[mmcgrad1]

I have a very unique situation. I’ve been out of school for 3 years. I spent a year and a half working in Financial Reporting at a large international company until I left for seminary last year. I recently left seminary and decided to sit for the CPA exam.

I graduated from an elite university with an accounting degree but I had some anxiety issues and actually failed out of school once before graduating. My accounting GPA is low as a result and my overall GPA is only a 3.3. I know this looks bad and I can’t do anything about it. I did get professional help and have learned from my mistakes and, I am a better person as a result. I’m not trying to sound arrogant but I know I would be an excellent auditor. I am smart and I work extremely hard.

I’m on my last part of the CPA exam (BEC). If my current trend continues, knock on wood, I will pass all four parts of the exam first try. I find this pretty remarkable considering I haven’t studying the material in 3 years and I was unable to attend at least 60% of all my upper level accounting class sessions during school outside of audit (aced that class after returning to school).

The problem is, I was never considered for interviews right out of school because of my GPA. Is there any way I can use passing the exam to get a shot at interviews? I’ve wanted to be an auditor since I was a So in high school and I will not give up on that dream. I can understand, based on my grades, that firms would overlook me. I’d probably do the same if I were in their position. However, I will not give up. I’ve been written off in life before and proved people wrong. It’s motivation for me.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for Big 4? Mid tier? Or local/regional?

I think you can easily get into a local firm assuming you interview well. Your GPA isn’t that bad in my opinion. Getting into mid-tier of Big 4 would be tougher as you would be seen as an experienced higher but have no prior public accounting experience. My suggestion would be to start with a local firm and try to move to a bigger firm after a year. It depends on what you want.

[mmcgrad1]

Thanks for the response. I'd honestly prefer going to a mid-tier firm rather than local but I do not write off joining a local firm. I just don't want to get stuck doing JEs for clients. I was good at being a G/L accountant but I don't want to really continue down that road.

At my last job I was lucky enough to get a ton of experience in a short time. It was a 3B revenue international company. I managed about 60 intercompany loans which were anything but your standard loans. I also lead the team which automated the entries for those loans in a new Treasury system. I did all the G/L accounting for our Treasury entity, ran queries, and fixed lots of G/L intercompany errors across the entire company. I was also involved in mapping Oracle to Hyperion (HFM) consolidations. I prepared pension F/S and related party notes for the F/S and did some BEA governmental reporting as well.

I'm afraid that based on my background I will get stuck doing this kind of work. Whenever Financial Reporting needed the details to figure out odd balances or variances I was the one digging through Oracle and I got really good at digging through the trash.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Whatdidyou]

I agree with CPA_Future that a small local is your best (but not by any means your only) bet. If you're persistent & interview well, you've definitely got a shot.

The CPA always helps (especially in public accounting) but doesn't guarantee anything. Your work experience also sounds interesting/impressive.

“I am smart and I work extremely hard.”

That's what everyone says.

Did you do a review course? Cause if you didn't, then I would agree that that is remarkable!

Some recruiters might think that going through busy season in public accounting is harder/stressful than going through senior accounting classes, and the fact that you quit/failed in school is indicative that you may do the same in public accounting (which is something they definitely don't want considering public accounting already has a high enough turnover – and they already have excellent smart and hard-working candidates who they'd rather bet on staying). So heads up, that (whether true or not!) may be the perception that you have to battle.

With that said, with your attitude/determination/confidence, I think you'll get it!

If you have any old classmates, reach out to them and see if they'll put you in their firm's referral systems/HR department. That combined with you passing the exams, could very well be more than enough to get you an interview and then (hopefully) offer. Good luck!

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

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[mmcgrad1]

“That's what everyone says.”

Yes, I know they do and I realize employers know that too. I guess the only way to really show it is through achievements. I have some specific examples from my last job, graduating from an elite school, graduating summa cum laude for my Finance degree at another school within a year of my first. Like you said, this is common talk from candidates and I need to show how I am different.

“Did you do a review course? Cause if you didn't, then I would agree that that is remarkable!”

I did use a review course. I bought the NIU CPA review correspondence courses. So maybe the achievement isn't as remarkable as I think. However, it has made me realize I knew a lot more about accounting than I thought.

“Some recruiters might think that going through busy season in public accounting is harder/stressful than going through senior accounting classes, and the fact that you quit/failed in school is indicative that you may do the same in public accounting”

I think this is an excellent point. I've thought about it very much and it would be a worry if I were interviewing myself. My response is that I sought professional help, addressed my problems, went back to school and graduated. Sought another degree and graduated with highest honors. Worked for a large company through monthly, quarterly, year end closes, and multiple refinances and acquisitions. Heck, my first month at my job was December. I was thrown into year end right off the bat and survived. I survived a Treasury system implementation with the #2 guy on the project leaving, a change in Project manager, and trying to accomplish this during the annual audit with many of the #2 guy's additional responsibilities which were far beyond my scope of knowledge.

I think you bring up very good points, and they are things I know I must be able to answer well in an interview.

The most ironic thing about the whole situation is my younger sister works for a Big 4 firm and I've asked her for help but she has never been willing to do so (she won't help our younger brother either for some reason). The guy I mentioned above wants me to join the M&A firm he works at so I know I at least have that option since I did heavily study valuations in Finance.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

My GPA was below a 3.0 in college (granted I went to a top 20 school). I also got a DUI a year after college. I am now a Senior at a Big 4 firm after spending time toiling away at small local public accounting firms.

