Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Search results

111 results found.

Certifications = Higher Salaries, Natch

Those of you who are still on the fence about pursuing a professional accounting certification should, if for no other reason, consider getting your CPA or CMA or both because of this: more money. The Institute of Management Accountants polled its U.S. membership last September for its 2021 U.S. Salary Survey. Of the 1,300 or […]

Accounting News Roundup: Auditor Shopping, Certifications and Tax Deferrals | 01.10.17

Auditor shopping 1Malaysia Development Berhad has gone through a number of auditors, including KPMG, EY and most recently Deloitte. The latter resigned last July in the midst of allegations against 1MDB for corruption and money laundering. With that level of stench on it (along with cycling through 3 of the Big 4), there's no wonder […]

IMA Survey Shows Men Make More Than Women and Certifications Matter

The Institute of Management Accountants salary survey came out yesterday, and you should check it out if you're into that sort of thing. Quickly while we're on the topic of salary, consider this your friendly reminder that the Going Concern Compensation Survey is still open and it would be great if you can take a […]

Accounting Manager CPA

Apply Now Job Title: Accounting Manager CPA Location: Greenville, South Carolina (Remote Based) Hiring Company: To Apply for this Job Click Here There’s More Than One Way to Use your CPA!  Join a progressive firm, work with clients and lead a team as an Accounting and Advisory Manager.  The team at Accountingfly knows that earning […]

The paltry change you are currently billing clients for

You Are Not Charging Enough

Psst. Hey, you. Yeah, you. We are speaking on behalf of the universe with a message for you: You are not charging enough. Honestly, we could just end the article here but there are minimum word counts to hit so in a moment we’re going to give you a few reasons why you need to […]

sad black dog

Friday Footnotes: KPMG Client’s Spectacular Failure; PwC Gets Defensive; Kids Doing Taxes | 3.10.23

Some things are happening today. Bank Fail Friday is back! What does Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse mean for the financial system? [The Economist] Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly. That is how Silicon Valley Bank (svb), the 16th-largest lender in America, with about $200bn in assets, went bust. Its financial position deteriorated over several years. But […]

$700,000+ Overclaim by Alliantgroup Client Shows Value of §179D Expertise

The United States Tax Court recently ruled that Edwards Engineering could only deduct $304,640 of the $1,037,237 it claimed under Section 179D for the installation of energy efficient commercial building property (EECBP) it performed at a Veterans Affairs hospital in 2013. Q: Edwards Engineering is a client of what tax consulting firm, a popular subject […]

black and white person walking away alone

Armanino’s Former Crypto Team Has Left and Formed Their Own Shop, Allegedly

Having happily offered services to crypto clients since 2014, Armanino very nearly marked ten years in the crypto space until the catastrophic collapse of crypto exchange FTX in November 2022 forced them to part ways with crypto clients seeking assurance, FTX being one of them. As a reminder, here’s what happened in December: Armanino is […]

Minnesota State Capitol

Minnesota Throws TPTB the Finger and Introduces Legislation to Offer an Alternate Pathway to CPA Licensure

It was only a couple days ago that the Journal of Accountancy published an interview with NASBA CEO and President Ken Bishop in which Bishop sternly warns states against even thinking about lowering the CPA licensure requirement to 120 units, something something mobility blah blah. To save you a click, here’s a relevant snip of […]

a man writing "I will not alter work papers" on a white board

Audit Partner Really Bad at Auditing Won’t Be Auditing Any Time Soon (Or Ever)

The PCAOB has made it painfully clear that they are done pussyfooting around and sick of auditors not doing their jobs. Chair Erica Williams said in September the Board plans to use every tool at their disposal to bring the hammer down on naughty auditors and it seems that’s exactly what they’re doing. Wanna alter […]

an artsy pic of a lightbulb

Understanding the §179D Tax Deduction for Humans, Part 2

Examining the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on §179D Welcome to part two of our series on the IRS Section 179D tax deduction. We explained how the §179D tax deduction works and who qualifies for it in part one. For this entry, we’ll take a look at the future of our plucky lil’ write-off […]

A guy who is confused about the §179D tax deduction

Understanding the §179D Tax Deduction for Humans, Part 1

Who qualifies for the $1.80 $1.88 $2.00 $5.00 per sq ft tax write-off? If you listen closely, you can hear it: The IRS Section 179D tax deduction is suddenly generating a lot of buzz. The provision, which provides incentives in the form of tax deductions to commercial building owners and designers of government-owned buildings who […]

How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up For 2022? (Part 5, Century Group)

It’s been a minute since we’ve talked about projected salaries for this year in public accounting, and compensation discussions will be happening for many of you in mere months. So today we have a new entrant in our continuing series of 2022 public accounting salary projections, and it is staffing and recruitment firm Century Group, […]

Report: PwC and Deloitte Among Companies That Have Continued to Make Political Donations to Republican Lawmakers Who Voted to Overturn Presidential Election

Shortly after the riot at the U.S. Capitol last Jan. 6, the Big 4 each put out statements saying they were either suspending all political contributions or suspending PAC funding to the 147 Republican members of Congress who voted to overturn the presidential election results. It was a move, they said, to “facilitate a smooth […]

CliftonLarsonAllen Is Ranked No. 1 In Something

And that something has to do with … construction. For the third consecutive year, CLA has been named the top construction accounting firm by Construction Executive. It’s an honor to be recognized, & it speaks to our ability to help owners & managers address industry challenges & plan for financial success https://t.co/rE1m1zVntL pic.twitter.com/D1RhjZzyPX — CLA […]

Shape Your Accounting Career Your Way with the Intuit Expert Network

Looking to grow your professional experience, engaging with new clients in new situations? Ready for the next challenge as your accounting career revs up or winds down, or seeking a full-time job as a bookkeeping professional? The Intuit Expert Network offers the perfect opportunity to shape your career—transforming your journey to fit your wants, goals, […]

Women, Can You Love Your Job But Still Be Pissed About Your Compensation?

If there was such a thing as a “I love my job” gap, men and women would be equals, according to the latest U.S. salary survey from the Institute of Management Accountants. And that boggles my mind because, as we all know, women’s salaries in accounting are definitely not equal to men’s. So as a […]

Your Naughty CEO and CFO of the Day

By making false statements and omissions to external auditors, which resulted in the improper recognition of $3.6 million in revenue related to a contract with a large public-sector client, ex-WageWorks CEO Joseph Jackson and former CEO Colm Callan had to pay their way out of the SEC’s doghouse. According to the SEC: In March 2016, […]

Political Contributions Watch: Big 4 Suspends Donations to Lawmakers Who Voted Against Certifying Election Results

Here is how the Big 4 firms are responding to last week’s riot on the U.S. Capitol and Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying the presidential election: Deloitte Capitol siege reaction: Here is a letter to staff signed by CEO Joe Ucuzoglu and Board Chairman Janet Foutty: Colleagues, We wanted to share some brief thoughts […]

Get Sensitive or Else: How to Keep Talent When the World’s Gone Crazy

As hardcore accountants, you and your talent probably aren’t suffering quite as much from the death of office culture as the rest of the world. How many of you really cared about the PR puff stuff that was a distraction and time suck?  However … Even the most laser-focused, bottom-line-oriented accountant is missing something in […]

6 Real-Life Embarrassing Accounting Résumé Mistakes You Never Want to Make

Writing your résumé is a big deal, wouldn’t you think? Especially if you really need a job to maintain your lavish lifestyle or keep your kid in video games. There are maybe a handful of things in life that you don’t want to screw up—think marriage proposal, your CPA exam, and, yep, a résumé is […]

Job of the Week

Job of the Week: Remote Accountant w/ Sage-Intacct Experience

Going Concern’s Job of the Week features a CPA firm looking for a Remote Accountant with a strong working knowledge of Sage-Intacct and church client experience. If you are interested in this job, we invite you to apply with Accountingfly.  APPLY NOW (updated link) | Accountingfly connects you with virtual accounting jobs with the best […]

Continuous Testing Is Here. Here’s Everything You Need to Know You Didn’t Think to Ask

As of July 1, continuous testing is the new way CPA exam candidates plan and sit for the exam. If you’ve been a bit confused about what continuous testing means for your CPA exam journey, it’s understandable. The plan was announced in 2019 and was very quickly pushed toward adoption, with the final steps toward […]

accounting as a second career

Just How Difficult Is It to Break Into Accounting As a Second Career?

