[Anonymous]

I was working under a Controller for this Financial firm for a year now. He is a CPA of NY. I asked him today to fill out this work experience form since I just reached the one year mark:

https://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/cpa4b.pdf

He said he would, but after he spoke to his boss (the CFO), he said that the only category listed on the form that I fulfilled was Category E- Bookkeeping. He said if he submits this form with just 100% Bookkeeping, there is a good chance I can get denied, so he told me to wait a few months and they will give me more work on Financial Statements and Taxes and therefore, he can spread out the percentages and I’ll more likely get approved. So, he told me to hang onto the form, he’ll give me more work in the other categories and he’ll fill it out in March.

Ok, maybe he’s right. But the thing is… I applied for this job and it was made clear in the job description that they want someone who is going for their CPA. When I interviewed with them, I told them that the 1 year experience was the last requirement I needed to meet in order to get that license. They were happy about that and that’s why they hired me. But now, one year later after working a brutal 50 hours each week for lousy pay, they suddenly tell me that they didn’t give me all the work necessary?? What the heck??

Is this fair? Should I really wait a few more months or start looking for another job? Because I have a funny feeling that they don’t want to sign the form and this is just an excuse to prolong it.

What do you think? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I would bet they think you will either

1) Start looking for another job now that you have such a marketable licensure

or

2) Want more money or a promotion at your current job

Maybe they're trying to get all they can out of you before either of those two things happen.

[Anonymous]

I would bet they think you will either

1) Start looking for another job now that you have such a marketable licensure

or

2) Want more money or a promotion at your current job

Maybe they're trying to get all they can out of you before either of those two things happen.

[tough_kitty]

Wow. The board really said this to you?!?! Sounds really shady coming from them! What a joke.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Wow. The board really said this to you?!?! Sounds really shady coming from them! What a joke.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

Yeah, they are pretty nasty people. I was surprised at how his tone was on the phone. I felt like I was having a conversation with a USPS employee.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, they are pretty nasty people. I was surprised at how his tone was on the phone. I felt like I was having a conversation with a USPS employee.

[Anonymous]

So this is what the Florida Board says about the one year work requirement: WTH? “No more than 52 weeks?!”–I have worked for the same company for 6.5 years and been the manager of the accounting department for 3 years. I don't understand the maximum number of weeks at all–any insight anyone?

“One year of work experience shall be held and understood to mean the rendition of services such as are customarily performed by full-time, regularly employed staff employees of a certified public accountant during the normal workweek as required by the employing certified public accountant, commencing after the completion of the educational requirements set forth in subsection 61H1-27.002(3), F.A.C. The experience must either average at least twenty (20) hours a week over no more than one hundred and four (104) weeks or average no more than forty (40) hours a week over no more than fifty-two (52) weeks. Reasonable vacation time and sick leave or other required absences may be permitted. The supervisor, in her or his report to the Department, shall certify that the applicant rendered such services as are customarily performed by full-time, regularly employed staff employees for a minimum of 2,000 hours gained over a period of not less than fifty-two (52) or more than one hundred and four (104) weeks. The sequence of the experience is considered immaterial, that is, whether the experience was secured before or after taking the examination, or partly before the examination and partly after the examination, provided the two periods combined equal at least one year.”

[Anonymous]

So this is what the Florida Board says about the one year work requirement: WTH? “No more than 52 weeks?!”–I have worked for the same company for 6.5 years and been the manager of the accounting department for 3 years. I don't understand the maximum number of weeks at all–any insight anyone?

“One year of work experience shall be held and understood to mean the rendition of services such as are customarily performed by full-time, regularly employed staff employees of a certified public accountant during the normal workweek as required by the employing certified public accountant, commencing after the completion of the educational requirements set forth in subsection 61H1-27.002(3), F.A.C. The experience must either average at least twenty (20) hours a week over no more than one hundred and four (104) weeks or average no more than forty (40) hours a week over no more than fifty-two (52) weeks. Reasonable vacation time and sick leave or other required absences may be permitted. The supervisor, in her or his report to the Department, shall certify that the applicant rendered such services as are customarily performed by full-time, regularly employed staff employees for a minimum of 2,000 hours gained over a period of not less than fifty-two (52) or more than one hundred and four (104) weeks. The sequence of the experience is considered immaterial, that is, whether the experience was secured before or after taking the examination, or partly before the examination and partly after the examination, provided the two periods combined equal at least one year.”

[teeteenounouche]

@CPAMommyof3 I think they are trying to make sure over time worked (>40 hours) during a week does not qualify so that someone doesn't fulfill the 1 year requirement sooner…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[teeteenounouche]

@CPAMommyof3 I think they are trying to make sure over time worked (>40 hours) during a week does not qualify so that someone doesn't fulfill the 1 year requirement sooner…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[MintsRGood]

I'm reading that the same way @tee!

@CPAman that sounds terrible…I'm sorry! I think it's reasonable to be insistent that they give you the additional work for your application and if they don't to apply in March without it and see what happens.

In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to spruce up your resume…you never know!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

I'm reading that the same way @tee!

@CPAman that sounds terrible…I'm sorry! I think it's reasonable to be insistent that they give you the additional work for your application and if they don't to apply in March without it and see what happens.

In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to spruce up your resume…you never know!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[smalltimeauditor]

I don't know how NY works but I hope that you're being issued a non-reporting license… if anything. Honestly, 100% bookkeeping experience really doesn't provide enough “actual” experience – although it was out of your control. Really hope your boss is just looking out for you and not just trying to wring you through another busy season.

Congrats on passing.

B - Passed
A - Passed
R - Passed
F - Passed

[smalltimeauditor]

I don't know how NY works but I hope that you're being issued a non-reporting license… if anything. Honestly, 100% bookkeeping experience really doesn't provide enough “actual” experience – although it was out of your control. Really hope your boss is just looking out for you and not just trying to wring you through another busy season.

Congrats on passing.

B - Passed
A - Passed
R - Passed
F - Passed

[Anonymous]

First your boss does sound shady. Sorry they need the extra hands! if you are confident just submit your experience and deal with the outcome because then you will know what you need. IMO Experience is debatable, because when you move to a new employer you need to train how they operate. Most companies have different accounting policies and different management bottom line is you will still need to train. The whole thing about experience is just for the BOD to cover their a*** because good skilled accountants know how to think beyond FS and day to day practices and that type of skill is acquired over years of working for different industries and working on different parts of FS, Management accounting, (Incl. budgeting) Financial Analysis and Accounting related roles. Not just auditing but getting your hands dirty.

Most companies have teams working on FS, Tax department handling specific topics only small firms handing small clients can have the hands on experience of creating financials from scratch to filing taxes. Even with that there's software involved most people don't do free hand and don't even know what a journal book or ledger book looks like. If we went back to the dark ages only few would survive balancing BS on TB book. Writing BS notes by hand (Yep you can tell I am ancient, history of accounting)

Back to the topic…All I am saying is take a chance because the person reviewing your experience might not even be an accountant and if I read your comments correctly you already had 1 year prior experience before your current employer if yes, then the bookkeeping experience would be in addition to the prior experience making it 2 yrs. Remember you don't have to meet all requirements and just the most important ones. The CPA has the most lax rules in experience compared to being a Charted Accountant (You're allowed to obtain your experience from certain companies approved by the CA Board “monopoly”). Versus CPA a “we trust you” and self reporting system.

You can do this and good luck!!!

[Author]

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