[wawr47aa87]

I’m genuinely curious to hear from others for no particular reason. Basically if you’d like to share:

– Age when you took/are taking the exam

– What role or occupation you were in at the time

– If you’ve already passed, how has the exam changed your career since?

– Anything else you’d like to share =)

I’ll start. I’m 23 right now. Graduated from a state school last december, starting at Big 4 tax next week! Currently taking the exam, only got 1 left. So close, yet so FAR (get it? haha). Yeah i know it was lame, let me live for a moment. I must say, the last 4 months of my life have been pretty miserable, hence why I’m on here being super bored and writing this post.

BEC 76 (2/15)
REG 81 (4/15)
AUD 78 (5/15)
FAR 81 (7/15)

Roger + Ninja MCQ

[Anonymous]

– Age when you took/are taking the exam

I first took exam in Summer 2008 and 2009 when I was 21. I was only able to pass BEC (took it twice) Failed AUD once and failed REG twice. I then gave up. Fast forward to Fall 2014, I started my journey again and was able to pass each exam without having to re-take a section.

– What role or occupation you were in at the time

Was at Big 4 in 2008/2009.

Fall 2014 – Financial Reporting. Made the switch to Sr. Financial Analyst ~6 months back.

– If you've already passed, how has the exam changed your career since?

Not much, I switched over to FP&A before I passed my CPA and the people that I interviewed with didn't place much value on the CPA. They were happy I was going for it, but it wasn't make or break.

– Anything else you'd like to share =)

Some people are just not ready to take the CPA. I was out of college, stressed out in public accounting (B4) and I felt like a failure for quitting after 2 years and not getting my CPA. The typical formula of getting your CPA, making senior/manager and leaving for a fat pay day in private isn't for everyone and not necessarily even the “best” or most efficient route.

I was able to pull well over 6 figures without my CPA at my former financial reporting role and I'm currently making quite a decent living even now (haven't received license yet). My advice, if you're not making any progress on the CPA and you're depressed about work/life etc. take time away from the test. Re-group and try it later down the road when you're in a better state of mind.

[mommyof3texans]

Age when you took/are taking the exam

I am 42, have 2 exams completed and passed, two more to go. I work fully time which includes travel plus I have three kids. In hindsight… I wish I had known back when I graduated with my Bachelor's how important the CPA would be not just in the world of public accounting.

What role or occupation you were in at the time

I work in the Internal Audit department of a huge public corporation

If you've already passed, how has the exam changed your career since?

Not really applicable yet, I hope it gives me an advantage as I decide what to do next.

Anything else you'd like to share =)

This is a grueling journey, not for the faint of heart!

BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
REG - 11/14/15 - 80

All done!!!

[Anonymous]

I am 37 now, I began a few years ago, but this time, I started last year, so I was 36.

I was in the Assistant Manager of Financial Accounting role of a publically traded company. I had 10 years Bookkeeping/Tax/Audit experience and 6 years in Public Accounting, Financial Accounting Dept.

I am now Director of Financial Accounting in a privately owned Manufacturing company. (I really need to pass the exams.)

I haven't passed yet, but I know that once I do and I get time in here it will pay off big time! All of it was laid out in my Job offer, so I have a great path ahead of me once I pass BEC and REG.

I will say as a hiring manager, having your CPA young is a great salary negotiator, but you still have to come in and get the experience. Be humble (always) and pay your dues. It is so much better to grow and learn then get in over your head. I have watched great intelligent people get in positions they were not ready for and fail miserably. Also, the toll it took on their life outside of work was nasty. Be able to handle what you have and have some room to grow into. And dear God please don't lie on your resume. It will tell on you in due time.

[fuzyfro89]

“The typical formula of getting your CPA, making senior/manager and leaving for a fat pay day in private isn't for everyone and not necessarily even the “best” or most efficient route.”

This x 1 million.

I took the exam at 22, during my last semester in college. It sucked to be studying on saturday nights, in bed by 1-2am, and up again on sunday by 10-11am and studying by noon while everyone else was partying it up on the weekend and curing hangovers on sundays. 🙂

I started at big 4 audit a few months after passing my last exam, and worked there for just under 2 yrs ending in fall 2013. Joined internal audit at a Fortune 10 corp. for a fat pay bump in fall 2013 and got promoted/lateral into a sr financial analyst role in summer 2015 (recent). Total comp of ~60k (base, bonuses, 401k, etc) in big 4 audit, and closer to 110k today. As another poster wrote above, staying until sr/mgr is not the only way. Always at least be aware of the job market and take calculated risks. Half the battle is just searching regularly.

