<p>^Well he did mention at the very bottom that each choice would be considered good candidates for the big 4.</p>
<p>By the way, don’t think that having an alumni connection will work WONDERS for you when it comes time to hire someone. Honestly, I’ve met more UCLA candidates than USC candidates for which I would rather have work on my engagements. And when it comes down to it, I WILL vouch for the candidate who I think will perform better. Why? Because I care about my career, and I’m not going to vouch for someone who potentially may make me look bad on my engagements PERIOD. Call me a trader to my trojan roots, but I don’t believe people should get handouts when they are not deserved. Giving handouts means risk to the firm, potentially losing clients and revenue, sacrificing work quality, risking reputation, etc.</p>
<p>I really need some advice on taking accounting courses. Please help, thanks!</p>
<p>My situation: </p>
<p>I took introductory financial accounting for the first time in 2008, but I ended up withdrawing from the course. Then I retook the same class at the same school (a 4-yr college) in 2009 and received a letter grade of B. </p>
<p>I recently transferred to a different college, where I received transfer credit for the intro FA class I took at my previous school. Thus, I am currently taking Managerial Accounting.</p>
<p>However, it has been 2.5 years since I retook the intro FA course. I honestly don’t think I have a 100% understanding of the basics taught in the intro FA course, despite having retaken it once. </p>
<p>So, would it be a smart decision for me to retake introductory financial accounting? </p>
<p>Or is it possible to go onto intermediate financial accounting without a 100% understanding of the basics taught in the introductory financial accounting course?</p>
<p>760 GMAT guy, forget Big Four audit/tax. Try to get into business valuation or some other similar service line. A high quality, small valuation firm will probably pay you better than the Big Four will(mine certainly does). It will also lead to more interesting jobs later on. When you find a firm that’s hiring, look at the resumes of the people working there. The advantage of smaller firms (from your perspective) is they don’t have the infrastructure to hire non-business Ivy types because they cannot give them two months of training the way the big bulge bracket banks do. They have to hire finance and accounting majors. Apply to firms where many of the associates and above have respectable MBA’s(top 20) but at least some of the analysts have similar pedigrees to you (if everyone went to Wharton you don’t need to bother writing a cover letter). If you can go somewhere with plenty of MBA’s(from good schools), more CFA’s than CPA’s (but still enough CPA’s to show they’ll value your accounting knowledge), then you will probably be better off than your peers that go into vanilla public accounting. Lots of small accounting firms have valuation practices, which often are quite mediocre. Consider those a last resort. </p>
<p>If you pick valuation, or something else that’s not audit/tax, make sure you do a lot of research and can demonstrate some knowledge. We have to reject a lot of people who would otherwise get hired at accounting firms or banks because we need a high level of technical ability and we just don’t have the people to have a lot of structured training. If you can’t prove you’ve absorbed the basics in school we can’t hire you. The flip side of this is that we may be a little more lenient with regards to eccentricity (i.e. if you can handle the work, you can be a little weird and still get hired).</p>
<p>Lol choice E would not be better than UCLA/USC UG. Not by a long shot. </p>
<p>If you have a 760 GMAT, take that and apply for a top MBA. You should not be doing audit/tax at Big 4 for more than 2-3 years.</p>
<p>@ saltricks. Just this week a partner from EY came into class with 27 years there (started at Arthur Young I believe) someone asked him the exact question you are asking (undergrad in econ/or non business getting Macc and getting hired at Big4) He didn’t answer with much enthusiasm but believed it was possible. Looks like your capable of much better things though. I know a couple masters students here at CSUF who have everything going for them -gpa, resume, people skills - and get consistently ousted by undergrads with less of everything. One person with the MTax I know of has been rejected by 3 of the Big 4 but got an offer from mid tier.</p>
<p>I actually came on here with a question of my own: The changes in the CPA certification in 2014 really confuse me. I have talked to every firm and the faculty and no one can answer me with confidence. I graduate May 2013 with 150 units. It sounds like they may implement new requirements for pathway 2 as in you must now take specific classes past the 120 units. </p>
<p>To play it safe I want to study, sit, and pass the exam in the summer and last quarter of 2013. The thing is I have heard you can’t sit for the exam until you have your diploma posted to your transcripts, which can take months I guess. Then, it will take weeks to get approved, and how many weeks to schedule the four parts? </p>
<ol>
<li>Is my goal of passing the four sections of the CPA in 2013 a necessary one? </li>
<li>Is it possible time-wise?</li>
</ol>
<p>This is California by the way.</p>
<p>^ The deadline to be licensing under existing requirement is to submit application on/before 12/31/2013. But you can only submit application after meeting all requirements which also includes one year of general experience. So unless you’ll have enough experience by end of 2013, I think you’re going to be subject to the new requirement.</p>
<p>I love how people say they didn’t get a job offer at the big 4 so they are all butt hurt. I say good riddance the big 4 isn’t a good tasting cup of tea for most people. Most people I know that ended up there make as much money as I do but work more. The funniest thing I have seen is when you have kids that think their big 4 summer internship represents life at the big 4. </p>