Around these parts we like to focus on the “traditional” accounting track: school, degree, Big 4 job, CPA exam, and exit to greener pastures, usually in that order. It’s how it’s always been for accounting majors and likely how it always will be because as we know, it’s Big 4 or nothing in the world […]

Lawsuit: Mattel Shareholders Are Holding PwC’s Feet to the Fire

Once the Wall Street Journal broke the story last November that Mattel’s finance team and PwC auditors reportedly buried an accounting error that affected the toy giant’s financial results toward the end of 2017, you knew there would be some fallout. First, Bloomberg followed the WSJ report by writing that the PCAOB would be investigating […]

Accountants Behaving Badly: Screwing Over the Mennonites and Amish, Exploiting Elderly Clients, Guilty of Conspiracy

Plus, an Indiana accountant gets jail time for wire fraud, and an Arkansas church accountant is in police custody for allegedly stealing more than $70,000. Berks County accountant allegedly victimizes the Mennonite and Amish communities in massive Ponzi scheme [Justice Department] Philip Riehl was charged on Jan. 31 with conspiracy, securities fraud, and wire fraud, […]

Finding a Good CFO Is So Hard Companies Are Just Making Them Up Now

h/t Sam Antar for shooting this story our way. If you have a story you think we should cover go ahead and use the contact info at the bottom of this post to get in touch. Finding a good CFO is tough. So tough, in fact, that one company recently got in a bit of […]

Opinion: The AICPA’s Future CPA Exam Plans Are Really Just a Desperate Money Grab

ICYMI, a couple weeks ago I wrote about a joint AICPA/NASBA plan to drag CPA licensure into the 21st century. So far, the initiative is in the early planning stages but it feels like the profession is moving far quicker than its usual snail pace to adapt to our rapidly-changing world, so to think this […]

woman in a field

Here’s How to Study For the CPA Exam and Still Salvage a Decent Summer

I dunno about you but I’ve been in a real funk since at least October. Maybe it’s just a seasonal thing, maybe I need professional help idk, but either way, summer really surprised me. It was like one day temperatures were cooling and leaves were falling, the next I woke up from yet another nap […]

open accounting jobs

Escaping the Dungeon: The Hottest Accounting Jobs for Q2 2019

A lot of us at Going Concern would’ve rather been chained up in the dungeon with Tyrion Lannister instead watching last weekend’s “Game of Thrones” finale. But we’d prefer just about anything over being trapped in the figurative dungeon of boring, thankless accounting jobs. Here’s something that’s more omg-so-awesome “Breaking Bad” finale than fade-to-black “Sopranos” […]

Compensation Watch ’19: Credentialed Accountants vs. Non-credentialed Accountants

In its annual salary survey, the Institute of Management Accountants always includes a section comparing compensation for accountants who are either CPAs, CMAs (Certified Management Accountants), or both with accountants who hold neither credential. And every year the IMA finds that credentialed accountants make more money than those without a CPA or CMA. Makes sense. […]

retro computer

Here Are Some Tips on Having a Less Crappy CPA Exam Experience at Prometric From a (Probably Legit) Prometric Employee

A short while back, one brave soul (ThrowAway20112348) presented themselves as a Prometric employee on Reddit and shared some insight, tips, and rules for U.S. testing centers. The universe thanks you, friend to CPA exam candidates. Now, I’d like to share the love by recapping their message from the great testing center beyond. In their […]

Chocolate santas

REG Changes Are Coming Right After Santa; Here’s What CPA Exam Candidates Need to Know

Do you remember December 2017? You know, back when “The Last Jedi” premiered (RIP, Carrie Fisher) and BTS was blowing up Twitter (“Mic Drop”)? Yeah, me neither. But one important event happened in December 2017: the signing of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law. This new tax law was last year’s early Christmas present […]

How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up for 2019?

It’s the end of August, which means Starbucks is already slinging pumpkin spice lattes, Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers are now on the shelves of your favorite bottle shop, the college football season is about to kick off, and Robert Half and Accounting Principals have released their latest salary guides for accounting and finance professionals. Both […]

hot accounting jobs

Escaping the Dungeon: The Hottest Accounting Jobs for Q3 2018

We know a lot of you are in the dungeon. You’re working at one of the Big 4 or another public accounting firm, chained to your desk for 60 to 80 hours a week, performing menial tasks for clients you’ve never met and never will meet. Your creativity is stifled; your input ignored. But it […]

Government Auditors Say the Institute of Internal Auditors Is Making a ‘Big Mistake’ By Phasing Out the CGAP Credential

The Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) is one of three specialty certifications that are being phased out by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)—and several government auditors who hold the CGAP aren’t very happy about it. “I’m disappointed but not surprised by the IIA’s short-sighted decision to phase out new applications to the CGAP,” Chris […]

Big 4 CMA

Does the Big 4 Value the CMA Certification?

When talking about certifications prized by the Big 4, everyone sounds like a broken record: the CPA, the CPA, the CPA, and just to mix it up, sometimes they mention THE CPA. Is there any other certification that Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst and Young (EY), and KPMG find appealing? What about the CMA, another one […]

Accounting News Roundup: Mischievous Non-GAAP Reporting; More Bad News for KPMG South Africa; Theranos Losers | 05.04.18

SEC chief accountant warns against mischief in non-GAAP reporting [AT] On a panel at Baruch College’s Financial Reporting Conference, SEC Chief Accountant Wesley Bricker mentioned that there can be a “mischievous quality to non-GAAP reporting,” and now I can only imagine CFOs with toothy grins and little top hats. Also notable were comments from Kyle […]

ernst & young report ashley madison

Accounting News Roundup: EY Partner Accuses Firm of Blowing Off Assault Complaint | 04.19.18

Ernst & Young partner accuses firm of brushing off assault complaint [Reuters] Not too good, EY: In a complaint alleging discrimination and retaliation filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Jessica Casucci, a partner in Ernst & Young’s New York office, accused fellow partner John Martinkat of sexually assaulting her in front of two […]

non-cpa controllers

Non-CPA Controllers Offer Perspective on Choosing a Certification

Three years ago, Anne Bronchetti, CMA, had an accounting intern from a local university who had never heard of the Certified Management Accountant designation until she told him about it. “He knew he wanted to pursue a career in accounting but wasn’t at all sure what path to follow or where he should focus,” said […]

controllers no cpa

No CPA, No Problem: Why Some Controllers Opted for Other Professional Credentials

Joel Konts was told over and over again during college that if he didn’t sit for the CPA exam and work for a public accounting firm after he graduated, he wouldn’t have the best of luck making a career in accounting. “I also knew that if I didn’t go for my master’s degree right after […]

deloitte cyberattack

Accounting News Roundup: Sanctions for Former Deloitte Brazil Execs and #Envelopegate: The Aftermath | 03.30.17

Deloitte Brazil Back in December, Deloitte’s Brazil affiliate paid a record $8 million fine and settled charges with the PCAOB over some bad audits and the cover-up of those bad audits. Yesterday, the PCAOB announced sanctions for two former Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Auditores Independentes (aka Deloitte Brazil) executives who wouldn’t cooperate with the Board’s investigation: […]

accountants resume

Accountants’ Résumés Are the Worst

My name is John, I’m a recruiter and I have a résumé problem. I see lots of résumés from accountants. Less than a third are presentable. When the perfect candidate has a résumé that fails, I get cranky and I call to suggest a fix. Hiring managers don’t do that. Where to start? Résumé experts […]

How to Prepare an Exit From Public Accounting Into a Government Position

This is sponsored content brought to you by American University. Let’s face it, sometimes your chosen career path just isn’t what you imagined: The challenge of the job fades, the income doesn’t quite equal the time expended, the sexiness of working for a big firm didn’t last. And sometimes you just hate your job and […]

Accounting News Roundup: Tax Planning for Secretary of State Nominees and FASB Stuff | 01.11.17

Tax planning (for Secretary of State nominees) Richard Rubin of the Wall Street Journal reports that secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson would like to defer the taxes on the $170 million retirement he received from his former employer, ExxonMobil. Normally, the creation of such a trust for Mr. Tillerson’s benefit outside Exxon would create […]

Accounting News Roundup: Deloitte’s Audit Problems, Women in Finance, a COSO Certification | 12.12.16

Deloitte's audit quality problems Francine McKenna chronicles Deloitte's audit problems from the last decade-plus, making special note of one of the Brazil 12, Wanderley Olivetti, who tried to hold Parmalat, the Italian dairy company, accountable in 2002. She writes, "Olivetti rose to the top of Deloitte Brazil because of, or perhaps despite, his apparent demonstration […]

accounting salaries

How to Make More Money in Accounting

This is sponsored content brought to you by Benedictine University. Almost everyone wants to make more money and why not? A bigger paycheck helps with a lot of things — paying off student loans, saving for a down payment on a major purchase, funding a new venture, travel. If you’re a partner at a firm […]

Sponsored: Should You Get a MAcc on Your Way to the CPA?

