[payaza2000]

Not to be presumptuous, because I still have ethics left.

But I was wondering how does a 26 year old who has worked 1.5 years in Private Industry, transition to Public Accounting. I currently work for a nonprofit, and honestly don’t feel challenged enough. I work for a nonprofit as a Cost Accounting, as well as taking on some Staff Accountant duties.

I have always wanted to work in Public Accounting, however when I graduated college I did not get any offers from the Public Accounting firms I interviewed with. I would prefer to work for a smaller to mid sized firm where I can get exposure to both tax and audit, as well as to more aspects of the audit. However at this point I would even consider working for a larger firm (not big 4 big). I just want the intellectual, Professional challenge of public accounting. I understand that it will be competitive, grueling, intellectually challenging, and long, long,long hours. But I really do crave the challenge.

Also I currently live in Boise, Idaho but want to relocate to the East Coast to be closer to family and friends.

Any openings I see are for either College Graduates or Experienced Individuals with Public Accounting, it seems there is no middle ground.

I have passed the CPA exam, still have ethics left, considering whether to ask our External Auditor whether he will sign off on my experience requirement (State Office recommended this where there is no in house CPA).

Regards,

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[MaLoTu]

You will likely be looking at starting at staff 1 level.

One important aspect of getting an offer with a public company is really selling them on why you want to be in public accounting.

You are definitely not too old. If you have any more specific questions I will check back to answer them the best I can and I am sure many others on here have great insight into public.

[payaza2000]

So would I go through recruiting like other Staff 1 candidates? Or should I start sending my resume out? Will firms consider me even though I live thousands of miles away from my desired work location?

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[MaLoTu]

I have heard different things about the location. Some people say to leave it off your resume.

I would apply for staff 1 positions and reach out to recruiters. Most likely the campus recruiters would be the ones who hire for entry-level.

Did you go to a college that is recruited from? That is one of the best ways to make a connection.

[payaza2000]

Yeah unfortunately they do on campus recruiting.

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[MaLoTu]

reach out through linked in (or just email if you can get it) to some of the recruiters from firms that hire from your alma mater. You have a good chance of getting something if you can make the right contacts. I went to the same college as one of my partners and that really helped.

Do you have linked in? I have been typing all this from my cell… I have more info, but it is hard to type a lot on a phone!

[payaza2000]

I do. I'll have to refine it.

Quick question: how do you say you have passed CPA but aren't yet licensed.

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[MaLoTu]

I am sure there are various ways to include it, but I included it in a summary on my resume and I explained my progress in the cover letter.

I use the same summary as my resume for my LI profile, but I made some minor modifications.

My personal preference is that when you email a recruiter to not send your resume with the initial communication. I like to ask to schedule a phone call so I can learn more about the firm and see if I am a good fit for the culture. They will normally ask you for your resume, but I don't like being presumptive.

If you want to connect with me on LI I think I can help proof read your letter or give you ideas on what I would do … although I am not an expert!

[payaza2000]

Hey @MaLoTu here is a link to my LinkedIn, sorry if it's not very well done new to it.

https://www.linkedin.com/m/me/

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[payaza2000]

Hey

FAR 5/6/2015- 84
REG 8/3/2015 - 87
AUD 10/25/2015- 69 1/20/2016 -75
BEC 2/26/2016- 80

Thank you God

[MaLoTu]

The link didn't work, but here is mine … just send me an invitation and put your A71 name so I know who it is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marieturnermba

[jm962011]

Hi Payaza, I know what you're going through and I have some advice but my background may be a little long. I am also from the Midwest but just recently moved to the Boston area to be with my boyfriend.

All through college I was very “anti-public accounting” because of the crazy hours. So I was able to get two internships at two companies in industry. The second one was during my last two semesters of college and they would give me time off for interviews I had scheduled at other industry companies because they understood how important it was to have a full time offer. Feb 2012 came (I was to graduate May 2012) they told me they had just created two roles: one as a software revenue accountant and one in a tax analyst. My first internship was in tax, I like doing my own taxes, so I took the tax one. Problem solved… I had a full-time, well paying job to start after graduating in May!! Of course, this was a large public software company with two tax people… needless to say they didn't really do much or have the resources to train anyone beyond sales tax. We outsourced our returns and in Feb 2013, the other tax person left.

So in June 2013, I left for another tax role in industry at a health insurer. There were 40+ people in the tax department. I was doing premium taxes… not challenging at all. It was all very old school. I was studying for the CPA exam in between returns and tasks so that was ok. I tried to go to big 4 but because I was at such a large company that used all the big 4 for various consulting (tax, accounting, lobbying) I got shut down. I also considered just quitting where I was so I could get on at Big 4… kind of risky. In October 2014, that other tax person from the software company asked me to join him at a manufacturer. So I went. I just left there in December 2015 to move to Boston to be with my boyfriend. In the fall of 2015, I had a couple of industry interviews out here but didn't really get any offers. I decided to chalk it up to “they liked me but they didn't like my location” (I was not requesting any relocation assistance… I simply needed an offer, I would give my 2 weeks notice, need 1 additional week to get out to Boston, and then start at my new job). My boyfriend and I finally decided I would just move out to Boston because I had enough money to get me through two months of my expenses (student loans, cell phone, etc.)

Basically, I spent 3 years job hopping around in industry in the Midwest and didn't feel challenged or that these companies had the resources to train me on tax provisions, returns, planning, etc. that I wanted. I made the move to the east coast on my own, to live with my boyfriend, and it took me 3 weeks to find a job.

If you're going to just move on your own and be unemployed, you must use LinkedIn. I used LinkedIn to find jobs, reach out to the hiring manager or HR recruiter. I had 8 interviews lined up but after the 3rd interview, I got an offer from the one I wanted, IN PUBLIC!!! Not big 4 but still large enough to make me happy. I went one some of the other interviews and I had 3 offers in total from 4 places. I've never had more than one offer in my life before.

[Author]

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