Comments on: Why Bother Becoming A CPA? A Guest Post From Roger Philipp

By: bobo

bobo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:45:23 +0000

hey cpachaser,
yea, its tough when you are older. i see myself in a few years maybe going solo with a bookkeeping business, business advisory type of business. not interested in hard core auditing, just doesnt interest me at all. considering the economy as it is and its still not getting better, getting the cpa MAYBE will give me the edge if i am not able to go on my own. working for a firm at the entry level you really have to accept the fact you wont have a personal life, its secondary to their needs. they know they can hire fresh grads for cheap and work them hard for a couple of years until they move on. if audit work is what you really want, you have to work for the small local firm that will probably have people your age or close to it that may just believe in work balance. i personally liked accounting in the beginning of my career but the hours really killed me, i refused to keep working so many hours at the expense of not being home with my family and when i was, i was too tired to do anything!!

By: cpachaser

cpachaser — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:27:25 +0000

I’m similiar to your situation, bobo. I’m 40, same years of accounting experience, passed the CPA exam, and have struggled to work with or for an active cpa or to obtain the interest of a local or regional CPA firm. Tough field/industry to obtain professional designation.

By: bobo

bobo — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:36:29 +0000

15 years of accounting experience, not really that interested anymore in accounting but need to eat. turning 47 in a week. question – is it worth getting the cpa license NOW even though i dont have any public experience? i guess i a am trying to hedge my bets with staying employed by adding those three initials after my name but no audit experience at all. california allows cpa certification without audit hours… thanks

By: cpachaser

cpachaser — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:15:19 +0000

Is there an age limit to where a firm will not consider hiring you?

By: cpachaser

cpachaser — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:24 +0000

Anon111,

Thanks for the post. I’ll try every way possible and hopefully, some path will bear fruit.

By: lee

lee — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:45:51 +0000

Look at your whole package-yes a whole bunch of C’s and other leters after your name is great, however,there has to be more than that.I don’t think there is any conspiracy by anyone not to hire people who have already passed the exam.

By: Anon111

Anon111 — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:14:51 +0000

To CPAChaser who passed the exam and can’t get into a CPA Firm. I was in your situation. Most firms are weak handed. They are terified that once you get certified you will run…they should realize you will not run if they had a great organization and paid well. My advise to you is continue searching firms that are not chicken Sh*t and one who values your time at the firm, no matter how long you gonna stay.

If It is true that you intend to leave after certification, don’t say that in their faces. Try to tell them you finally passed the exam, your life long dream of becoming a CPA is near completion, and you like to make it your profession. This way, they see a true dedicated employee for many years to come. (So it is a small lie, so what?). You must do what you must, who knows, it may well be your long term profession.

I did it and landed a great firm that handles huge accounts. I was searching for the longest until I figured the reasons for not being hired. And conveyed to them that my intentions are for longevity with the firm.

By: cpachaser

cpachaser — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:48:09 +0000

Thank you for responding. The dilema still exists. Passing the exam without having the good fortune of having been signed off on, in either public or private industry, is discouraging. I’m still trying……

By: anony

anony — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:14:45 +0000

@cpachaser – I’m surprised you can’t get anything with your credentials (not even with a second or third tier firm). You may want to geographically expand your search if you’re open to relocate. You may also, especially in this tough market, want to consider local CPA firms. I would imagine it’s easier to get you foot inside the local firms. Have you also considered joining networking orgs in your market (like a local young professional group or accounting network)? There, you can make lots of connections that can hopefully place you in the right direction. Hope this helps.

By: cpachaser

cpachaser — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:54:02 +0000

I’ve been reading the posts above. Seems to be a catch 22 with passing the CPA exam. Firms are difficult to get into and private industry thinks since you passed the exam, you don’t want to stay……