[Mary 2496]

This has been irritating me more and more because it’s a discredit to the accounting profession.

Someone that I know very well just graduated with a degree in accounting. S/he gained employment with a local, very large and well-known public accounting firm. For the first four months of employment, this person was given the “task” of passing the CPA exam. S/he would sit in their assigned office all day, for eight hours, and do nothing but study even though they were on company time. Okay – sounds great. Because this is the person’s only “job,” s/he passes the exams quite quickly (in about a five or six month period).

S/he has zero professional experience in accounting. I know this for a fact. After s/he passes the exam, one of the CPA’s in the same office signs off on that person’s paperwork so that the license can be issued for this person. The CPA fills out the necessary areas and states that the applicant has more than two years of experience. (It is one to two years experience depending on education level achieved, per Ohio law.)

I was really disappointed at this, not because the person was issued a license, but because this is really a well-respected CPA practice nationwide. I was a bit upset that they’d downplay the profession like this, so to speak, as the firm is known for its commitment to sound ethical practices.

Any thoughts?

[alboreland]

I don't know what the paperwork looks like, but wouldn't the dates stand out? For example, if someone graduated in May 2014, passed the tests in 5-6 months and someone is saying they earned one year experience by Jan 2015 then I think it would stand out.

It sounds a little strange. What happens if this person takes over 6 months or more than a year to pass? Is the company paying all new employees to do this?

There must be a way to send in an anonymous tip.

[Mary 2496]

True, and they're such a well-respected firm that I can bet no one would expect this type of illegal activity from them.

[Rocky123]

Well respected or not, there should always be suspicion. What was that Ronald Reagan quote, “Trust, but verify.”

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[zieba]

I'm paging up back to the top and I'm going to drink a beer for every instance of “well”, “respected” or “firm”. I'm going to have a big gulp of water for every instance of “who cares”. I'll see you guys when I wake up tomorrow.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Mary 2496]

@ alboreland – I am guessing that the state board is either too busy to actually look at dates or that the firm is backdating the start date of professional experience.

@ zieba – no offense, but if you don't care, why did you even comment? I was just looking to see if I was alone in my opinion and thoughts regarding this issue and figured I'd ask, since everyone here up to this point has been so helpful and friendly. 🙂

[klink24]

The CPA in me says you're right, completely unethical. The regular Joe in me says stop hating on someone getting the hookup just because you didn't. That's between that firm and that person. You need to focus on you and stay out of others' business.

Those two sides of me battle regularly, CPA side winning out in most situations. So I'm agreeing with you for the most part, but the regular Joe statement is not entirely irrelevant.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[koolkat]

Klink24, this is an unrelated question but I am fairly new to this site and trying to find out how you keep your information and/or quote each time you post. Do you have to use a certain mark?

2002-2003 (when it was 2 Day Test):
AUD - 69, 80, 81
LAW - 73, 73, 73
TAX- 71, 72, 67*
FAR- 66, 63, 57*
(*on 3rd try, just tried to pass AUD & LAW while getting above 50 on these;didn't work)

2012-Present:
AUD - 73, 76 (expired 01/31/14), 70 (UGH)!, 86 (4/4/15 - praise God)!!
BEC- 55, 69, 69, 78 (expired 10/31/14), 5/26/15...76!!!! AND I'M FINALLY DONE!!!
FAR- 71, 71, 70, sat 11/24/14 - 75 PASSED!
REG- 65, 67, 71, 66, sat 10/4/14; 75 PASSED!

[koolkat]

Klink24, this is an unrelated question but I am fairly new to this site and trying to find out how you keep your information and/or quote each time you post. Do you have to use a certain mark?

2002-2003 (when it was 2 Day Test):
AUD - 69, 80, 81
LAW - 73, 73, 73
TAX- 71, 72, 67*
FAR- 66, 63, 57*
(*on 3rd try, just tried to pass AUD & LAW while getting above 50 on these;didn't work)

2012-Present:
AUD - 73, 76 (expired 01/31/14), 70 (UGH)!, 86 (4/4/15 - praise God)!!
BEC- 55, 69, 69, 78 (expired 10/31/14), 5/26/15...76!!!! AND I'M FINALLY DONE!!!
FAR- 71, 71, 70, sat 11/24/14 - 75 PASSED!
REG- 65, 67, 71, 66, sat 10/4/14; 75 PASSED!

