[SherlyK7]

Hello,
Has anyone ever gotten general work experience hours signed off on at a business management firm? The work I currently do is mostly accounting (A/P, A/R, reconciliations, G/L, chart of accounts & financial statement reviews, tax packages, payroll, and assistance with various license/tax applications)
but the partner is refusing to sign off on my hours, claiming my experience does not qualify.
The description on the work experience form and the applicant handbook is vague:
“This experience may include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills.”
I believe my work falls under the accounting category, however, my employer has the idea that the work I do is basically just bookkeeping. Although my work does include light data entry, it also includes duties that have to do with the bigger picture (financial statements, tax returns, etc).
Anybody experience this? Were you successful in getting your hours signed off on?
Please share your experiences, doesn’t have to be particularly in CA.
Thanks!

[sacpa]

@SherlyK7: The accounting work that you do definitely qualifies you to get the work experience hours. But you need to work under a licensed CPA. If that is the case, then it should not be a problem. Send an email to CA board using the email address for licenses asking the same question & they will reply to you. Your employer will be convinced after seeing that reply. But honestly, I don't know why he/she is being so difficult & not willing to sign.

I work during tax seasons in CPA firms. During interview, when employer asks me whether I have any questions, I ask them whether they will sign the form for work experience & they agree to it. The form needs to be completed by the CPA & sent by him/her to the the CA board. One year, I had to do some administration work along with tax preparation & my employer included only the hours for the tax preparation in the form.

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[sacpa]

Btw, doesn't bookkeeping fall under Accounting? Your employer's reasoning doesn't make sense.

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[CPYay]

From your brief description, it sounds to me like your responsibilities meet the requirement unless you're doing basic duties in those categories.

As sacpa stated, email the board.

[sacpa]

@CPYay: Congratulations on passing all sections in the 1st attempt. Please share your study methods & tips, especially for AUD, which I am planning to take next.

SherylK7, I don't mean to hijack your post. Just could not resist asking the question.

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[CPA2BEE]

Whatever type of work you are doing, if a licensed CPA signs the form with adequate hours then you will be fine.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[CPYay]

@sacpa: Thanks! Here's a brief summary of what I did for each:

FAR:
Watched Roger videos and took notes while watching
Bought Ninja Notes and rewrote those a couple times
Did Ninja MCQs relentlessly and took notes on the ones I got wrong and the ones I wasn't sure of
Supplemented with Roger MCQ
Continued MCQ while reading Roger chapters during breaks

AUD:
Same routine, but did not buy Ninja Notes

BEC:
Same routine as AUD, but did not do any Roger MCQs
I think I bought Ninja Notes for this, but I don't recall..

REG:
Same routine as AUD, but bought Ninja Audio and listened to it on my commutes
It was my final test and I wanted to make sure I passed on my first try and before the exam changed

[ultrarunner]

@SherlyK7, sad to hear your story. Are you sure that your partner is a licensed and “active” CPA? If not, he or she can't sign. I am working in a high tech company as a GL accountant (a similar role that you are currently doing), and my manager signed my form. If your partner is a licensed CPA, you could contact CBA and report. Also, please find a new job. Once you become a licensed CPA, you will need to do CPE. I don't think that your partner is supportive of your career. Hope everything goes well.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[sacpa]

@CPYay: Thanks for the details. Ideally that was the order I chose but did not follow it through. How about journal entries?

I was wondering about your name & then I got it. CP A(Yay) with a celebration. Enjoy! You deserve it.

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[CPYay]

Following through is the hardest part. It took me about 2-3 hours on weeknights and 6-8 on weekends. Every. Day. I have a family too, so I had to balance with the interruptions.

I work in private and do JEs regularly. I didn't really need to study them much since I'm relatively familiar with the dr/cr and know where the accounts are on the financial statements. I focused more on understanding the concepts and applied that information when doing an entry.

Thanks again. Was definitely hard work, but SO worth it. Stay disciplined and committed and you'll pass.

[SherlyK7]

@ultrarunner His license is definitely in ACTIVE status. He just doesn't believe the work I do qualifies. He's also arguing that my position doesn't REQUIRE a license. I think he sees me as a threat to the older supervisors I have (who are all NOT licensed).

Also, as a “friend and professional” he basically told me to find a new job. I still work there, so starting an appeal process (taking it to the board to decide) is kind of risky. On the other hand, I should leave only because in the mean time I'M STILL NOT EARNING MY HOURS.

At least exam scores never expire, once they're all passed…

[CPYay]

Sounds like your supervisor has no interest in furthering your career or helping you obtain your license.

Dust off your resume, call the board, and find a new job.

[ultrarunner]

That's unbelievable. I heard about the toxic culture in industry like non-CPAs feeling threated by CPAs etc. But my current job is nothing like that. I am the only staff-level accountant who has the license. More senior level accountants (no CPAs) are very happy for me when I get my license. My manager (he is the best manager of the world) allows me to go to the school or do CPE stuff during business hours. I feel so blessed. Although I like my team, I found a new job. My new job (in public accounting) won't start until next summer, so I plan to stay until my new job starts. The reason why I was looking for a new job is that there is nothing much to learn in industry. So your “friend and professional” is somehow right that you should find a new job. With your credential, I think you should get better job opportunities. Good luck for you.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Author]

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