a professor who can help you, and have a sparkly new transcript with higher Accounting grades on it.

Also, finishing the CPA exam in its entirety might land you a job, too. CPA would probably compensate for GPA any day of the week.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine passed all 4 while he was still in collage doing his undergrad. did it under New Hampshire only 120 hours needed there …

if you need the hours go get a masters i guess – try to go to a good university that big four firms recruit from !

[OUCPA84]

I was in sort of the same situation but in reverse:

I graduated with a BA in Econ as well. Econ degree = sales job so I said no thanks.

I didn't take any accounting classes in undergrad that transferred so I started as a post-bach to do pre reqs like Intermediate I &II, AIS, Tax, etc. Then i became a MAcc student and am currently working on the CPA and will be finishing up my last 2 classes in the fall to earn my MAcc.

My thoughts:

Don't look at education as a ‘waste' because you are investing in yourself. Cliche i know but you could have done worse things. One MAJOR benefit of pursuing a MAcc or MST is campus recruiting. For most, that is the only way in at the entry level for Big 4 or large national firms (if that's where you want to end up). Sure it might cost you $25k or whatever but a job in the end is worth it. If your goal is Big 4 job then my suggestion would be to enroll at a school with the best recruiting relationship with public accounting firms. Most likely that'll be a MAcc or MS Accounting and you'll be more flexible come recruiting season.

1) Search for a job (if find a job stop here at #1) AND enroll (didn't say you had to finish a degree) at a university with a GOOD recruiting relationship with public accounting firms.

2) Join BAP or relevant accounting clubs on campus. Go to all events where firms will be present. Make SURE the recruiters can recognize your face when fall recruiting comes around.

3) Depending on your situation since you've passed your CPA, apply for internship / FT. I know doing an internship would suck after having your CPA but my experience talking to Big 4 recruiters and Partners was that doing an internship was my best bet. “We have few ft spots available compared to internships” Partner at Big 4. So to me that meant if you don't have previous accounting internships, good luck!

4) Obtain internship/ FT offer & Great success!

AUD Pass
REG Fail, Rematch TBA
FAR 11/26 Certain I failed
BEC ?

Becker

[Anonymous]

I'm at a dilemma of whether I should stop studying for the CPA exam for 1-3 month and devote that just for the GMAT. Then go back to the CPA exam. The only reason I would want to do this is because the early registration for Grad school is for Dec – Jan months = best chance of getting in.

My plan is this:

I already completed FAR (in april) and I would plan on taking REG on July 20th (currently studying for it might as well slay this beast).

But after July I think if i devote the next 3 month to the GMAT and application for Grad school.

That would leave Jan-May 2013 to finish the BEC and AUD. which is totally doable IMO. Since grad school doesn't start till Fall or summer depending on the program i choose.

The only risk I can see is if I do not pass any of the section. That would put me back a bit…

OR

I could continue with the CPA exam as plan and hope that a job pops up…. I been applying on and off for over 2 years and I do not see any job in the horizon… Or just wing the GMAT and see what kind of grad school will accept me.

[LCCPA]

I finished my MST last year and am now pursuing the CPA. I went to grad school because the economy was really bad when I graduated from undergrad and jobs were hard to come by. I also really wanted to learn more about tax and take my career in that direction vs. audit. So, I went to grad school at Golden Gate University. Campus recruiting is big and alumni connections are strong. I got a staff accounting job with a small firm who's owner went to GGU also. Connections really help get you in the door. Getting an MST/MAcc would not be a waste of your time, in my opinion.

[Whatdidyou]

If you had asked in 2010, i woulda suggested a Masters.

But you have the credits, and there is no guarantee that you'll just be in the same situation as you are now in afterwards. Also realize that big4 and most mid-tier firms do interviews in the fall – so your GPA will not have had time to improve at all by then.

So if I were you, I'd just try to finish up the CPA & continue to look for work, your bound to get something eventually. See if you have access to your old school's career center..if you really think you have no chance without going back to school, I'd recommend just comitting to 1-2 classes in the Fall (take an excel class or something) to get access to fall recruiting instead of a whole year – esp since you have the credits already.

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

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[round1]

Guys, can I ask a ‘stupid' question here? How do you get access to campus recruiting without enrolling first? And enrolling means a lot of work: the GMAT thing, essays and asking for recommendations. Can I enroll somehow without all this? I mean if I already have an undergrad and a macc, can I enroll for another undegrad to take that “excel class”? Or the only available thing is to enroll in another ms program (with all related prep headache included)?

DONE!

[Anonymous]

My undergrad has a really good career service for current students, but they specifically do not allow on campus recruiting for alumni (which is a shame >.<). You also have to pay a fee to use the service if you are an alumni.

[Whatdidyou]

It probably depends on the school. I'd imagine that most schools have at least some courses available that are not for degree seeking students. You'd have to call and ask. It may not the the best selection of courses but I'm not sure. And you'd probably still have to fill out some paperwork regardless.

I imagine that every student gets a student ID, even if they are just taking yoga, which then can be used to access career services (sorta sneaky, i know), but could be completely wrong.

The GMAT is for graduate school, which is pretty much always for degree seeking students.

I went to two schools – one gives you access to the job search database for life, another one for only until 6 months after graduation.

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

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[ksreigns]

I also am in a similar predicament, but further along. My uGPA was around a 2.2, so I took the GMAT and got a 720, got into a Master's program, and am currently finishing up my pre-reqs with an accounting GPA of 3.9. I hope to be able to start taking CPA sections in January. The thing is I don't really have any work experience/my resume is terribly empty and lack accounting related extra-curricular's. I hope to join BAP, and hopefully will keep a high GPA through the master's program. All in all, do I have a shot getting hired by any big4 firm or is it too early to tell?

[mgoloubenko]

I just finished my MAcc at a top 5 accounting school and I will say the opportunities are there. I really did not think I would get in but I did so it's worth a shot for anyone who is thinking about it. Many of my classmates were not from accounting backgrounds so they had to take a summer intensive semester to learn the basics of accounting and then jumped into regular courses with us. Although I already had a job lined up, many of my friends did not and the recruiting process at USC is amazing. The firms scrambled to pick out students, an experience very unlike my undergrad.

FAR 4/9/12- PASSED
BEC 7/13/12- PASSED
AUD 8/16/12- Ughhh 71, Rematch: 90!!!
REG-12/6/12 PASSED

USC MAcc- Fight on!

They say good things come to those who wait, but only those things that are left by those who hustle.

[JakeO]

I say continue on getting your CPA…if you can't find a job after that then you probably aren't looking hard enough. If you truly cannot find a job after getting your CPA, then going for your masters can be beneficial, but do not go just to get a job with a Big4 firm. But a Big4 job isn't always what its cracked up to be, and often times you need to have an internship with them first to get a job. Regional CPA firms offer the same type of training, and if you plan on working in the same region for the rest of your life, or at least the first 5-10 years of your career, they can be a better resume booster than a Big4 branch with significantly less contacts. We have a Big4 branch in my city but its smaller compared to the other regional firms, and the prospects tend to be better in those smaller firms for gaining employment outside of the auditing industry and in house with a business.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[Author]

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