[tiredatwork]

Hi,

I have met a few auditors who come to my company to audit our books. Surprisingly, some of them have not passed all four parts of the CPA exam; they have passed two out of four and working toward passing the rest of the exam. If you’re an auditor working for a public auditing firm, how long does the firm let you work on completing all four parts of the CPA exam before they fire you (If you do not pass all four parts). Has anyone been in the same situation like these auditors? Can you let me know how long does your employer give you a set of time frame to complete all parts of the exam? Thanks

[Mayo]

My firm wants us to pass the exam as soon as possible. However, if the exam is not passed by the end of the fifth year, you won't be promoted to manager. I suspect that if you're not a high performer, then they'll ask you to leave. Otherwise, they'd probably give you an extra year to finish.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[neika822]

At my old firm, you couldn't be promoted to senior unless you had passed two out of the four parts. I think the rule became were more lenient after I left. Prior to the rule, I knew seniors who hadn't passed any of them. Sometimes they were allowed to take a summer break to try to pass them. One senior took the summer break but didn't pass and was fired a month after coming back.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[littlenumberrobot]

I think it all depends. My first job, they promoted without CPA certification, but it was an odd office. Currently I am the only one pursuing it at my office and there are no promotions(small firm). Also, since I have been actively pursuing and passing, my boss hasn't said anything about what would happen if I didn't get my CPA. I know lots of people doing senior level work at larger firms who can't pass because they work too many hours but they won't get promoted either. Catch 22. At my old firm my supervisor took unpaid 3 months off to pass(he had been there 5 years and had not passed yet). He was able to pass 3 he was promoted to senior when he got back. Once he was certified he was manager. That fast. It all really depends on the place and policies

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Anonymous]

I'm Big 4 and am working on the exam. They want us to pass it as soon as possible, but it's not a requirement until you're up for promotion to manager. You can't be promoted without the exam, however if you don't pass but are a good senior, and they still need you, they won't fire you. You are just a senior for another year.

[huskies1026]

In Deloitte Audit, promotion to Senior is contingent upon passing the exams.

[acamp]

At Deloitte getting the title “Senior” is contingent on being licensed, otherwise you have the same responsibilities and your title is “Audit in Charge”

I refer this as DTs public shaming for those who don't have a license LOL.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Givemesleep]

Another reason not to work for the big four. Thanks for the info, noted. Working for a large regional firm is the sweet spot which balances work and family as well as exposure to quality technical work. What good did all those Cpas do for Anderson.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[acamp]

Yeah for all those jobs that state “large regional experience preferred”

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Mayo]

LOL ^

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

I think that it should be a requirement to be promoted to senior at any firm. 2 years from the start of work is not too difficult of a task. For those with kids, I mean, life is full of opportunity costs…

[Gerg, CPA]

at my last firm, you needed your cpa to be promoted to Senior. At my one before that, they did not require or even encourage it. At my new firm, which isnt one of the big 4 (but is run by folks from Arthur A), and isn't in auditing, CPA is not required. Nor is it required to advance. It's certainly encouraged, but there's no real pressure. A couple of the managers do not have their CPA (only 1 is working towards it now), and none of our senior associates have theirs. I'm the only senior out of 4 that is currently working on the CPA. And actually one of our associates will likely have her CPA before the 4 seniors and the 2 managers that do not have. It varies i suppose if you are not at 1 of the big 4. also should note that my examples are all tax-driven firms.

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[tiredatwork]

Thanks All for the information. I want to work as an auditor, but I thought I needed to pass all four parts to be able to do that. I'm beginning to study for the exam. I hope to pass two parts so I can have a chance at finding a job at an auditing firm.

[Anonymous]

@Baseball – Depending on the engagement team you get assigned to, it can be difficult to fit the exam in the first 2 years. That's why I'm still working on it. They tell you to get it done as soon as possible, but they never really worked with me to have the time to study until now. At my firm, you only need the exam to be promoted to manager – so until you've been there long enough to be promoted, it doesn't really help them to give you the time to study. Now that I'm up for manager (pending passing the exam) and they currently need new managers, they're now somewhat working with me to have time to study.

I almost think it would be helpful to need it to be a senior because then your engagement team would have to work with you earlier in your career so you can get past the exam in time for senior.

And so no one thinks I'm implying it's your job's responsibility to make it easy on you to study, I simply mean working more than a 40 hour week pretty much year round (which I, and I'm sure plenty of others do) makes it difficult to get enough study time in.

[jelly]

It really depends on your firm, but partners sell work by telling a client that a supervised, licensed staffer will be working on the assignment. My boss introduces me to new clients via email as a licensed accountant (letters not in my sig file).

Don't expect your employer to accommodate or ask when you'll be done, b/c unemployment is still pretty bad out there. Just pass and get it over with.

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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