<p>This isn’t as funny as kids that think college is a pain in the ass when you have to take 18 units. Passing the CPA while working a 60-70 hour tax season or while travelling for audit is difficult. College is relatively easy compared to this type of work environment. I worked per diem at a regional CPA firm while in school.</p>
<p>I remember once my buddy asked me " how come you don’t answer your phone when I call you at work". Well that is because I can’t bill that to a client and because I eat my lunch break and my other breaks to make the budget. My buddy was like “OMG dude isn’t that illegal by CA state labor law”. Technically yes but they don’t give a ****. The partners want to continue making their high incomes while you work your ass off. But hey at least I get off at around 6pm. Most my big 4 friends don’t get off til 8pm or later.</p>
<p>I could only imagine how ****ty it would be going straight from easy school undergraduates to full time big 4 burnout work. Most people do not last in public due to the work evironment. Even in mid tier firms!</p>
<p>Yeah if you will start your test in 2013 you will need 150 units which would make the masters degree more of a requirement than an additional benefit. AIP I think you need to stop talking about masters grads getting outed because unless they are old people (firms don’t like old people). I know a few old people that graduated alongside me that had everything going for them as well. But old people can’t work the hours that are required and travel all over the place. Old people have children and they don’t want to miss all the important moments of their children’s lives to please clients in the effort to make partner. I don’t see masters degrees being treated any different than an undergraduate. Particularly due to the new requirements.</p>
<p>“Just this week a partner from EY came into class with 27 years there (started at Arthur Young I believe) someone asked him the exact question you are asking (undergrad in econ/or non business getting Macc and getting hired at Big4) He didn’t answer with much enthusiasm but believed it was possible.”</p>
<p>He didn’t answer with much enthusiasm because that was a stupid question to ask a partner with 27 years of experience. Can you say DINGED? LOL</p>
<p>But EY partners are the biggest toolbags on earth, especially in the OC office.</p>
<p>“He didn’t answer with much enthusiasm because that was a stupid question to ask a partner with 27 years of experience. Can you say DINGED? LOL”</p>
<p>No, you are absolutely right. Its pretty pathetic how many students don’t join BAP or only go to meet the firms. I’ve learned so much just in 2 semesters. They are the ones who ask him these questions because they have never even tried to network before.</p>
<p>Thanks to a_mom for the info. Would 6 months interning in Internal Audit with a CPA count for part of the 1 year licensure? </p>
<p>Valley accountant: the person I am thinking of does not fit your description at all. However, I am far from being an authority with any real experience so I will bow out here.</p>
<p>AIP, I serious doubt your internship will count towards the experience required for licensure since all experience must be “performed in accordance with applicable professional standards”. Your best bet now is to plan your remain course work smartly so you can have as much units as possible that meet the additional 30 units requirements.</p>
<p>The guidelines for the 10 units of ethics study has been passed. The proposal of 20 units of accounting study is anticipated to be approved by no later than October 2012. The new licensure requirements including the guideline of ethics study and the proposal of accounting study, as well as a tip sheet can be found at
[California</a> Board of Accountancy - Applicants](<a href=“http://www.dca.ca.gov/cba/applicants/lic_require.shtml]California”>http://www.dca.ca.gov/cba/applicants/lic_require.shtml)</p>
<p>“Would 6 months interning in Internal Audit with a CPA count for part of the 1 year licensure?”</p>
<p>Yes. When I had my documents signed in order to get licensed, the period during my internship did count toward the experience requirement under the CBA. You’ll need to fill out multiple experience forms if you’ve had gaps in employment under a CPA (transition between internship & full time employment) or switching employers.</p>
<p>^ That’s surprising, good to know that. Thanks!</p>
<p>AIC: BAP is a waste of time, if you want to network then go network and talk to people. </p>
<p>This is coming from a 4th year at Big 4.</p>
<p>Eww. 4 years? Please tell me you’re just staying on for one more busy season as a senior.</p>
<p>"Yes. When I had my documents signed in order to get licensed, the period during my internship did count toward the experience requirement under the CBA. You’ll need to fill out multiple experience forms if you’ve had gaps in employment under a CPA (transition between internship & full time employment) or switching employers. "</p>
<p>Thank you thank you. So it seems I have a chance to slide in by the skin of my teeth. I’m really glad to know I have a chance to sit for the CPA in 2013.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention my internship was in a publicly traded company if it makes any difference.</p>
<p>“Eww. 4 years? Please tell me you’re just staying on for one more busy season as a senior.”</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean by this?</p>
<p>I have a ? My son wants to be an accountant. He has a chance to go to a small university that doesn’t have an accredited program but offers a bachelor degree in accounting.After 4 years,he will have a total of no more than 10,000 dollars in loans. He then plans on going to a big university with an accredited program and complete his masters. His other choice is going to the university with an accredited program and have a total of 35,000 in student loans and that is not counting graduate school. in this senario what would be the best route to take? Thanks in advance</p>