[koolkat]

Nevermind klink24, I actually found a very old post which answered my question. Sorry for message-bombing this blog. As you were… 🙂

2002-2003 (when it was 2 Day Test):
AUD - 69, 80, 81
LAW - 73, 73, 73
TAX- 71, 72, 67*
FAR- 66, 63, 57*
(*on 3rd try, just tried to pass AUD & LAW while getting above 50 on these;didn't work)

2012-Present:
AUD - 73, 76 (expired 01/31/14), 70 (UGH)!, 86 (4/4/15 - praise God)!!
BEC- 55, 69, 69, 78 (expired 10/31/14), 5/26/15...76!!!! AND I'M FINALLY DONE!!!
FAR- 71, 71, 70, sat 11/24/14 - 75 PASSED!
REG- 65, 67, 71, 66, sat 10/4/14; 75 PASSED!

[Mary 2496]

@ klink24 – not really hating on him. Disturbed because this was a firm that we also referred clients to at certain times, when our workload was too high, and am upset that this is how they're running things at their firm.

[mla1169]

Well honestly I think if you looked closely you'd find firms had some practices that are far more discreditable than this (not saying its ok to fudge someones experience but if that's their biggest moral trespass they're doing pretty good.)

In MA you can waive the experience requirement entirely by having a masters. Granted I had over 20 years experience in accounting but not a minute in attest. Does it make me a better or worse CPA overall than someone with 2 years audit experience? Probably not since I have no intention of going into attest, and many CPAs never work in audit.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[taxman89]

“The regular Joe in me says stop hating on someone getting the hookup just because you didn't. That's between that firm and that person”

the regular joe in you says its ok to blatantly lie and commit fraud?? i really dont see anyway to justify this as ok (and i am not jealous for the (illegal) “hookup” since i already have my 2 years before i have the cpa passed)

“(not saying its ok to fudge someones experience but if that's their biggest moral trespass they're doing pretty good.)”

I tend to agree with you almost 100% of the time and i do agree with the point that there are other things that firms are doing that are worse. However, there isnt even an argument that can be made to say that this is ok. it is blatantly illegal and is a discredit to profession and it cheapens the license of everyone who actually obtained their CPA correctly (even if they got it in a state that doesnt have a work exp requirement)

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[mla1169]

Illegal? Are you sure about that? Is the CPA signing the experience under the penalties of perjury? I'm not sure there are ever penalties to CPAs for signing or refusing to sign (bigger problem) the experience sheet. Besides, there could easily be more to this story than the OP is aware of. Depending on the state, “experience” is a pretty broad term and you'd be surprised what the state considers “experience”.

Don't get me wrong, I personally wouldn't sign if someone was one day short of the requirement, that's just how OCD I am.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Uhartsoccer21]

OP said it occurred in OH, what does it matter what other states consider as “experience,” and for arguments sake you have to assume OP's scenario is correct.

Whether or not it violates the USC can be argued , but it certainly would be a violation to the board of examiners, esp if revealing subject matter is grounds for a revoked license.

If I had 20 years of experience I would prbly also feel that a 1 year experience requirement wouldn't make a difference, but having just gone through my first year it was night and day and should absolutely be a min. requirement IMO. Making a veteran in accounting have to have 1 year signed off by a CPA is necessary so that all the noobs coming out of college know wth there doing!!

A - 89 10/23/2014
R - 90 2/27/2014
F - 75 5/25/2014
B - 83 8/28/2014

[Rocky123]

I chalk it up to the category I call “life isn't fair.”

Paris Hilton was born into a trust fund. I was not. Fair? Of course not.

It sucks but things like this are going to keep happening.

I would never do something as stupid as what they did. I worked too damn hard for this license and I wouldn't do anything even remotely questionable to risk it.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Author]

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