[punkndisorderly]

I’ve been studying for a few weeks and my first test (AUD) is coming up the beginning of May. I’m churning through the CPAExcel, listening to the Ninja audio on the way to/from work, and going through the Wiley book at lunch. I feel pretty good about my study plan.

The one thing I can’t seem to do is get a positive attitude about the test. I just can’t seem to get in the frame of mind I’ve had when tackling professional exams. I’ve done the CFE, CGFM and FLMI exams and had a great attitude during the process. I enjoyed the material and felt like I was picking up things that would help me beyond adding a few letters behind my name.

With the CPA, I can’t help but feel I’m jumping through hoops for the sake of jumping through hoops. I’m a governmental accountant. I work for a school district now and did governmental audits before that (city, county, utility districts, etc.). I can’t seem to get past the fact that 90% of the CPA material has zero application to what I do. I’m looking at hundreds of hours learning taxation, Sox, SEC regulation, and most of the rest of the exam material solely for the test and will (hopefully) never, ever see again. That’s hundreds of hours I could be spending becoming a better governmental accountant. The only reason I’m even considering the exam is because all those folks that draw up job postings for Finance Directors and CFO’s want a CPA. While I did the other designations to better myself, the CPA I’m doing to check off a box for someone else. I find myself more pissed than positive about the process.

I’m afraid my attitude is going to hurt me in the long run. Doubly so if I start hitting the 71, 73, 65 experience so many have.

Any words of wisdom to help me turn my attitude into something positive?

AUD: scheduled 5/3/14 (so far to go)
FAR:
BEC:
REG:

Completed: CFE, CGFM

[punkndisorderly]

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement and advice!

I think I'm going to put up a few post-it notes with the CFO's Salary on them. If nothing else, it's one positive motivator. As for the rest, I'm just going to stay angry. I guess my prime motivation will be to kick the teeth out of this test if it kills me.

Quinacridone, I highly recommend the CFE. It's not very recognized or respected outside of audit and fraud circles, but the material was pretty interesting. I enjoyed the material.

Kay: Wow, another (future) FLMI. I picked mine up while working as an accountant in an insurance company. Although worthless outside of the industry, inside the industry it's about as good an overview of everything insurance related as you can get. I finished mine in less than a year, which was the fastest anyone in the company had ever done it. Interestingly, one of my auditor buddies is dating a guy that works for my own company. He got his in less than a year as well. They said “Wow, only one other guy has done this as fast as you.” Guess I left an impression.

AUD: scheduled 5/3/14 (so far to go)
FAR:
BEC:
REG:

Completed: CFE, CGFM

[punkndisorderly]

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement and advice!

I think I'm going to put up a few post-it notes with the CFO's Salary on them. If nothing else, it's one positive motivator. As for the rest, I'm just going to stay angry. I guess my prime motivation will be to kick the teeth out of this test if it kills me.

Quinacridone, I highly recommend the CFE. It's not very recognized or respected outside of audit and fraud circles, but the material was pretty interesting. I enjoyed the material.

Kay: Wow, another (future) FLMI. I picked mine up while working as an accountant in an insurance company. Although worthless outside of the industry, inside the industry it's about as good an overview of everything insurance related as you can get. I finished mine in less than a year, which was the fastest anyone in the company had ever done it. Interestingly, one of my auditor buddies is dating a guy that works for my own company. He got his in less than a year as well. They said “Wow, only one other guy has done this as fast as you.” Guess I left an impression.

AUD: scheduled 5/3/14 (so far to go)
FAR:
BEC:
REG:

Completed: CFE, CGFM

[Author]

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