[Anonymous]

Does this bother anyone else? I feel like I need to vent…

I know there is no way to ask this question without coming off like an elitist jerk but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t annoy me. Let me preface this by saying I have a pretty liberal definition of what I consider to be an accountant (anyone in public, private or gov’t that performs assurance, audits, tax, etc.) BUT I do think there is a “line” (e.g.HR block employees or bookkeepers.)

I realize this bookkeeper is proud of their “Associates Degree” (if they even have that) and may work very hard in the “Accounts Payable Dept” or whatever and that’s fine. But when a licensed CPA or a 150 credit hour CPA candidate with public experience are also called accountants and the average layperson mistakenly considers these roles comparable well I feel like it cheapens the latter’s accomplishments.

When someone tells me, “Oh you’re an accountant? My friend XXXX is an accountant too!” I really have to bite my tongue because what I want to say is, “No, your friend XXXX is a bookkeeper who cuts checks and stuffs envelops all day.”

Why is it a lawyer or a nurse has to have a license to be called those things but anyone working in any accounting dept. of any company can run around with impudence calling themselves accountants?!?

So when I overhear said bookkeeper rambling on about being an accountant I’m left with two options. Either:

1) Be a total douche and cut them down with a statement like, “Oh me too, what state are you licensed in?”; OR

2) Swallow my pride, let them have their ego boost and stop being such a jerk inside my head.

Let me just say number 2 is very difficult for me sometimes….

[Anonymous]

Haha I feel you on that one. I'll just say, “all CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs”. If you perform SOME sort of accounting function (i.e., bookkeeping), you are “technically” an accountant. However, you are by no means “certified”. So I'd say you can take solace in that 🙂

[Sandra]

hahahahah. I hear you! Although for people working for private companies its a fine line and I don't think it matters that much in the grand scheme of things. These bookkeepers are pretty easily identified by hiring companies. That being said I think we should start a “You're just a low level bloody bookkeeper” club and make up t-shirts saying just that.

[Anonymous]

The elitism is high in this thread. I want in.

@dtomasello – I say chose option 1 every possible opportunity. Hey, we worked hard to get the extra classwork in and pass the exam. Be like Obama in my picture.

[Jeremy]

Personally, once I have my experience, I will only refer to myself as a CPA. Yes, that makes me an ass, but I'm okay with that.

B- 8/13/2012- 92
A- 7/19/2012- 83
R- 5/30/2012-82
F- 7/3/2012- 90

[Anonymous]

Those three letters after your name COMMAND the utmost respect and prestige in the business world.

/elitism

[CPA Hopeful]

I started out as a bookkeeper and still do some bookkeeping as a consultant for small businesses. That being said I can certainly see the elitist attitude as I feel like I will have the same feeling once I have those three letters after my name (hopefully soon). I will never forget my roots though, my bookkeeping strengthened my overall accounting abilities and was where I first learned journal entries and accounting for prepaid expenses, asset depreciation, etc. So I can see the point of view from both sides…

FAR - 81
REG - 75
AUD - 85
BEC - 79

Thank goodness it's over... Now on to the next step...

[Minimorty]

I know plenty of bookkeepers who are much better accountants than a number of people on this site who manage to squeak by and pass the exams after X number of attempts. It comes down to the individual. I will concede that, on average, of course CPAs are better than most accountants.

[jeff]

Mini – you were doing so well … forget to take your ‘nice guy' meds?

[mla1169]

In the example that you gave, I think the misunderstanding was more on the part of the person whose friend is an accountant too. And it really does happen in all professions, I can't tell you how many times someone in my husbands family refers to my mother in law as a “nurse”. No, she's a CNA, entirely respectable mind you, but she certainly has not earned the title of nurse.

I think accounting in general is one of the most misunderstood professions. When I was in undergrad people would always ask me if getting my B.S. in accounting would make me a CPA. Likewise when I said I was going for my CPA, everybody asked if I could do their taxes.

Now I just tell people I'm a lunch lady. Easier to grasp by far. 😉

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mmcgrad1]

I really don't have a problem with bookkeepers calling themselves accountants. They perform some form of accounting task. Personally, I don't think bookkeeping should be looked down upon. I also don't think when a bookkeeper calls themselves an accountant that they are trying to boost their ego.

What separates a bookkeeper of a small business who handles of the business's finances from a staff accountant at a corp whose job is to match all purchase orders in a system and review any odd purchase orders to make manual entries ( I just interviewed for a job like this, meh)?

Honestly, I think the bookkeeper has an opportunity to learn more about accounting than that staff accountant. Why shouldn't they be able to call themselves an accountant? They probably have more practical experience with cash management and reconciliation and the Income Statement.

When I hear someone say they are an accountant that tells me they perform accounting functions. I know an accountant can mean a whole myriad of things so I follow up to ask public or private and then what kind of role. Realistically, the only way to distinguish yourself right of the bat is to call yourself a CPA. Even then, people will most likely ask you about taxes. Furthermore, as mini stated, there are CPAs who I would consider weaker than some bookkeepers. Just because you could pass an exam, especially if you've taken it several times doesn't mean you're a better accountant than those who haven't taken the exam. It means you met a minimum requirement set to call yourself a CPA. Just think of doctors, lawyers, CFAs, etc… I'm sure you can think of at least one or two that seemed like idiots when you met them. The same can be said of CPAs.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Minimorty]

Lol. My post wasn't that bad at all. I didn't even single anyone out.

[jeff]

btw – what is the MiniSandra Measure on number of attempts before you shouldn't be an accountant?

2 per section? 🙂

[Minimorty]

I think something like this would be good: If you fail any one section 3 times, there should be a 3-year break before you can take that section again. Go out and get some additional experience or education and come back in three years and try again. I don't think you can put a limit and say a person can't ever try again. At the same time, being able to take a section every single quarter until you pass it is kind of crazy too.

[jeff]

I don't think Experience and Education have a material impact on passing the CPA Exam.

I talk to auditors who can't pass AUD.

I talk to 4.0 students going nuts because they've never struggled with anything like this in their lives.

It's a set of information in a vacuum. You study it and recall it under pressure.

[mmcgrad1]

“I don't think Experience and Education have a material impact on passing the CPA Exam. “

I definitely think you're right about experience. Experience gives you little advantage on what you need to know for the CPA exam.

I disagree about education though. The one thing I learned from my studying for the exam was just how much of this knowledge I still had from school despite my circumstances. Most topics clicked quickly and reminded me of when I first learned them.

I think the key for preparing for this exam is knowing how to study effectively and remain diligent. I think good students can struggle on this exam because they study the way they would in school. You have to approach this differently since it is a much wider array of knowledge being tested at a higher level. Instead of drilling everything down to the greatest detail or memorizing how to do things, you need to understand the concepts and be able to apply them to moderately detailed situations.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Author]

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