CPA at the end of your name? Powerful and sexy. MAcc? The verdict is still out. It can be expensive and honestly, accounting firms don’t require a graduate degree to make partner. You might think, “What’s the point?” If you already scored a high paying first job out of undergraduate without a MAcc, is it […]

Sponsored: Why a Bank VP Got Her Master of Accounting Degree (And Why You Should, Too)

Please enjoy this sponsored content from The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, an Accountingfly University Partner. To move her career to the next level, Bank of North Carolina’s Vice President of Balance Sheet Strategy returned to school, adding new skills and credentials to her resume.  Are you ready for the next big step […]

Clark Nuber

Meet This Firm: Clark Nuber

Meet This Firm is a series of video interviews featuring the best accounting employers across the United States for high performing accounting professionals and CPAs. Please enjoy this sponsored post courtesy of Clark Nuber, an Accountingfly Firm Partner. Contact Judy Schryver to learn more about firm partnerships. Clark Nuber is an award-winning CPA and consulting […]

BlumShapiro

Meet This Firm: BlumShapiro

Meet This Firm is a series of video interviews featuring the best accounting employers across the United States for high performing accounting professionals and CPAs. Please enjoy this sponsored post courtesy of BlumShapiro, an Accountingfly Firm Partner. Contact Judy Schryver to learn more about firm partnerships. BlumShapiro is the largest regional accounting, tax and business […]

Risk Consulting – EY vs. KPMG

Will graduate in May, need help choosing between two offers: EY – RAP (Risk Advisory Program) – $61k salary, $3k signing bonus KPMG – Risk Consulting, Internal Audit – $65.5k salary, $5k signing bonus I think that KPMG also offers better benefits in terms of PTO and additional certifications, but the money is the main […]

5 Ways Accountants Can Protect Themselves from the Accountapocalypse

In an earlier post, I listed what types of firms and accountants are vulnerable to the Accountapocalypse. Since then, I’ve received a number of tweets, LinkedIn messages and hate mail (thanks guys) centred around this:

LinkedIn Faux Pas

I was recently chatting with an old client contact and the discussion turned to the stupid ways which people give the wrong impression on LinkedIn. These were the major things we've seen and agree that they make people look like idiots online: 1. Long self-aggrandizing summaries: usually the people that did this were assholes anyways, […]

Soon-to-be IT Auditor unsure of future

Hey everybody, I am starting at Deloitte (midwest region) in August as an IT Auditor and am super stoked! However, I am a little concerned about my future career path after reading (probably far too many) discussions here. I have no current interest in sticking with IT audit beyond my Big 4 stint and I […]

Accounting News Roundup: CFOs Make Career Moves; Tokin’ on a Business Trip; Accounting Firms That Cold Call | 06.15.15

CFO Departures Often Involve Career Moves: Study [CFOJ]According to Audit Analytics, out of 290 CFO departures that disclosed a reason, 90 were due to "another opportunity" and 29 were "[to] pursue other interests." Twitter CFO’s Ascent Creates New Power Center [WSJ]Legg Mason's Bill Miller offers a ringing endorsement: "He’s one of the adults in the […]

Returning to Big 4?

Hey all,   Got a quick question for you Big 4 vets and beyond:   My dilemma is this:   I've previously worked 1.5 years in the big 4 and have the stripes on my back to prove it. Not a whole lot of time right? Yeah, I know.. but I recognized that all of […]

There’s No Stopping the Growth of Accounting Master’s Programs

Let’s crunch these numbers a bit.

How Many Letters After Your Name Is Too Many?

Full disclosure:  I am a CPA and CGMA, and am considering the CITP. That being said, how many letters are too many?  How many of your certifications are you putting on your communications?  Does your firm have a policy on this?   I just got an email from a person, and this was his signature […]

Accounting News Roundup: Dark Arts of Ladder Climbers; Reminder: IFRS Not Happening in U.S.; Gender Bias Suit Against KPMG Granted Collective Action | 07.09.14

In Deal to Cut Corporate Taxes, Shareholders Pay the Price [DealBook]Medtronic shareholders, to be specific: "The Internal Revenue Service will treat the acquisition as if Medtronic shareholders had sold their shares. Under I.R.S. rules, when a company moves abroad in a tax inversion, the buyer’s shareholders must pay capital gains if they will hold 50 […]

Accounting News Roundup: E.U. Investigating Fancy International Tax Planning; Bain Sues EY; Section 179 Getting Kicked Around | 06.11.14

Bank of America Mortgage Settlement Is Said to Be Deadlocked [DealBook]The DoJ was not amused by BoA's most recent offer: "The talks stalled on Monday after the bank’s latest offer — more than $12 billion to resolve state and federal investigations into its sale of mortgage investments that later imploded — fell far short of […]

Recruiters Left Scratching Their Heads at the Fact No One Will Take Their Calls

It's probably not all that far from base to assume Glassdoor hopes no matter how content you are in your current position, you're cruising their website looking for your next big opportunity. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that they suggest you take recruiters' calls even if you are happy at your job: You […]

The AICPA Voiced “Deep Concerns” About the IRS’ Voluntary Tax Preparer Proposal

It isn't often the AICPA throws out serious words like "deep concerns," yet they just did in regards to the IRS' proposed voluntary tax preparer program. Those deep concerns are the program itself, how quick the IRS is trying to get it in place and the confusion that might result from stupid taxpayers thinking "regulated" […]

Who Needs a CFO When You Have an Ex-KPMGer Running the Show?

Colin already got to this L&L Energy LOLery in ANR but in case you missed it, here's just a teaser from the SEC: The SEC’s Enforcement Division alleges that L&L Energy Inc., which has all of its operations in China and Taiwan, created the false appearance that the company had a professional management team in […]

Should An IT Auditor Take The CPA Exam?

I'm at IT Auditor who serves external audit clients at a "Big-4 Firm". This question is with regard to certifications/licenses: I will be wrapping up my CIA cert. next week as I am taking the final section. If you're wondering why an IT Auditor is pursuing the CIA – simple, I served as an Operational […]

Accounting Career Conundrums: The Path to Becoming an International Accountant of Mystery

This week, a newb discovers GC and solicits career advice. Which is pretty much every day around these parts. If you just happened to Google the right combination of words to land in our lap and need career advice, first please look around a little to see if your question has already been asked. Then, […]

Going Concern’s Adventures in Consulting Series: Part 2 – WTF Should I Do Now?

“I lie every second of the day. My whole life is a sham.” – George Costanza Make sure to catch up on part 1 of this series if you haven’t already because we are diving right into each of these poor bastards’ unique, yet perhaps, all too familiar situations and you need to keep up.  […]

Here’s a Fancy Picture About Projected Accountant Salaries for 2014

Thanks, Becker and Robert Half!   The fine print: * Example only.** Large public accounting firms/companies = $250 million + in sales. Salary does not reflect overtime or bonuses which may represent significant portions of compensation for some positions.*** CPAs may earn up to 10% over peers without professional designations.**** Advanced degrees or professional certifications […]

accounting as a second career

The Definitive Guide to Accounting as a Second Career

Ed. note: this article was originally published October 8, 2013. Despite its age it is still accurate for anyone thinking about a second career in accounting. We updated a few small details in June, 2022. You may contact the editor if you have any questions about the information below or would like more resources on […]

Why Aren’t Big 4 Firms Aggressively Marketing Their CPA Exam Policies?

While the firms are busy trampling each other to recruit top talent with a salary/benefit/work-life balance pissing contest, many of them are missing one important component to their seduction strategy: CPA exam incentives. We already know some firms pay for materials, give you time off to study, and offer cash incentives for passing the exam […]

The Accountant’s Definitive Guide to LinkedIn

The business savvy social network LinkedIn can actually help you land a better job than the one you call home right now. I’m sure some of you have actually used it to help you find a job, in which case I hope you share your triumphs with the rest of us.

The Accountant’s Definitive Guide to Building a Successful Résumé

With recruiting season in full swing, it’s time to dust off your résumé and revamp it. If you are a staff member, chances are your résumé still lists you as being in college. That needs to change. Everything you need to know to put together a successful résumé can be found here. It’s important to remember […]

Study: Competing Forensic Accounting Bodies Pretty Much Hate Each Other; Regulation Needed

The continued prevalence of fraudulent activity in business will undoubtedly lead many of you to a career in forensic accounting and/or fraud examination. Because of the nature of their work, you might be under the impression that the organizations in this little corner of the sandbox would be above reproach and bickering over petty differences […]

Is Getting a CITP Worth It?