Also, to 2ndgoround's points, “Be humble (always) and pay your dues. It is so much better to grow and learn then get in over your head. I have watched great intelligent people get in positions they were not ready for and fail miserably. Also, the toll it took on their life outside of work was nasty. Be able to handle what you have and have some room to grow into. And dear God please don't lie on your resume. It will tell on you in due time.”

Respectfully, f* that. Don't pay your dues. That's HR lingo for “wait until next yr before we will still not pay you what you are worth”. I do agree you shouldn't flat out lie or advertise in ways that you can't live up to, but also don't sell yourself short. Always stretch in your new role, where you have the base skills necessary to succeed, but if you aren't struggling or being challenged in a new role, then you're probably not really growing a lot.

Accelerating your career is 100% luck/timing/opportunity, but you can influence your luck a great deal!

[Anonymous]

Age: 33 when I started, 34 when I finished.

Role/occupation: was, and still am a sales tax auditor for the department of revenue.

How has my career changed? so far, it hasn't, although I have started looking for new jobs.

Anything else? Accounting was a career change for me. I worked in a factory until I was laid off in 2011. My severance paid for me to go back to school, so I chose accounting because I figured it would be more stable than manufacturing. Getting my CPA wasn't my choice, my wife told me if I was taking a year off of work to go to school, I HAD to get my CPA, or else… I didn't want to find out what or else was.

[Anonymous]

I was 31 when I actually applied to begin taking the exams. I was a controller for a small but established medical malpractice insurance company (had been promoted from within, starting at staff accountant level). Shortly thereafter, I moved to a start-up medical malpractice firm, also as controller, and finished the exams in April at the age of 32.

My current firm is being bought out, probably this year, so I am looking at other opportunities, as I don't know if I'll be able to stay here or if I'd even want to. Having my license has definitely gotten me more attention in the job market. I meet so many people who say “Ohh, we need a CPA in our office. It's harder to get funding when the head of your accounting and finance function does not have a license.” So far, that's the biggest difference it has made for me.

[Peterman25]

Age: Started a MAcc program when I was 38. I didn't have the educational requirements to get licensed. Finished MAcc just after my 40th birthday (about 20 months). Took 6 months off and started studying for the CPA exam. I am currently awaiting board meetings to become officially licensed. I'll be 42 in October.

Role/occupation: Sr. Accountant in Healthcare for the past 10 years.

How has my career changed? Just had an annual review. Both my boss (Controller) and CFO see the writing on the wall. Promote me or lose me. I know that I have gone stale in my career. They chose to promote me. I'll be Assistant Controller with expanded responsibilities within the next 60-90 days. I expect a 15-20% bump in pay. If not, I am gone because I have already interviewed for opportunities that offer that and more.

Anything else? It took me 10 years to get my undergrad. I had the fear of student loans in the back of my mind. I didn't want to graduate college with a mountain of debt. I worked full time at a fairly decent job and went to school part time. I didn't have accounting advisers around me or a good career support group in relation to accounting. I didn't know any differently and is why I think that I have gone stale. I should have started my CPA studies 10 years ago and tried for a new job 5 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm in a pretty good spot and am extremely motivated about my future, but I think that I would be in a much better place financially if I would have done things just a little bit differently. I have learned a ton about how to manage your career if you are wanting to be a CPA from this forum.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[Uhartsoccer21]

I was 23 when I began studying and passed my last exam a year later. I didn't do a graduate program so this past spring i knocked out 24 credits and mailed in my finalized application two months ago. Still awaiting approval for my application -_- hopefully will get approved end of this month.

I took this staff accounting position at small firm right out of college 2+ years ago – light work schedule so studying and earning extra credits were not too bad.

I'm currently exploring other opportunities – mostly with large regional firms and just having CPA candidate and passing all exams has opened many opportunities for me. Hoping having the designation will help even more.

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

[Anonymous]

I started taking the exam at 29 and finished it right before 30. However, I still can't get my license yet because I need the experience to be sign off and additional units.

I am an accountant for a publicly traded company.

I haven't seen any big change to my career yet. However, I am seeking for new jobs. I am aiming to get a senior accountant or audit associate position at a midsize CPA firm. I am debating my future career path between private and public accounting.

I graduated from college in accounting in 2007. I always thought the CPA exam was a mission impossible for me because English is not my native language, so I never thought about taking the exams. Thanks to another71 and ninja MCQ. I passed my exam in a year. So you never know until you try.

[Author]

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