[Vanessachy]

I work in a local accounting firm and I have been there one and half years. When I first started working there, one of the seniors thought me and another new staff how to reconcil a client’s cash on qb. One of the clients rely on us heavily on bookkeeping, and she is a quickbooks advisor. Anyway, I always thought I am the backup, the other new staff left last year. So I reconcil the cash every Friday. A lot of the time, I would have problem with payroll, and I would figure it out. However, I don’t know quickbooks that well, sometimes I wouldn’t figure it out if payroll has a big change (I don’t know how to go back and reconcil again). If I cannot figure it out, I put it into exchange account. This Friday, I had a lot of work and I cannot figure it out, I put it into exchange account for the senior to take a look. Then the senior talked to the partner and manager about it. So the manager had a talk with me.

She was telling me that since that senior will retire within the next two or three years, they will pass this client to me in the future and asked me if I don’t want to do it. Honestly, I don’t have the heart to do it, I want to be a CPA and don’t want to be a quickbook expert, but I didn’t say it. I didn’t feel yesterday was the right time, it is tax season and I don’t want to create more problems. However, I am afraid that they will bring more of her work to me, I don’t want to do bookkeeping work and I am afraid to be the next her.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[PharmBoy]

I think it's fair to postpone the discussion for a few more weeks. Then you can sit down with your manager and tell them you're a CPA candidate, if they don't already know. Explain your long term goals and see where the conversation goes.

[Vanessachy]

@pharmboy, I want to talk to them after I pass all of them. The firm actually gave us the pressure to take the CPA exams, that is why one of the new accountants left ( she doesn't want to take the exam). Now I have passed two, I don't understand why they Would want me to do bookkeeping work.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[Missy]

I'm not clear on why you would not want to be a QuickBooks expert with bookkeeping experience? You should know that will benefit you GREATLY as a Cpa
as many of your clients will use QuickBooks, and whether you're doing tax or audit, many times your starting point is a QuickBooks file. It's not one or the other. I've seen so many people get the CPA and have no clue what they're looking at. I'd buckle down and master those reconciliations including learning how to go back (you can) and what the senior is finding in that exchange,account that you're not.

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

[Vanessachy]

@mla11692, you bring a good point here and maybe I need to rethink about this.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[PublicGuy]

The senior is leaving in a few years, did I read that right? Agree to whatever the bosses want. By then you will be a CPA and who knows if you will even be with that company. Things change quick. Sounds too early to stress on this

[Vanessachy]

@PublicGuy, yes, the senior accountant will retire within 2-3 years. But I agree, my husband said the same thing, it is too early to stress about this. Get the CPA first, then rethink about this.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[Anonymous]

I really think that having bookkeeping experience has been extremely valuable for my career…I've never gotten QuickBooks certified, cause at the time I looked into it, it seemed like something that you pay $xxx per year to get a badge to put on your website but you don't really need to do anything to obtain it (I think that was the ProAdvisor designation actually), but I've been thinking recently at brushing up on my QuickBooks skills.

So…I'd say take the opportunity to learn as much about bookkeeping as you can. It teaches you the nuts-and-bolts of what's going on. It might not be tax or audit, but it's the underlying work that you're trying to review and understand when doing tax or audit, so understanding it is vital for doing “CPA work”. Besides, bookkeeping is a big part of accounting, and being a CPA is a “special accountant”, so it's kind of part of CPA work.

[Author]

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