Sometimes, your career troubles are so massive that you can no longer afford to buy a few rounds of drinks to convince your buddies to listen to you complain for the fifteenth night in a row. That's when you man (or woman) up, open up an email and let GC steer you in the right […]

Get Your CGMA Designation Before the Turd Gets Cold

I refuse to become a CGMA. If you are a CGMA, I will pretend to not judge you if we meet in person. But I will be judging you in my heart. The Chartered Global Management Accountant designation has been available since January 31, and the AICPA has been promoting the hell out of it. […]

Comp Watch ’12: Credentialed Accountants vs. Non-credentialed Accountants

Have you struggled to pass a certification exam? Is your reaction to colleagues that place various three-lettered credentials behind their name on their résumés a resounding "Meh"? Not too hung up on money? Great! You won't be bothered by this at all: The average reported salary of IMA members surveyed was $109,001 in 2011, down […]

ANR: Groupon Welcomes “Accounting Types” to Its Board; IRS Snoops Around Chesapeake CEO’s Perk; More False Tax Returns in Tampa | 05.01.12

Schultz and Efrusy to Leave Groupon Board; “Accounting Types” Joining [AllThingsD]Daniel Henry, CFO of American Express, and Deloitte Vice Chairman Robert Bass will replace Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz and Accel Partners’ Kevin Efrusy respectively.  Taxes and Employment [Economix]Since the beginning of the economic crisis, Republicans have insisted that tax cuts and only tax cuts are the […]

This Guy Thinks Your Degree Is Useless As Long As You Got a High Score on the CPA Exam

In a recent article titled "The Dark Side of a Divided White America," The Fiscal Times chatted with Charles Murray, W. H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of books that include Losing Ground and What It Means to Be a Libertarian. Murray apparently upset a few folks with his earlier […]

Three Tips to Help Make Studying for the CPA Exam While Working Less Awful

Ed. note: This post is by Jeff Jardine, CMA®, CPA, PMP, Senior Consultant, Deloitte & Touche LLP and is republished from AccountingWEB.

During my summer internship at an accounting firm I noticed each night as I was heading out the door with my managers that two of our team members stayed behind and continued working.

I admired but internally questioned their dedication. After the pattern ensued for several days, I asked one of the individuals why she felt the need to stay behind every day when we had already reached our daily milestones. She explained that she was preparing to take portions of the CPA exam, and that there was no other available time besides weekends to study. I wished her well (she did eventually pass).

Her actions/dedication left an indelible impression on me, and as I entered my senior year in college I rearranged my class and personal schedules to allow myself time to study for the CPA exam so that I could take the test prior to beginning full-time employment.

Pursuing this and other certifications has made a positive impact on my career. I thus offer three tips for how to effectively study for professional accounting certifications while working:

Tip 1: Get Certified Prior to Starting Your Job
If I could pass along one piece of advice to young professionals considering an employer-required certification it would be this: If you have time between graduating college and beginning work, put 100 percent of your efforts into completing that certification prior to starting your job. Yes, it makes for a miserable summer wherein your best friends are exam prep instructors (Peter Olinto, anyone?), but in the end this method is the much preferred alternative to studying after a long day of work for months on end.

What should you do, however, if you have no such break between college and full-time work, or you are studying for an additional certification later in your career while working full-time? I fell into this latter category while working toward the CMA, which I had known since college that I wanted to take as soon as things settled down after beginning work at an accounting firm.

Tip 2: Gain Buy-in from Your Employer
After examining my schedule, I determined the most favorable times to study for and schedule the various sections of the CMA exam. Then, I spoke with my teams at work to gain their buy-in (my managers were fully supportive), and I scheduled my exams well in advance while keeping in mind client demands and team requirements. Saturdays always fill up first at testing centers, so schedule as far in advance as you can.

Tip 3: Build Studying Time Into Your Daily Schedule
Additionally, I took a day off from work prior to each exam date to have adequate time to study – though I didn’t plan on studying everything on that one day or just on Saturdays. I knew that I needed to study – at least a little bit – every day to most thoroughly prepare for the exam.

After considering my daily schedule, it was clear that the time I had the most control over was early in the morning. I decided to wake up an hour earlier each day for the three to four weeks prior to the exam to review material and churn through practice questions (which I believe is one of the most effective methods to prepare for these exams). Then on Saturdays I studied longer and more in-depth.

I took Sundays off from studying to allow things to settle in my mind while spending a day with my family. In the end, my efforts paid off. I passed each section and after finishing the experience requirement, I was a CMA.

Survey: CPA Combined with CMA Will Put More Money in Your Pocket

This survey was done by the Institute of Management Accountants, so of course the AICPA would encourage you to wait for the CGMA to get a dual certification but if you just can’t wait, then the CMA should work fine.

IMA’s Annual Salary Survey explores salary trends of accounting and finance professionals and reveals that certain industries are faring better than others. Public accounting ranked first in terms of average salary, at $125,488, and second in average total compensation, at $153,395, both in 2010 and 2009. The survey was mailed to respondents last December, and the results have just been released this month.

“The CMAs in this year’s study make a little more than the CPAs,” said Dennis Whitney, senior vice president of certification at the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. “For the younger professionals, it’s a little more per year. The number does seem to go up as you get older, but generally it’s a couple of thousand dollars. But the thing that’s the most dramatic is that people with both the CPA and the CMA fare the best.”

For those with both certifications, the difference can be not only $27,000, but $35,700.

“Dual certification is definitely worthwhile,” said Whitney. “It broadens your competencies. You have not only the financial accounting and auditing skills, but also the financial planning, analysis, and control skills and decision-making, which are very important today.”

Certified Accountants Earn $27,000 More [AT]
Earlier:
The Path to CFO: Is the CMA Credential Just as Important as the CPA?

Mike Mayo Is of the Opinion That Citigroup ‘May Have Violated Sarbanes-Oxley’

Last week we heard from a number of people on the topic of Citigroup’s internal controls that while it didn’t sound like they were quite up to snuff, KPMG was somehow cool with it and Vikram Pandit signed his name to it, saying that everything was hunky dory.

Now along with bloggers and journalists, the scourge of Citigroup, CLSA analyst Mike Mayo, has decided to get into the act:

Citigroup may have violated Sarbanes-Oxley with its 2007 10-K submission, in our opinion. The new information relates to letters from regulators that were only revealed earlier this year as part of the FCIC archive. We believe these letters between Citi and the Fed, Citi and the OCC, and the OCC with internal staff, imply that Citi should have known about internal control shortfalls for the year 2007 and was directly told about them by the OCC only eight days before the 10-K was signed. Also, Citi reported large unexpected losses with less than two months left in the year. Thus, the lingering question in our mind is why Citi signed off on its 2007 10-K as having effective controls in light of such problems. This information is still relevant today because it reflects on the magnitude of the risk shortfalls and what we feel is the higher-than-perceived task of turning them around.

That’s from Mayo’s update on the bank, dated today, and along with the “opinion” on a Sarbanes-Oxley violation, he has a few questions:

To what extent was the audit committee and board at Citi aware of the concerns voiced by various regulators at the time, and who gave the advice to sign the 10-K? To what extent has Citi’s board examined the issue since the release of letters from the FCIC? Has the SEC and DOJ looked into this matter?

We bolded that portion since it might – just might – be referring to KPMG and the apparent disregard everyone had for the letter sent to Citigroup from the OCC. Of course, not everyone always agrees with Mayo, namely Dick Bové who has gave HofK the thumbs up although it was obvious that he’d never heard of the firm. Bové hasn’t weighed in on this particular report but it’s only Monday.

Anyway, Citigroup remains steadfast in their thoughts on the matter, telling The Street’s Lauren Tara LaCapra that the “certifications were entirely appropriate,” although things increasingly seem to be pointing to the possibility that wasn’t the case. A message left for Marianne Carlton, a KPMG spokeswoman, hasn’t been returned.

Another Future Big 4 Associate Wants Advice on How to Best Ruin Their Life Prior to Starting Work

Welcome to the cancel-your-holiday-in-Libya edition of Accounting Career Emergencies. In today’s edition, another Fall 2011 Big 4 associate would like to nail down a certification in addition to the CPA before starting work. Can I keep my head from exploding long enough to formulate a coherent response?

Caught in a ethical jam at work? Need a shredding service-provider that also has a knack of taking care of “problems”? Want to challenge your firm’s dress code but need an objective opinion? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll make like Anna Wintour.

Back to our overachiever du jour:

Caleb,

I am about to pass the CPA exam and have 8 months until I begin at one of the “Big Four” firms in Florida. I am excited to start at the firm as it was my first choice however, I am not certain I will be in public accounting for the long run (like most people). My question is, being uncertain about my career path, what other certification should I obtain before I start in 8 months?

