[TBBG]

I’m not trying to troll here, I’m asking honestly. Is the CPA really worth it? I’ve only worked in public advisory, and I only got the CPA to make manager. Outside of audit/tax partner, does the CPA really help your career? And if so, can it really be quantified? I just don’t see it.

Audit 86
BEC 75
FAR 82
REG 93

[JAM]

@tbbg You realize Lawyer is around 7 years of school and Doctor is upwards of 10..

While a CPA should be 5. You can't compare the level of expertise and therefore compensation available to a professional career that takes 1.5 – 2 times as much schooling and training. I'll bet a Lawyer/Doctor would not have netted as much income (when factoring schooling and testing and salary per work title) as a CPA for a long time.

Anyways, CPA's on average make more money than non-CPA. But really, that isn't the main benefit in my eyes. Why is the compensation so important to you?

AUD : 73, 82
BEC : 76

REG : 72, 75

FAR: 61, 84

[TBBG]

Bc I have a family… Like most people eventually do.

Audit 86
BEC 75
FAR 82
REG 93

[aaronmo]

Hi Folks, new member.

I suspect this is a question without a real answer because it depends on your goals and can only be answered within the context of what you'd do instead of getting your CPA/what your education and experience are.

I can answer personally…

1. If it involves a license based on regulation, you automatically have some level of job security.

2. It is evidence of intelligence, discipline and achievement. Even if it isn't a job requirement, it adds credibility and gives you gravitas. You've passed a standardized, difficult process with known value.

3. you can always make a few extra dollars doing taxes for just a few people.

4. Ego…personal sense of achievement.

5. Clear path to partner in tax practice, or owning your own firm. Would you hire a CPA or tax preparer?

AUD - 96
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 86

Aaron and always remember, YMMV

I profit from your CPE frustration. You're welcome.

[Missy]

So you know for certain jobs it's pretty much a given but are asking outside of those is there value. Yes, it's a differentiator and a discussion point. If your career goal is accounts payable, because you enjoy printing checks and never aspire to move past that, your resume will still stand out in a pile of A/P resumes and an employer will want to learn more about you. For me it was more a personal goal, a pretty lofty feat for someone who a few years earlier was a single mom with a high school education. Never worked in public, had a master's degree, now I basically run a very small company and do everything from empty the trash to hire engineers and make the budget.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[aaronmo]

MIA – I feel the same way…it's sort of what I meant by ego. 10 years ago I was a (miserable) waiter…I spent 7 years in contracts management, 2 as a generalist/consultant/controller and getting a CPA was as much about personal achievement as employment. It's definitely helped with my sense of worth, and it's cheaper than therapy!

AUD - 96
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 86

Aaron and always remember, YMMV

I profit from your CPE frustration. You're welcome.

[CISNC]

It really is what you make of it. I have REG left to become a CPA but I recently got a job as a Controller and I clear 6 figures with almost zero stress and light workload. The owner didn't even care that I didn't have a CPA because I just sold myself in the interview, not my credentials.

AUD - 79
BEC - 81
FAR - 80
REG - 76

NINJA only - no book, no notes, mcq and audio only

FAR - Pass
AUD - Pass
BEC - Pass
REG - September

[aaronmo]

Cisnc…and if that business goes belly up, you have to sell yourself again, against a lot of CPAs. A lot depends on the size of the business and biases of the interviewer. The cert isn't a guarantee, but it's also never a detriment.

I can tell you that, as a guy who ran an HR department for a few years, I'd never have interviewed you without a CPA.

AUD - 96
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 86

Aaron and always remember, YMMV

I profit from your CPE frustration. You're welcome.

[CISNC]

@aaronmo Okay, thanks for your input.

AUD - 79
BEC - 81
FAR - 80
REG - 76

NINJA only - no book, no notes, mcq and audio only

FAR - Pass
AUD - Pass
BEC - Pass
REG - September

[MINO21c]

I feel like it's kind of weird question. Is MD worth it if you don't want to be a doctor? Is CFA worth it if you don't want to be the banker? Is BAR worth it if you don't want to be a lawyer?

BEC: 77 (7/12/2016)
REG: 84 (8/17/2016)
FAR: 86 (10/27/2016)
AUD: 74, 82 (11/10/2016)

BEC 7/12 - PASS
REG 8/17
AUD 9/8
FAR 10/15

[NYSCPA]

“Outside of audit/tax partner, does the CPA really help your career?” This almost sounds like “outside of the Medical Field does a MD really help your career?” The CPA certification is what you make it out to be. For most firms, it is a requirement to be promoted from one position to another. For most individuals, it is a matter of accomplishment and prestige. For me personally, it was the latter plus I wanted to start or purchase a tax practice one day.

Fortunately, I wound up working where I am at now, I'm in the tax dept of a business management company, my overall package (pay, insurance, PTO) is better than those at my level in public and I have weekends off with limited OT during business seasons. I received my CPA license earlier this year and I am now transitioning into the business management side of things. I won't officially know the “quantifiable” value of the CPA until my year end review. But unofficially I know that our clients want someone with a CPA, CFP, etc. type of certification managing their businesses. When you're managing high profile/high earning accounts you want to provide a level of knowledge/assurance, the CPA cerficiation does just that.

NYS Licensed CPA. 12yrs in this shit and it never gets easier!

[NYSCPA]

@MINO21c I must have been typing my post as you posted yours but I totally agree with your comment.

NYS Licensed CPA. 12yrs in this shit and it never gets easier!

[ECU CPA to be]

@mino21c exactly

AUD - 76 (2/11/16)
REG - 79 (4/5/16)
FAR - 67 (6/7/16)
BEC - ? (7/21/16)

[Missy]

I feel like it’s kind of weird question. Is MD worth it if you don’t want to be a doctor? Is CFA worth it if you don’t want to be the banker? Is BAR worth it if you don’t want to be a lawyer?

Not sure how that's weird, plenty of MD's are not practicing doctors but work in research, teaching, insurance, etc. Plenty of people who passed the bar don't practice law, they research, write, teach, work for private companies in a contract review capacity. I worked for a public company that primarily dealt with DoD contracts and the person who reviewed them all (basically the equivalent of 56 page purchase orders) had to have passed the bar to be hired but neither of the two people who held that position while I was there had actually practiced law a day in their life.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[MINO21c]

Overall, I think CPA is not a bad deal. ROI wise, it's better than MBA and MAcc. It boosts up the resume and make you stand out among non-CPAs. Most of non-public accounting firms and internal auditing positions ask for CPA.

Investment bankers do make much more money, but it's much much harder to put a foot in the door. I'm sure if you want to change your career to banking, you could definitely use CPA as your selling point. Also, I've heard that knowledge from CPA helps you with CFA Level 1.

BEC: 77 (7/12/2016)
REG: 84 (8/17/2016)
FAR: 86 (10/27/2016)
AUD: 74, 82 (11/10/2016)

BEC 7/12 - PASS
REG 8/17
AUD 9/8
FAR 10/15

[cpa1982]

I agree. Unless you have MBA from top business school, it's very difficult to secure a job in investment banking. Being CPA you will have less difficulty building pitchbook/financial models. Investment banking pays very well but career is not stable. Most burn out or let go in few years. Very small % of people make it to Managing director level. Plus you have to be in specific cities to secure a job.

[Author]

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