[illinoisguy]

I’m hoping I’m in the right place and can get some advice on whether or not I should try taking the CPA. I’ve been trying to decide now for about a month but I’m torn. Here’s a little background info on myself:

– I’m 40 years old, married and have two kids.

– I work for an engineering company as a project accountant. I’ve been at this company for 9 years.

– I have my MBA in accounting from a local private college

– I’ve been out of graduate school for about 5 years. I feel like the accounting education I received wasn’t the greatest and I sometimes struggle with accounting concepts that some of peers seem to have a better grasp of.

So my question is should I:

1. Dedicate myself to studying and taking the CPA exam. I don’t think it would really help in my current position (except it might help in my overall grasp of accounting that I mentioned earlier). It may help if I look for a new job but at this point in my career I don’t really have any desire to work 90+ hours a week at a public accounting firm.

2. Use the time I would be spending on studying for the CPA to work on my resume, apply for jobs and/or start a small bookkeeping company. Last year I worked 5 to 10 hours a week for a bookkeeping company doing data entry into QuickBooks (this was a side job to my project accounting job). I’ve often toyed with starting a bookkeeping business.

This is a huge decision for me and I’m having a difficult time deciding what I should do. Any and all advice/opinions will be greatly appreciated. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[Trele6]

Just because you get a CPA doesnt mean you will have to take a 90+ hr job at a CPA firm.

I have never and will never work at a CPA firm. I am only going for it because my company will not promote anyone to a supervisor or higher level position with out a CPA (in the accounting department of course).

Additionally, all the other public companies I see that have openings that I would love and meet all of the qualifications for require a CPA and that is the only thing holding me back from landing a supervisor job.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Author]

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