I have considered the CISA, CFE, CMA, CFA, Six Sigma but, I am not sure as I am not certain of my long term path. I want something that will give me an edge if I leave the firm and/or switch careers.

What certification would you recommend?

Any suggestions are helpful.

Dear Overachiever Du Jour,

After murdering the remainder of Stranahan’s in the house, I’m better prepared to answer your query.

I appreciate your ambition and we definitely think that obtaining additional certifications is a good idea for those that move on from public accounting but I fail to see how this benefits you now before you have an inkling of what kind of career you want. HOWEVER, I’m here to help sort you out as best I can, so I’ve put aside my judgments for two.

Based on your “considerations” listed, you seem to have a case of accounting certification ADHD which is fine but there’s no clear pattern as to what your interests are. I’m not going to recommend you do something just because it may be a hot area (forensics) or in-demand (information systems) but I am going to recommend you rank these certifications based on your level interest. Want to eventually be a CFO? Then go for the CMA. Want to pile up the financial reporting bodies? Get the CFE. You get the point. The important thing is to pursue a certification you find interesting rather than one that will just puts a few letters behind your name that may (but probably not) impress someone.

But really, do you want to spend the summer prior to starting work studying for a test? Get the band back together, take a trip, something.

And Now…We Try to Keep Three Prospective Accountants From Freaking Out About Not Having Jobs

Welcome to the Lindsay-Lohan-prison-jumpsuit-fitting edition of Accounting Career Emergencies. In today’s edition, we’ve received a flurry of emails from Big 4 hopefuls who can’t land interviews and are FREAKING OUT. Are they doomed to the breadline and/or parents’ basement or can their CPA firm dreams still come true?

Are you working for the devil this busy season? Are you looking for a summer activity that doesn’t involve three letters? Need an excuse for not passing the CPA exam that will pass the mustard with the Email us at [email protected] and we’ll try to come up with something better than, “The dog barks whenever Peter Olinto is on screen and I can’t concentrate.”

Now, then. Today is a little bit different in the ol’ advice column. And since everyone out there seems TOO BUSY to engage in any busy season chicanery and tell us about it, this thing will be a tad lengthy. In the last week, we’ve received three emails from people who are borderline having panic attacks because they can’t land interviews. Obviously, this is a problem worth these pages but if you think we’re writing three columns on the same damn thing, you’re all a bunch of mental cases. And for those of you thinking that this sounds like you, don’t even try giving us the “well, this doesn’t address my specific situation,” story. Sure, everyone is special but not so special that you need the delicate intricacies addressed. [BREATHE]

All right. Let’s do this, shall we?

Here’s a portion of email #1:

I interned at PwC with an internal position during Summer 2008 and I did audit with them in Spring 2009. I wasn’t given an offer for full-time employment and I have been looking for a job since. I tried recruiting with Ernst and Young last year and they kept saying they did not have any positions and then last summer they hired another candidate from my school with whom I graduated. Just about everyone I’ve graduated with has a position at an accounting firm. I’ve applied nearly everywhere (other big 4, mid-tier, local acct firms, industry, and even Craigslist). I can’t help but start to take it personally. Career services at my school doesn’t seem too interested in helping me…in fact one of the counselors actually was a recruiter at PwC when I worked there and she just recently left a voicemail that we should stop talking. I have one professor that still keeps in touch. I knew I wasn’t going to get an audit position even though I still applied but I’ve even been turned down for staff accountant positions. Last September I passed all four sections of the CPA exam. I’ve been told that I’m either “over-qualified” or I don’t have enough years of experience.

That should be enough but if we suffered through them, then you are too. An excerpt from email #2:

I have been to numerous career fairs since then and I’ve made significant contacts with some big 4 recruiters and other regional firms. But after sending my carefully prepared résumé by mail and continuous attempts to get some information about an interview, I‘ve been always getting the usual “we are looking at other candidates and wish you the best” reply or none at all. The only significant feedback I received was from a regional firm that was really interested, but was drawn back when I told them my college GPA. I take full responsibilities for my shortcomings in college, but I have invested the needed time and effort in doing what EVERYONE IN THE WORLD TOLD ME TO DO, which is passing the CPA exam. I have also gained significant and progressive experience at my current workplace, but I still have not even gotten an interview! I am 25 and I feel time is running out for me. I’m even thinking of getting other certifications like the CFE or ACCA (Association of certified chartered accountants), to make me a more desirable candidate.

Sick of it yet? Here’s a bit from #3:

I’m in my last semester and will have my 150 hours at the end of this spring. I am also preparing the the CPA exam (have started Becker, taking my first section, AUD, at the end of February). As a student in these times, I have never been able to find an accounting internship or any part time accounting work as all of my job inquiries wind up unanswered. It’s not for lack of trying, but my GPA isn’t spectacular (3.2) and my résumé is average. At the college job fair a few weeks ago, I put in resumes with all big 4 and all mid tier firms and was NOT INVITED TO A SINGLE INTERVIEW. I became an accounting major because I thought there were jobs available to qualified students. I have an accounting and finance degree, 150 hours and will have the CPA under my belt in a few months…what the hell am I missing. Am I really not qualified to become a slave to the Firms?

Good Lord. Let’s see if I can do this without LOSING IT.

For starters, we’re making the assumption all three of you are socially capable individuals. If you’ve noticed people responding to your typical conversation with “That’s awkward,” or “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” then we suggest engaging a life coach or some other professional that can help you with your awkward tendencies. Secondly, all three of you need to stop freaking out. Sure, you’ve got responsibilities and school loans and whatnot but thank your lucky stars you’re not a lawyer. You have a good educational skill set, a job market that is thawing out and your debt is probably under six figures. CALM DOWN.

Now. If the Big 4 isn’t interested in what you have to offer, you have to get over it. Somewhere in your gray matter, you knew striking out with all of them was a possibility. Now that it has become a reality, you need to move on. If you’ve managed to do that and say you’ve gone to Grant Thornton, BDO, Rothstein Kass and McGladrey and you’ve been denied there too. And maybe you’ve gone to regionals like Moss Adams, BKD, Clifton Gunderson, Plante & Moran, WeiserMazars, Dixon Hughes Goodman et al. [ugh] At this point, it’s natural for frustration to start creeping up on you. But if you want to work in public accounting, you can’t get discouraged. Next thing you should do is to knock on all the doors in your geographic location. The Vault 50 is a good place to start. Firms from every part of the country are on the list and you can specifics on them over at the Vault website. Pound the pavement, people.

If that doesn’t work, then we suggest calling some reputable recruiters in your area to find out if they have any entry-level positions at CPA firms. Keep things cool, don’t act desperate and put your best qualities forward. The recruiters should be able to help you polish your résumé if needed and find you an interview or two. IF ALL THAT FAILS and you simply need a job, look for an in-house accounting job to get your career started. Just because you don’t start in public accounting doesn’t mean you’re doomed to work a dull job and have a lackluster career. And who knows, you might – gasp – like the work.

Any words of encouragement from the peanut gallery? I need a drink.

Should an Overachieving Auditor Ruin His Summer By Studying for the Certified Internal Auditor Exam?

Welcome to the I’ve-never-been-so-disappointed-with-commercials-in-my-life edition of Accounting Career Emergencies. In today’s edition, a future Big 4 auditor is thisclose to finishing up the CPA and is worried that his summer won’t be sufficiently ruined without an exam to study for. Is hitting the books for a Certified Internal Auditor badge the answer?

Need career advice? Need a myth about your firm debunked? Is your job driving you mad to the point of considering a terrorist act? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll keep your face off a most-wanted list.

Back to our glutton for punishment:

Dear Caleb,

I keep going back and forth on whether or not to go for another certification. This month I’m studying for, and taking, the last section of the CPA exam. I’m starting an auditing gig at a Big 4 firm this Fall. With no CPA exam to ruin my life this summer, I’ve considered ruining it by studying for a new exam, specifically the CIA.

I’ll have the required work experience for the certification as of June 2011, so my first set of biz cards would be able to read “Indentured Servant, CIA” right out of the gate, with it being updated to “Indentured Servant, CPA, CIA” in 2012, just in time for the world to end.

The CIA exam is cheaper than the CPA and probably easier at this point. Plus, everyone would think I worked for the CIA. Should I take the exams, or get a life that will be ripped away from me in a few months?

Best,
Indentured Servant

Dear Indentured Servant,

I think a more appropriate pseudonym for you might be “Auditing Overachiever” or “Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” OR “Prefers Books About Auditing as Opposed to Interacting with Humans, Even Those Who Might Want to Have Sex with Me.” NEVERTHELESS, I’m here to help.

