[mdrobbin]

For those that work in Public Accounting, are your employers understanding of your need to study? Is it expected that you wll work less hours in a given week because you need to allocate time towards studying?

I work in Industry and, although my manager received his CPA while working in Public about 20 years ago, there is zero additional accommodation for my study time. Deadlines are deadlines regardless of whether or not I’m studying. Additionally, in my team of 6 people (we do a mix of finance and accounting), no one else has been through the CPA process so it is difficult for any of them to understand that I need to dedicate time to studying.

I am curious if it’s more difficult to work in Industry where no one really cares about your study time as compared to a Public Accounting firm which has the understanding of your time requirements because everyone, for the most part, has been or is going through the CPA process.

I typically work 50+ hours per week just while I’m studying (60+ when not studying). I try to cut off my work at 6pm, get dinner, then study from roughly 7 – 10pm each weeknight (then hit the books hard on the weekends).

Factor in my commute and my life is work, study, and a little bit of sleep. Sound similar to those of you in Public?

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[jelly]

Like you said yourself, deadlines are deadlines. The SEC and other regulatory agencies didn't change their deadlines to accommodate my studying, and my bosses didn't either. I simply lucked out that I worked at places where client work didn't require overnight travel to other states or other countries.

Couldn't pass again!

[mla1169]

Neither my employer, my grad classes or my kids accommodated my study schedule, lol!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[neika822]

From my own experience, unless you take a summer break or a study vacation, the work in public work around you either. I actually think they're less accommodating since “they did it, you can do it too.” Being out of public now, I'm finding way more time to study than when I was working until 8pm during the week and working Saturdays in the office.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[mdrobbin]

Kind of what I figured… CPA is a beast no matter what.

@Mla… to study while taking grad classes, working, AND tending to a family with kids… I have an enormous amount of respect for the dedication that takes. I'm single and I feel like there just isn't enough time in the week.

You deserve a medal to go along with your license!!!

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[FlipACoin]

I think the deadlines in most corporate accounting/finance roles are usually pretty schedule driven. You pretty much know when your going to be in demand and when you will have more time to study (month/quarter/year end, budget season, standard costing..what have you). My advice would be to adjust your study time accordingly. Study more when you are less in demand so that you can go a little easier when you are pulling 12 hr days and probably won't retain much anyway….

[Anonymous]

Everyone in the working world has deadlines. No business should accommodate to you just because you're studying. Whenever you are studying for an exam, you life is supposed to be work/eat/study/sleep. If that isn't your life, you are not studying hard enough.

[Author]

Replies