I was one of those people who wanted a CPA but I just didn’t have the time to study. I was a tax accountant and the busy season/fiscal year filers took so much of my time. What broke me was TCJA that increased my workload 5x. I felt like 7 months out of the year were 10+ hours billable! I worked in public accounting for 4 years and just burned out. I switched my career into IT and now I am a software engineer. The hours are much better and the pay I would say is on par or even better.
Something that I am not sure has been surveyed regarding not pursuing a CPA is how many accountants regretted becoming one as soon as they went into the workforce. Also, the CPA is also outdated. I had an A/R reconciliation on FAR. Manually. You don’t have time to do that in the real world. You need to be proficient in excel or data analysis software to compare and contrast for said reconciliation. Systems. Systems. Systems. That’s all that matters in industry.
Good point. I'm really surprised at how little preparation and course work accounting programs offer when it comes to IT, data analysis, and developing professional competency in popular business applications.
Because Accountants need the CPA license to sign audits, but if an Accountant don’t need to sign audits, then an Enrolled Agent is a nomination less expensive far away and Accountants can be able to start their own practice, if you want something profitable a good way is the CMA certification when working for a company because what a CPA can reach in salary in 5 years, as a CMA Accountant you can do it from the first year only.
Because of the ridiculous expensive requirements . That's why!! I was trying to sit for exam and was told I need 9 more credit course. I have to spend more money on classes 😢. Might as well leave it alone
I was one of those people who wanted a CPA but I just didn’t have the time to study. I was a tax accountant and the busy season/fiscal year filers took so much of my time.
What broke me was TCJA that increased my workload 5x. I felt like 7 months out of the year were 10+ hours billable! I worked in public accounting for 4 years and just burned out.
I switched my career into IT and now I am a software engineer. The hours are much better and the pay I would say is on par or even better.
Something that I am not sure has been surveyed regarding not pursuing a CPA is how many accountants regretted becoming one as soon as they went into the workforce. Also, the CPA is also outdated. I had an A/R reconciliation on FAR. Manually. You don’t have time to do that in the real world. You need to be proficient in excel or data analysis software to compare and contrast for said reconciliation. Systems. Systems. Systems. That’s all that matters in industry.
Good point. I'm really surprised at how little preparation and course work accounting programs offer when it comes to IT, data analysis, and developing professional competency in popular business applications.
Because Accountants need the CPA license to sign audits, but if an Accountant don’t need to sign audits, then an Enrolled Agent is a nomination less expensive far away and Accountants can be able to start their own practice, if you want something profitable a good way is the CMA certification when working for a company because what a CPA can reach in salary in 5 years, as a CMA Accountant you can do it from the first year only.
Accountants don't need to become CPAs unless they plan on signing off on public attestation reports.
Because of the ridiculous expensive requirements . That's why!! I was trying to sit for exam and was told I need 9 more credit course. I have to spend more money on classes 😢. Might as well leave it alone
My eldest son pursued and was awarded CPA licensing by the State of California..he works in the south bay..