Your letter is a little confusing but I’ll try to piece things together. Your job starts in the fall but you’ll have enough work experience (24 months) to obtain a CIA in June so that can only mean that you’ve been an auditor for awhile. It also means this new Big 4 gig is fresh start for you in some way, shape or form since you’ll effectively be a new hire. Making those assumptions, I’m not really sure what the CIA will do for you as a Big 4 auditor. Yes, having a extra credential is nice but it likely won’t mean squat to your co-workers, partners or clients and it won’t make you any extra money. Plus, as far as I can tell, the superficial motivation behind this endeavor – paraphrasing your words – is A) “I want to ruin my summer” B) “it’s cheaper than the CPA” C) “people will think I’m a spy.”

My response to these is A) What’s wrong with you? B) How is spending more money “cheaper”? C) No, they won’t.

See why I’m confused? The underlying motivation – if i can put you on the couch for a sec – is that you’re worried about being bored. Are you completely incapable of enjoying a summer if it doesn’t involve being indoors with your nose in a book? Take a vacation, take a staycation or do nothing but study for an exam that will get you an obscure certification? In my opinion, there’s extremely limited upside to the CIA at this point in your career so do yourself a favor, finish your CPA and give the certifications a rest for awhile. They’ll always be there for when the disappointment of the world NOT ending in 2012 gets you down.

In other words – get a life, dude.

Big 4 Manager Needs Help Determining If He Is Underpaid

Welcome to the squelch-the-tryptophan-withdrawals-with-cyber-Monday edition of Accounting Career Conundrums. In today’s edition, a Big 4 manager is pret-tay sure he is underpaid. How can he broach the subject with a partner without causing major blowback?

Need career advice? Want gift ideas that will score some points with a boss in your life? Wondering where you can find an old PwC backpack? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll sniff out a deal or a homeless person.

Back to our short-changed manager:

I was wondering if you could provide advice in how to determine if I am being underpaid and if I am how to go about asking for an increase? I am a 1st year Manager for a Big 4 firm in Kansas City. I have been with the same firm/office my entire career sans a 2 year secondment I completed in Dublin just in August. In addition, to having my CPA license I also hold the CFE certification and the CFA charter.

My feelings for asking for a raise are based on the additional certifications and knowing that my salary as a 1st year Manager is less than what 3rd year Sr. Associates were making in my office 2 plus years ago. I know the economy has changed during the subsequent 2 years but still feel like I am not fairly compensated. What advice do you propose? I am nervous about sharing my thoughts with my Partner as I am afraid of a potential backlash. Thanks in advance.

Dear Alphabet Soup,

Think you’re underpaid, huh? Seems to be theme around here. However, your situation is more unique than most so we’ll make a run at this.

First thing we noticed about your situation is that you’re a M1 which means you were recently promoted, which also mean you should have just received a better-than average raise. And we’re more than a little skeptical about your assertion that a SA3 is making more than you. That would have to mean that SAs are getting insanely good raises while you – the newly promoted manager – got an abysmal one; it seems unlikely. If this in fact the case, then you’ve had a serious string of bad luck.

As for determining whether or not you are underpaid, we suggest you speak to a professional recruiter in KC to find out whether or not your credentials and international experience or currently undervalued. If the recruiter takes a look at your résumé and starts drooling, you’ll know that he/she can earn a fat commission placing you somewhere else. If they shrug and say, “Look friend, you’re doing pretty well. But let me tell you about this great opportunity…” then your salary is probably fair.

When it comes to talking to a partner about this, be sure you’re speaking to someone you trust and just be honest. Make your case with facts. Don’t go speculating about what a SA3 is making because that turns the conversation to something that is out of your control. Highlight your credentials, international experience and why they bring value to the firm and your partner.

They’ve heard the “I’m underpaid” sob story a million times. You’ve got to prove to them that your case is an exception to the run-of-the-mill bellyaching.

The Path to CFO: Is the CMA Credential Just as Important as the CPA?

Many of you soldiering in public accounting have aspirations of one day achieving the pinnacle of many a numbers junkie’s career – Chief Financial Officer. You may think that becoming a CFO will mean hobnobbing with other C-suiters, first-class flights and access to exclusive swing joints but in all likelihood, it will consist of long hours, political maneuvering and maybe burning a few bridges.

While there are many paths to ascending to such a heralded position, one has to wonder if the skill set obtained in public accounting will really prepare you for all the demands and headaches that will inevitably come with a CFO position.

Because so many accounting grads get their start in public accounting, one ofobtaining the CPA credential. There’s no question that obtaining your CPA is a must for anyone that intends on spending a significant portion of their career in public accounting and little debate about the advantage of having those three letters on your résumé when you start looking outside public.

Tthe timing of that move may determine what kind of path you have ahead of you in order to land that coveted CFO gig. If you manage to stick out life in public until partner or in some cases the director or senior manager level the path is more clear. You may jump right into it immediately or you assume a position that reports to the current CFO and be groomed to assume the big chair at the appropriate time.

But what if you’re just starting your career and you’re fed up with public already? Or what if you’ve gotten laid off and you took a job in private. Are your dreams crushed at this point? What’s a wannabe CFO to do?

Speaking with John Kogan, CEO of Proformative, an online resource for finance, accounting and treasury professionals, obtaining the Certified Management Accountant credential is something that often gets overlooked.


“It’s the Rodney Dangerfield of finance certifications,” John told GC, “it doesn’t get enough respect.” The argument for today’s CFOs to have a CPA are being made and statistics have shown that more and more CFOs are, in fact, CPAs. The most recent data we can find shows that in 2009, 45% of Fortune 1000 CFOs were CPAs, up from 29% in 2003.

However, the viewpoint of “Warren Miller” in the comments of Francine McKenna’s guest post at FEI Blog on the subject, is that accountants usually make terrible CFOs:

[A]ccountants tend to make lousy CFOs because (a) they see everything as an accounting problem, (b) their ignorance of finance AND of human nature (where incentives are concerned) can be breathtaking, (c) they look backwards, and (d) they are conflict-avoiders. If accountants wanted to deal with the ambiguity of the future, they’d have never become bean-counters.

In addition, most accountants LOVE “rules.” They avoid conflict by hiding behind rules. They are go-along/get-along people. I’m fond of saying this: “If accountants had been running our country in 1776, we’d still be working for the King.”

So if the gamut of accountants are ignorant about finance matters, does the CMA provide a bridge to closing that knowledge gap? John Kogan thinks so, “The CMA designation wants to be the ‘CPA’ for finance professionals,” he said, “but it’s so far from being that.”

When you look at the two sections of the CMA exam on the Institute of Management Accountant’s website, you certainly get the impression that the CMA could be the “CPA for finance professionals” based on the curriculum:

PART I – Financial Planning, Performance and Control
• Planning, budgeting, and forecasting
• Performance management
• Cost management
• Internal controls
• Professional ethics

PART II – Financial Decision Making
• Financial statement analysis
• Corporate finance
• Decision analysis and risk management
• Investment decisions
• Professional ethics

So why isn’t the CMA a more coveted credential? John Kogan claims it’s due to poor marketing on the IMA’s part, “The CMA [credential] has similar requirements, not identical but similar, and they don’t enjoy the reputation of the CPA,” John said. “The CMA is getting its butt kicked because it doesn’t market itself well.”

You can easily make the argument that the AICPA has the distinct advantage of partnering with the Big 4 – firms that’s primary purpose is to serve as CPAs – on marketing and promotional efforts while the IMA has no apparent equivalent.

That being said, our recent conversation with IMA Chair Sandra Richtermeyer shed some light on the careers that are available for accountants moving into a financial role that the CMA designation complements well. She was of the notion that the CMA is simply not about cost accounting and John Kogan agrees, “I think anyone who knows anything about [the CMA] knows that the [designation] is broader than that, it’s just that very few people know what the heck it’s about,” he said. “Without a doubt, the skills that the IMA are teaching and certifying are corporate finance skills.”

If you consider yourself to be on the path to CFO Rockstar, maybe you have the CPA locked up but what’s next? Having the CPA credential may make you an attractive candidate on paper but it’s won’t guarantee success with the wide range of knowledge that CFOs need. So, while it may not hold a candle to the CPA in terms of prestige, the skills and knowledge that fall under the CMA are essential for any successful CFO.

Job of the Week: SAS 70 Solutions Needs Senior Auditors

SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is conducting a national search for Senior Auditors, with specific focus in California, Illinois and Texas.

