Any CPAs around here?

[abominable1]

got a job within the defense industry a few years ago (Government project accounting) after working in finance for a manufacturer.
the only problems is if that budget gets slashed , so does jobs , saw 1100 people get walked out in one day back in 2011
and the audits are pure hell, they go down to the penny.
it was like learning a different language at first, but this is actually the first job i had where i do not dread going to work everyday ( with the exception of budget time)
I also get to travel as well, which is nice.

 

[aliG]

got a job within the defense industry a few years ago (Government project accounting) after working in finance for a manufacturer.
the only problems is if that budget gets slashed , so does jobs , saw 1100 people get walked out in one day back in 2011
and the audits are pure hell, they go down to the penny.
it was like learning a different language at first, but this is actually the first job i had where i do not dread going to work everyday ( with the exception of budget time)
I also get to travel as well, which is nice.

how did you get the job?

 

[abominable1]

Pure damn luck... and I am serious.
the company I work for now was converting over to an ERP system I worked in for 8 years at my previous employer. The company I worked for at the time was going to convert over to SAP.
they wanted us to train for 4 Hours a day, do our normal jobs for 8, but only get paid for 8 (6 to 7 days a week) for like 2 years, which I though was some bullshyt.
i worked in several departments with finance so I knew the whole system accounting structure wise.
one of the developers i worked with ( cool ass Indian dude) saw this job online and pointed it out to me, said i had a good chance , but the style of government accounting and manufacturing accounting is different.
so i submitted my resume, got a response while I was on a vacation out of the country, came back, interviewed, was hired during the interview, but the background check took 3 months.
Couldn't say a damn word to anybody,


I can guarantee you when i got that call saying everything was legit, i came into the office the next day like this:

 

[Ohene]

not a CPA yet...but i've done most of my tests. will be one in 2018
currently a management acct at KPMG but i'm moving to their Transaction Services group in 2 months


edit: process is way different in Canada than in the states. Its a lot more difficult. I've had to do 4 modules which each had 4 hour exams in the last year. I then have to do a group capstone project and present it to a panel of judges next year, and then one final 3 day exam where each day has a 4 hour long case assignment.

What Camile said about working with females is the truth

 

[Camile.Bidan]

I was really thinking about going back to school for another degree. and I was thinking about taking up accounting since I only need a few classes to get a degree in it. I'm going to look into the job outlook and research to see if it's worth my time being bothered. I already have one degree that's useless not trying to get another useless one.

Accounting is a solid degree to get. That leads to plenty of opportunity. You just need to lower your expectations. You aren't going to be be balling out-of-control like an engineer or a banker/consultant straight-outta college.

and realize that the professors usually don't know what they hell they are talking about. School does not prepare you for the real world at all. Accounting is a dynamic field that changes every quarter. Remember the fundamentals, but know that you aren't really being trained for a job rather an apprenticeship.

Just make sure you take classes at a school that has active recruiting from the Big 4. The Big 4 is your real accounting education and training.

 

[ill_will82]

Accounting is a solid degree to get. That leads to plenty of opportunity. You just need to lower your expectations. You aren't going to be be balling out-of-control like an engineer or a banker/consultant straight-outta college.

and realize that the professors usually don't know what they hell they are talking about. School does not prepare you for the real world at all. Accounting is a dynamic field that changes every quarter. Remember the fundamentals, but know that you aren't really being trained for a job rather an apprenticeship.

Just make sure you take classes at a school that has active recruiting from the Big 4. The Big 4 is your real accounting education and training.

Yeah I really ain't trying ball out of control or "stunt" with money if anything I'm just looking to have a degree that will help me bring in a steady income. Also, if I decide not have an accounting job afterwards I was thinking maybe I can take the knowledge I learned and use it towards starting a business.

Tbh, a lot of these college professors are full of shyt and really don't care if you succeed. They already getting paid through the CC/University level.

 

[CarbonBraddock]

got a job within the defense industry a few years ago (Government project accounting) after working in finance for a manufacturer.
the only problems is if that budget gets slashed , so does jobs , saw 1100 people get walked out in one day back in 2011
and the audits are pure hell, they go down to the penny.
it was like learning a different language at first, but this is actually the first job i had where i do not dread going to work everyday ( with the exception of budget time)
I also get to travel as well, which is nice.

you got a government job or a job working with government people? from what i have heard, government accountants have some of the highest job security out there and it's hard to fire them or let them go.

 

[abominable1]

you got a government job or a job working with government people? from what i have heard, government accountants have some of the highest job security out there and it's hard to fire them or let them go.

Civilian contractor working with government people.
Not as secure as a full on government job. Pays a little better. But no pension.

 

[Mega]

I am a CPA, Currently working a CEP (Certified Equity Planner) and CMA.


If you are thinking of being a CPA, there are better career options out there.

Did you use a review course before taking the exam?
I am thinking of going with the Becker review course. I 've heard nothing but good reviews about them.

 

[Camile.Bidan]

Did you use a review course before taking the exam?
I am thinking of going with the Becker review course. I 've heard nothing but good reviews about them.

I used Becker, but my Audit firm paid for all the materials. It's a good program. I did some of the live courses.

 

[SmoothOperator88]

I currently work for a Big 4 audit firm and I'm looking to get out. Honestly, if you love accounting, tax, audit, I'd try to see if you can get into the Big 4 pipeline.

What I want to do long term isn't particularly accounting related so I'm only just going for my CPA to get three more letters next to my name and because I put in so many hours studying that I don't want it to go to waste.

I used Becker, but my Audit firm paid for all the materials. It's a good program. I did some of the live courses.

Agree. Becker has been good. Definitely do a live course if you have the time and someone else is paying for it.

 

[Skooby]

got a job within the defense industry a few years ago (Government project accounting) after working in finance for a manufacturer.
the only problems is if that budget gets slashed , so does jobs , saw 1100 people get walked out in one day back in 2011
and the audits are pure hell, they go down to the penny.
it was like learning a different language at first, but this is actually the first job i had where i do not dread going to work everyday ( with the exception of budget time)
I also get to travel as well, which is nice.

you got a government job or a job working with government people? from what i have heard, government accountants have some of the highest job security out there and it's hard to fire them or let them go.

I'm an accountant and I work for the DoD (GS-13 equivalent). I don't have a CPA but I do have two certifications relevant to government (CGFM & CDFM).

And Carbon is right, it's hard to get rid of people. It's not impossible, because I have seen it happen. But you really have to screw up or be completely incompetent.

 

[CarbonBraddock]

I'm an accountant and I work for the DoD (GS-13 equivalent). I don't have a CPA but I do have two certifications relevant to government (CGFM & CDFM).

And Carbon is right, it's hard to get rid of people. It's not impossible, because I have seen it happen. But you really have to screw up or be completely incompetent.

does the government have a preference in hiring black people for diversity? and how much money does the government accountants max out at?

 

[KingBeez]

I'm currently a finance major, but I also have interests in accounting. Exactly how similar are the two fields? Would it be difficult to get my CPA with primarily my finance knowledge?

 

[Skooby]

does the government have a preference in hiring black people for diversity? and how much money does the government accountants max out at?

I don't know about any particular policy but there are a ton of black women who work for government. And it's not just because I'm in the DC area, but in general.

You max out depending on your grade level. Most people are General Schedule (GS) employees. You can see the scale here. Just choose your city: General Schedule I used to be a GS employee until this year. Our agency switched over to something called AcqDemo. And apparently there is no scale when it comes to individual bonuses. I'll have to wait and see how this turns out since I just got on it a few months ago.