Ductape, CPA?

“I have finally rid the CPA exams from my life. I'm still not sure how to feel. Studying has been such a huge part of my life for so long. Getting home from work is weird because I actually have a choice as to what I want to do at night.

I took my last exam last week, and have managed to actually go to the gym and cook my own food since then. I am so out of shape. I hate to say that sitting at my desk all day then going home and sitting at my desk all night had become normal. Healthy eating has been Subway instead of McDonald's.

Hiking is back on the agenda. I need to get in better shape before any big trips, but hopefully that won't take too long. I'm getting more and more energy back every day. For a while I felt like a slug. I'm also drinking much less coffee, which is good because I've had a lifetime's worth in the last 8 months.

The only not so positive thing about this is that my boss told me "I'll try to get you a raise." Try? After what I've just put myself through? That's cool though. I'm not too tied to this place and after floating my resume around just a bit, potential new employers are acting very eager to talk with me.”

“congratulations”

“Congrats on getting through it all Ductape! Good luck finding a place that is willing to pay you for your efforts.”

“Way to go.. I sat for it once way way back, then decided I really didn't want to be in public accounting.. I remember what a .... pain it was studying for them..

'fool”

“Congratulations!

But why would you go to the gym to cook your own food? Is that a CPA thing?”

“Congrats DT...sounds like it was no easy task. Once the head hunters come callin, they might be more eager to talk about a raise. Even if there is a hint of a potential job offer I'm sure you would make out pretty well.”

“Congrats!!!”

“Congrats. Great job getting licensing issues out the way before kiddos. It helps tons.”

“congrats!

your marketability just went up a good deal.

I remember the feeling well - it's a HUGE relief. If they told me I had to retake the exam, i'd just have to change careers i think.

- Roam”

“Has anyone ever noticed how many cpas/accountants are on TT? We should start a list.

When I got my designation, I asked for a raise to. I was working as a staff accountant at a public firm at the time. The partner wouldn't give me a raise just because I passed the test. He said that having the letters didn't prove I was more qualified or knew more than the other staff. What a jerk!

It will open many more doors for you! Congratulations! The monkey is off your back.”

“Roam, after the Reg section, I told my wife I'd rather go back to school for an MBA than study for that exam again.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much. It could have been worse, like taking all 4 parts together. I don't know how you guys did that.”

“Congratulations and good luck.”

“I guess I shouldn't complain too much. It could have been worse, like taking all 4 parts together. I don't know how you guys did that.”
ductape
5:37:25 PM
5/02/08

lol, yeah, and you guys get to use friggin calculators too. :)

There a couple dozen fewer FASB's when i took it too though, so maybe it all equals out.”

“The good thing about four parts together was you could get it done and over with at once. I had to go back twice to finish up.”

“Not getting a raise when you pass would suck. I know firms that don't give raises when engineers pass the PE. Tha sucks too. I give the guys in my firm 10% minimum when they pass the PE. Like the guy above, they may say you don't know more, but you're definitely worth more...just ask another employer who wants to hire you away. You gotta play defense against the other firms.”

“I had a friend in law school that was a CPA. He said the CPA exam was every bit as bad as the bar exam.

Congrats.”

“good job duct ole boy!”

“I'm interviewing at one of the bigger regional firms around here next week for a tax staff position. If I end up going with this, the goal would be to shift back to the corporate world after a couple of busy seasons and do taxes on the side. I did quite a few tax returns this year and made great money at it. I was even turning people away, either because the return was out of my league, or I just didn't have the time.”

“I spent too long in public firms - about 14 years. Now I'm a taxa manager in a private company - so effectively i now have ONE clinent - a real big demanding clinet, but only ONE. It's much better - but I"ve had friends that worked in industry and had terrible jobs - they worked weekends and lots of overtime, might as well have been in public.

But in general - the plan should be to work in public for three or four years - you want to leave as a manager (or about to be manager), and then get a low stress position in industry.

Good luck - congrats on the exam again.

oh - fyi - tax skills are more marketable than general acctg.
last edited: 5/03/08 6:29:42 PM”

“congrats!

My sister-in-law was made manager at her firm after passing the CPA.”

“congrats, now go buy a bowtie”

“I already have a bowtie. It spins around too.”

“uhh, ductape, that's called a pastie”

“hehehe, not one that I want to see”

“I don't blame you Hyway. I wouldn't want to see that either.”

“Congrats, ductape! What a huge relief that must be. :)

I'm good with not having my CPA. Grunt work isn't so bad some days. Other days, I'd like to throw it all out Roam's window. :p”

“Ms D! don't you be throwin stuff at my window!!”