Select qualifications include 2 to 5 years of Big 4 experience and currently holds or is pursuing any of the following certifications: CPA,
CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA.


Company: SAS 70 Solutions, Inc.

Title: Audit Senior

Location: National search with specifirnia, Illinois and Texas

Compensation: Competitive

Position Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

SAS 70 Solutions was the first ever CPA firm founded for the purposes of performing SAS 70 audits. It is now the largest non-Big 4 provider of such services in the world. Over time, the company’s services have expanded to include other attestation services, such as SSAE 16 and AT 101 examinations, AUP reviews, and Trust Services certifications. The company also performs PCI DSS validations and ISO 27002 compliance assessments.

The company’s personnel are almost exclusively the alumni of the “Big 4” / Tier 1 global accounting firms. SAS 70 Solutions’ clients are located throughout the United States, and include a significant number of publicly traded and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as privately held organizations of all sizes.

SAS 70 Solutions builds on the best of what the “Big 4” firms have to offer, such as the ability to offer high quality professionals to our clients. It also eliminates the parts of the job that personnel tend to dislike about their “Big 4” experience, including time reporting, chargeability goals, small and arbitrary bonus amounts, sales pressure, and the practice of using inexperience associates to provide the bulk of professional services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Because SAS 70 Solutions does not employ inexperienced associates, senior auditors provide the majority of all “hands-on” activities with oversight from an audit manager and shareholder. Activities include standard project execution and report preparation activities. Senior auditors report to audit managers, which rotate based on client assignment. Audit managers generally handle project planning and interaction with the client prior to an engagement. Client engagements typically last less than three weeks, which allows senior auditors the opportunity to work on many projects over the course of each year.

DESIRED QUALIFICAITONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or other related topics
• Between two to five years of related experience within professional services in financial auditing, operational auditing, information systems auditing, internal auditing, information security consulting and/or risk consulting
• Achieved the “senior” auditor/consultant level at a “Big 4” firm
• Currently holds any of the following certifications – CPA, CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA
• Willingness to pursue relevant professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CIA, CISSP, PCI QSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities, client focus, industry savvy, and the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal characteristics
• Ability to operate in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated consistency in values, principles, and work ethic

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus, which has historically averaged in excess of $20,000 per annum
• The opportunity to work with other highly skilled personnel on a constant basis
• No time reporting!
• No financial audit support work!
• No chargeability goals, sales goals or managed fee goals!
• Monday morning through Thursday evening considered “standard travel”, with little or no travel scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
• Travel bonuses for any non-standard travel (e.g., overnight flights and/or Friday, Saturday or Sunday travel)
• Confirmed client schedule and related travel that extends months into the future and rarely changes within 30 days of an engagement
• Twenty-five (25) days of personal time off
• Immediately vested annualized employer 401(k) matching of 6% of the employee’s base salary
• Employer paid (or subsidized) health, vision and dental insurance
•Employee directed health savings account

TRAVEL

Out-of-town travel is estimated at 50%, or more, and is heavily dependent on the candidate’s location. Candidates must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

Questions or Resumes may be submitted to [email protected]

For further information about SAS 70 Solutions, Inc., visit http://www.sas70solutions.com. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. typically does not pay relocation expenses for employment candidates. Non-US citizens will not be considered. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Job of the Week: SAS 70 Solutions Needs Senior Auditors

SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is conducting a national search for Senior Auditors, with specific focus in California, Illinois and Texas.

Select qualifications include 2 to 5 years of Big 4 experience and currently holds or is pursuing any of the following certifications: CPA,
CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA.


Company: SAS 70 Solutions, Inc.

Title: Audit Senior

Location: National search with specifirnia, Illinois and Texas

Compensation: Competitive

Position Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

SAS 70 Solutions was the first ever CPA firm founded for the purposes of performing SAS 70 audits. It is now the largest non-Big 4 provider of such services in the world. Over time, the company’s services have expanded to include other attestation services, such as SSAE 16 and AT 101 examinations, AUP reviews, and Trust Services certifications. The company also performs PCI DSS validations and ISO 27002 compliance assessments.

The company’s personnel are almost exclusively the alumni of the “Big 4” / Tier 1 global accounting firms. SAS 70 Solutions’ clients are located throughout the United States, and include a significant number of publicly traded and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as privately held organizations of all sizes.

SAS 70 Solutions builds on the best of what the “Big 4” firms have to offer, such as the ability to offer high quality professionals to our clients. It also eliminates the parts of the job that personnel tend to dislike about their “Big 4” experience, including time reporting, chargeability goals, small and arbitrary bonus amounts, sales pressure, and the practice of using inexperience associates to provide the bulk of professional services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Because SAS 70 Solutions does not employ inexperienced associates, senior auditors provide the majority of all “hands-on” activities with oversight from an audit manager and shareholder. Activities include standard project execution and report preparation activities. Senior auditors report to audit managers, which rotate based on client assignment. Audit managers generally handle project planning and interaction with the client prior to an engagement. Client engagements typically last less than three weeks, which allows senior auditors the opportunity to work on many projects over the course of each year.

DESIRED QUALIFICAITONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or other related topics
• Between two to five years of related experience within professional services in financial auditing, operational auditing, information systems auditing, internal auditing, information security consulting and/or risk consulting
• Achieved the “senior” auditor/consultant level at a “Big 4” firm
• Currently holds any of the following certifications – CPA, CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA
• Willingness to pursue relevant professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CIA, CISSP, PCI QSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities, client focus, industry savvy, and the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal characteristics
• Ability to operate in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated consistency in values, principles, and work ethic

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus, which has historically averaged in excess of $20,000 per annum
• The opportunity to work with other highly skilled personnel on a constant basis
• No time reporting!
• No financial audit support work!
• No chargeability goals, sales goals or managed fee goals!
• Monday morning through Thursday evening considered “standard travel”, with little or no travel scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
• Travel bonuses for any non-standard travel (e.g., overnight flights and/or Friday, Saturday or Sunday travel)
• Confirmed client schedule and related travel that extends months into the future and rarely changes within 30 days of an engagement
• Twenty-five (25) days of personal time off
• Immediately vested annualized employer 401(k) matching of 6% of the employee’s base salary
• Employer paid (or subsidized) health, vision and dental insurance
•Employee directed health savings account

TRAVEL

Out-of-town travel is estimated at 50%, or more, and is heavily dependent on the candidate’s location. Candidates must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

Questions or Resumes may be submitted to [email protected]

For further information about SAS 70 Solutions, Inc., visit http://www.sas70solutions.com. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. typically does not pay relocation expenses for employment candidates. Non-US citizens will not be considered. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Job of the Week: SAS 70 Solutions Needs Senior Auditors

SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is conducting a national search for Senior Auditors, with specific focus in California, Illinois and Texas.

Select qualifications include 2 to 5 years of Big 4 experience and currently holds or is pursuing any of the following certifications: CPA,
CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA.


Company: SAS 70 Solutions, Inc.

Title: Audit Senior

Location: National search with specifirnia, Illinois and Texas

Compensation: Competitive

Position Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

SAS 70 Solutions was the first ever CPA firm founded for the purposes of performing SAS 70 audits. It is now the largest non-Big 4 provider of such services in the world. Over time, the company’s services have expanded to include other attestation services, such as SSAE 16 and AT 101 examinations, AUP reviews, and Trust Services certifications. The company also performs PCI DSS validations and ISO 27002 compliance assessments.

The company’s personnel are almost exclusively the alumni of the “Big 4” / Tier 1 global accounting firms. SAS 70 Solutions’ clients are located throughout the United States, and include a significant number of publicly traded and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as privately held organizations of all sizes.

SAS 70 Solutions builds on the best of what the “Big 4” firms have to offer, such as the ability to offer high quality professionals to our clients. It also eliminates the parts of the job that personnel tend to dislike about their “Big 4” experience, including time reporting, chargeability goals, small and arbitrary bonus amounts, sales pressure, and the practice of using inexperience associates to provide the bulk of professional services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Because SAS 70 Solutions does not employ inexperienced associates, senior auditors provide the majority of all “hands-on” activities with oversight from an audit manager and shareholder. Activities include standard project execution and report preparation activities. Senior auditors report to audit managers, which rotate based on client assignment. Audit managers generally handle project planning and interaction with the client prior to an engagement. Client engagements typically last less than three weeks, which allows senior auditors the opportunity to work on many projects over the course of each year.

