[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?

[Mary 2496]

@ taxwave – I've never heard that and would love to hear the input from any other members that live in that area. I have two friends that live in San Francisco who own an accounting practice together. In fact, one of the owners was a CPA at our firm before he moved back to SF.

I also really find it hard to believe that it is common practice there, and nothing's been done about it. I would think (hope) that if this is common practice in any individual city or town, someone would have said or done something to prompt further action from the AICPA, as this act discredits the profession.

[klink24]

Like @Rocky123 said, what is the end game here?

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.

[Anonymous]

To add on to what klink24 said, imagine the most perfect outcome that could result.

Ask yourself, do you want that outcome? And if you do, what's the worse you're willing to go through to achieve that outcome?

[Uhartsoccer21]

I don't understand the need to get a lawyer or go through any tedious process. You can simply send an anonymous complaint/ tip and leave it at that.. Your not suing the relative or the firm..

The more complaints the AICPA receives about this specific issue, the quicker they will realize that it is a potential problem and do something about it.

Even if nothing happens to the specific person (which probably won't) it raises awareness which is more beneficial as a whole then one person getting booted.

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

[Author]

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