The past is in the past. You can’t change it, but you can certainly move forward if you know what you want to do and you have a clear path to get there.

Your experience is impressive, but some public accounting recruiters may not equate what you did with what one does in public accounting. It would seem difficult to jump right into a mid tier public accounting firm, but I would be very impressed to see that happen. Like I said, in my humble opinion, the best bet would be to get in with a small local firm for a year (try to do half audit, half tax). You can kick ass there and apply as an experienced hire 12 months later at a top ten firm.

But best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

[Minimorty]

@mmcgrad1 – Do you know any people who make hiring decisions at mid-tier or top-tier companies? Are you attending networking events to rub shoulders with those who make the hiring decisions. I graduated with a 2.5 GPA, but I have been networking all my life and had multiple options from people willing to give me a chance. GPA is only one of many components to being hiring. In the business world, it's really all about who you know.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Minimorty. GPA is critical when you are recruiting as a campus hire, but the further away you get from college, the less important the GPA is. Other than my first job, I have not been asked to present my college transcript.

And your GPA is fine as it is.

[Whatdidyou]

@mmcgrad1: Sounds like you have a lot of great experience/stories that can help you do well in interviews. I think your problem may be getting the interviews, but your experience will probably negate that (which is good!).

Going to your state board's meetings/networking events and getting it out there that you've passed the CPA and are looking to get into public accounting could be a good way to get into a local/mid-tier firm interview also.

“graduating from an elite school”

I'd be careful with this (could be a turn-off), especially if the recruiter/interviewer doesnt share the elitist attitude. Big 4 recruit almost everywhere and it is because they (smartly IMO) know that graduating from an “elite” school does not equate to being smarter and more hardworking than graduates from “non-elite” schools. In fact, most big 4 partners come from non-elite schools.

“My response is that I sought professional help, addressed my problems..”

I'd be careful when disclosing this information. In fact, I'd advise against it – but obviously I don't know the circumstances as well as you do.

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

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[mmcgrad1]

“My GPA was below a 3.0 in college (granted I went to a top 20 school). I also got a DUI a year after college. I am now a Senior at a Big 4 firm after spending time toiling away at small local public accounting firms. “

Thank you for all the advice you have given me. I will try this route. I live in a big city so there are plenty of smaller firms. I think the only reason I did get some interviews out of college was because I went to ND. However, when they looked at my transcripts it was pretty much over.

“Do you know any people who make hiring decisions at mid-tier or top-tier companies? Are you attending networking events to rub shoulders with those who make the hiring decisions. I graduated with a 2.5 GPA, but I have been networking all my life and had multiple options from people willing to give me a chance.”

This is a weakness of mine. I don't really know anyone and I didn't really network out of college. I am currently in the process of improving my ability to network. My school has one of the best networks in the country and I need to start taking advantage of that.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

You keep stating that you went to an elite college. That may actually help you if you can capitalize on it in networking. That being said, what college did you graduate from?

[Anonymous]

He said “ND”. So, I'm guessing Notre Dame.

[mmcgrad1]

Yes, I did go to Notre Dame.

@Whatdidyoudo: You bring up good points. I don't intend to boast about where I went to school. I just figure it will speak for itself on the resume. If I'm interviewed by an alumnus I have a special little connection but that's about it. I really don't like to focus on where I went to school since I am uncomfortable with praising ND as much as the typical alumni. I enjoyed it very much and I am so thankful I went there but I am more low key on the subject.

“I'd be careful when disclosing this information. In fact, I'd advise against it – but obviously I don't know the circumstances as well as you do.”

Absolutely, I learned the hard way, this is a touchy subject. When I first interviewed it was really tough explaining what happened to my grades. I still don't feel I have an adequate answer that will not put up potential flags for an outside observer. Therefore, I'm not going to disclose it.

“Going to your state board's meetings/networking events and getting it out there that you've passed the CPA and are looking to get into public accounting could be a good way to get into a local/mid-tier firm interview also.”

I will definitely do this. Thanks again.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

Ya I agree. I wouldn't go out of your way to emphasize Notre Dame during networking unless you're specifically networking with a Notre Dame alumni than that'd obviously help a huge deal. You guys can commiserate over how much Notre Dame football has underperformed, or as a typical Notre Dame fan will do, talk about how awesome you guys are going to be ; ).

And, I slightly disagree with the above. I don't think the fact that you went to a good school is a negative. I'm not so sure that Notre Dame would be considered an “elite school” though. Maybe the accounting program based on its ranking is elite, but no one really cares about accounting program rankings. It's the overall school that matters. I guess Notre Dame could be considered elite by the general public who have all heard of Notre Dame. That being said, it obviously is a good school and you shouldn't ignore the fact. However, if you specifically call it an “elite school”, that could definitely be a turnoff.

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame is an elite school…

[Anonymous]

That's highly debatable. It's certainly a good school, but it's far more known for its football team than it's academics. When you hear Notre Dame, you're never like “Oh damn, there academics are great!”. When you say elite schools, you think the Ivy Leagues, Stanford, MIT, etc. That's not to take anything away from Notre Dame being a good school though.

[Author]

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