[portrichmond215]

I have 10+ years experience in various finance/accounting roles and am currently at manager level. Recently I was furloughed due to a merger and am now an Independent Contractor but this won’t last long. I have my MBA- Finance and a General Business Degree but I am wondering if I should use:
1) Take the time off completely to solely focus on CPA and required coursework
2) Find a part time position and study for the CPA over the next 6 months to a year
3) Just find another comparable position

I have been getting varied responses from recruiters on what a vacancy in career would mean and am wondering if that is just because their jobs depend on my placement. I’m hoping this group can offer some great advice.

Thank you!!

[aaronmo]

If you can afford to focus on the exams, I'd do that. Getting a job now would have the benefit of possibly helping with experience reqs. It really depends…

To me…if you're an accountant without a CPA, you are firmly at a disadvantage, and that's going to expand with outsourcing/technology.

I've said else where that I look at an MBA as a remedial grad degree for people not bright enough to do something substantive, unless it's from Penn or something, and then its only real value is networking/resume. I have yet to meet a single MBA who added any value.

[Stilgoin]

I suggest taking the time off to focus on the CPA if you can. I have said this before, and I will say it again- the only people I hear criticize the MBA are people who do not have one. Education of any kind is meaningful and adds value to you as a person, especially in business, finance, accounting, marketing, economics and organizational leadership. Post-graduate education is a completely different bear to wrestle than a four year degree. It improves your perspective of the field and makes you see how very unprofessional it is to openly criticize anyone else in your field. I do a lot of business consulting, and there is no way I could be that expert without the experience and education to back it up because people will not pay a consulting fee to just anyone. Also, my university just changed their MBA in Accounting program to a MACC, and it is basically the same classes. My BS made me an accountant, but my MBA combined with experience made me a professional.

You have a great resume so far, and the CPA will add a lot of value to you. Focus on that.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Tncincy]

@stillgoin,
That was really good advice. I had been toying with additional employment since I have my own business and I like the “added value and experience to be a professional”. So I am resisting looking and focusing more on passing this test. I hear this voice in my head saying just pass the test. I think portrichmond2 should take the advice. Absolutely something to consider.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[aaronmo]

I unquestionably have some very strong biases and axes that need grinding.

[Stilgoin]

@tncincy Thank you. Focus on the exam, because any goal you want to achieve will be worth it. Money is important, but self-worth is also important. Passing the CPA is an amazing feeling.

@aaronmo L. O. L. I have said the same thing about the MBA to numerous people on this forum, but I have never had anyone think it was personal. Kudos to you for having that much self confidence.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[aaronmo]

People are allowed to see things differently 😉

I admire your subtlety.

By the way…an MBA does not make you a professional, it's your CPA that does that. By definition. An MBA is NOT a professional.

https://www.somegreymatter.com/professional.htm

At some point I might expound on the difference between education and job training. And how uneducated MBAs and “Human Resource Professionals” have destroyed one and encouraged self replicating, stagnant cultures of self promotion and ineptness by the lack of distinction 😉

[Stilgoin]

Reading comprehension is also important. 😉 The CPA is a state designation, the MBA is a post-graduate degree, and experience is something that cannot be faked.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Tncincy]

knock it off aaronmo. Stillgoin gave great comments worth considering. Yes, the cpa makes you a professional and the MBA makes you educated, but what's more important. I'll take both. So give me some tips on passing this test. Start with Far please, that's the one that keeps me awake at night and spending more and more money. 🙂

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Anonymous]

give yourself 5 weeks for Far @Tncincy

3 weeks or of study and 2 weeks of review. 3 – 4 hours on weekdays and 6 hrs on weekend. you will pass

[Tncincy]

Thanks at auditsucks 🙂

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Mike J]

You need both.

I have passed the CPA exams but I don't have an Accounting degree. I was able to sit because I took the various business and accounting courses non-matriculated at a state school. I had 123 credits from my original undergrad of print journalism.

I didnt get any job offers in accounting for a year since passing my last exam in Dec 2016 until I matriculated in a masters program. Ohh, Ive had plenty of interviews. But I was often overly qualified for private sector entry-level jobs. I was underqualified for public firms.

That was in spite of myriad professionals and headhunters and recruiters telling me (until I passed) ad nausuem all I need is the exams.

So that is all to say you need the degree, which allows companies the confidence to hire you. You ALSO need the CPA designation so you can be a stronger asset to the company (the public knows and trusts CPAs and can be billed more).

[aaronmo]

Mike – once you have the cert it changes. I am in the same boat…my degree is liberal arts and I took the accounting classes afterwards to qualify as a CPA. Passing the exams alone wasn't getting me what I thought it would and not having a degree in accounting hurt (especially with government stuff). Once you actually have the license and some experience, no one looks/cares about your degree. It does make getting the experience more difficult, and if I did it again, I would have taken a few more classes, paid a bit more money and gotten a Masters out of it.

I am fielding/turning down a lot of offers now…from the same people who didn't return emails a year ago.

On the plus side, I can read, write and think a lot more than most…and that can help you advance…or get you in doors…on its own.

[Author]

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