DESIRED QUALIFICAITONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or other related topics
• Between two to five years of related experience within professional services in financial auditing, operational auditing, information systems auditing, internal auditing, information security consulting and/or risk consulting
• Achieved the “senior” auditor/consultant level at a “Big 4” firm
• Currently holds any of the following certifications – CPA, CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA
• Willingness to pursue relevant professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CIA, CISSP, PCI QSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities, client focus, industry savvy, and the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal characteristics
• Ability to operate in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated consistency in values, principles, and work ethic

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus, which has historically averaged in excess of $20,000 per annum
• The opportunity to work with other highly skilled personnel on a constant basis
• No time reporting!
• No financial audit support work!
• No chargeability goals, sales goals or managed fee goals!
• Monday morning through Thursday evening considered “standard travel”, with little or no travel scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
• Travel bonuses for any non-standard travel (e.g., overnight flights and/or Friday, Saturday or Sunday travel)
• Confirmed client schedule and related travel that extends months into the future and rarely changes within 30 days of an engagement
• Twenty-five (25) days of personal time off
• Immediately vested annualized employer 401(k) matching of 6% of the employee’s base salary
• Employer paid (or subsidized) health, vision and dental insurance
•Employee directed health savings account

TRAVEL

Out-of-town travel is estimated at 50%, or more, and is heavily dependent on the candidate’s location. Candidates must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

Questions or Resumes may be submitted to [email protected]

For further information about SAS 70 Solutions, Inc., visit http://www.sas70solutions.com. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. typically does not pay relocation expenses for employment candidates. Non-US citizens will not be considered. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Job of the Week: SAS 70 Solutions Needs Senior Auditors

SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is conducting a national search for Senior Auditors, with specific focus in California, Illinois and Texas.

Select qualifications include 2 to 5 years of Big 4 experience and currently holds or is pursuing any of the following certifications: CPA,
CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA.


Company: SAS 70 Solutions, Inc.

Title: Audit Senior

Location: National search with specifirnia, Illinois and Texas

Compensation: Competitive

Position Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

SAS 70 Solutions was the first ever CPA firm founded for the purposes of performing SAS 70 audits. It is now the largest non-Big 4 provider of such services in the world. Over time, the company’s services have expanded to include other attestation services, such as SSAE 16 and AT 101 examinations, AUP reviews, and Trust Services certifications. The company also performs PCI DSS validations and ISO 27002 compliance assessments.

The company’s personnel are almost exclusively the alumni of the “Big 4” / Tier 1 global accounting firms. SAS 70 Solutions’ clients are located throughout the United States, and include a significant number of publicly traded and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as privately held organizations of all sizes.

SAS 70 Solutions builds on the best of what the “Big 4” firms have to offer, such as the ability to offer high quality professionals to our clients. It also eliminates the parts of the job that personnel tend to dislike about their “Big 4” experience, including time reporting, chargeability goals, small and arbitrary bonus amounts, sales pressure, and the practice of using inexperience associates to provide the bulk of professional services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Because SAS 70 Solutions does not employ inexperienced associates, senior auditors provide the majority of all “hands-on” activities with oversight from an audit manager and shareholder. Activities include standard project execution and report preparation activities. Senior auditors report to audit managers, which rotate based on client assignment. Audit managers generally handle project planning and interaction with the client prior to an engagement. Client engagements typically last less than three weeks, which allows senior auditors the opportunity to work on many projects over the course of each year.

DESIRED QUALIFICAITONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or other related topics
• Between two to five years of related experience within professional services in financial auditing, operational auditing, information systems auditing, internal auditing, information security consulting and/or risk consulting
• Achieved the “senior” auditor/consultant level at a “Big 4” firm
• Currently holds any of the following certifications – CPA, CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA
• Willingness to pursue relevant professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CIA, CISSP, PCI QSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities, client focus, industry savvy, and the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal characteristics
• Ability to operate in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated consistency in values, principles, and work ethic

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus, which has historically averaged in excess of $20,000 per annum
• The opportunity to work with other highly skilled personnel on a constant basis
• No time reporting!
• No financial audit support work!
• No chargeability goals, sales goals or managed fee goals!
• Monday morning through Thursday evening considered “standard travel”, with little or no travel scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
• Travel bonuses for any non-standard travel (e.g., overnight flights and/or Friday, Saturday or Sunday travel)
• Confirmed client schedule and related travel that extends months into the future and rarely changes within 30 days of an engagement
• Twenty-five (25) days of personal time off
• Immediately vested annualized employer 401(k) matching of 6% of the employee’s base salary
• Employer paid (or subsidized) health, vision and dental insurance
•Employee directed health savings account

TRAVEL

Out-of-town travel is estimated at 50%, or more, and is heavily dependent on the candidate’s location. Candidates must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

Questions or Resumes may be submitted to [email protected]

For further information about SAS 70 Solutions, Inc., visit http://www.sas70solutions.com. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. typically does not pay relocation expenses for employment candidates. Non-US citizens will not be considered. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Job of the Week: SAS 70 Solutions Needs Senior Auditors

SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is conducting a national search for Senior Auditors, with specific focus in California, Illinois and Texas.

Select qualifications include 2 to 5 years of Big 4 experience and currently holds or is pursuing any of the following certifications: CPA,
CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA.


Company: SAS 70 Solutions, Inc.

Title: Audit Senior

Location: National search with specifirnia, Illinois and Texas

Compensation: Competitive

Position Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

SAS 70 Solutions was the first ever CPA firm founded for the purposes of performing SAS 70 audits. It is now the largest non-Big 4 provider of such services in the world. Over time, the company’s services have expanded to include other attestation services, such as SSAE 16 and AT 101 examinations, AUP reviews, and Trust Services certifications. The company also performs PCI DSS validations and ISO 27002 compliance assessments.

The company’s personnel are almost exclusively the alumni of the “Big 4” / Tier 1 global accounting firms. SAS 70 Solutions’ clients are located throughout the United States, and include a significant number of publicly traded and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as privately held organizations of all sizes.

SAS 70 Solutions builds on the best of what the “Big 4” firms have to offer, such as the ability to offer high quality professionals to our clients. It also eliminates the parts of the job that personnel tend to dislike about their “Big 4” experience, including time reporting, chargeability goals, small and arbitrary bonus amounts, sales pressure, and the practice of using inexperience associates to provide the bulk of professional services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Because SAS 70 Solutions does not employ inexperienced associates, senior auditors provide the majority of all “hands-on” activities with oversight from an audit manager and shareholder. Activities include standard project execution and report preparation activities. Senior auditors report to audit managers, which rotate based on client assignment. Audit managers generally handle project planning and interaction with the client prior to an engagement. Client engagements typically last less than three weeks, which allows senior auditors the opportunity to work on many projects over the course of each year.

DESIRED QUALIFICAITONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or other related topics
• Between two to five years of related experience within professional services in financial auditing, operational auditing, information systems auditing, internal auditing, information security consulting and/or risk consulting
• Achieved the “senior” auditor/consultant level at a “Big 4” firm
• Currently holds any of the following certifications – CPA, CISA, CISSP, PCI QSA and/or CIA
• Willingness to pursue relevant professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CIA, CISSP, PCI QSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities, client focus, industry savvy, and the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal characteristics
• Ability to operate in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated consistency in values, principles, and work ethic

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus, which has historically averaged in excess of $20,000 per annum
• The opportunity to work with other highly skilled personnel on a constant basis
• No time reporting!
• No financial audit support work!
• No chargeability goals, sales goals or managed fee goals!
• Monday morning through Thursday evening considered “standard travel”, with little or no travel scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
• Travel bonuses for any non-standard travel (e.g., overnight flights and/or Friday, Saturday or Sunday travel)
• Confirmed client schedule and related travel that extends months into the future and rarely changes within 30 days of an engagement
• Twenty-five (25) days of personal time off
• Immediately vested annualized employer 401(k) matching of 6% of the employee’s base salary
• Employer paid (or subsidized) health, vision and dental insurance
•Employee directed health savings account

TRAVEL

Out-of-town travel is estimated at 50%, or more, and is heavily dependent on the candidate’s location. Candidates must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

Questions or Resumes may be submitted to [email protected]

For further information about SAS 70 Solutions, Inc., visit http://www.sas70solutions.com. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. typically does not pay relocation expenses for employment candidates. Non-US citizens will not be considered. SAS 70 Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Job of the Day: AllianceBernstein Needs a Senior Auditor

AllianceBernstein is looking for an experienced auditor to join its internal department in New York.

Ideal candidates have a minimum of five years experience with exposure to alternative investment products. Advanced degree or certifications are preferred.


Company: AllianceBernstein

Title: Senior Audit Associate

Location: New York

Description: We are seeking a seeking a Senior Audit Associate with strong business and/or audit experience in Alternative Investments to join our Internal Audit Department. This position is an opportunity for experienced professionals to join a dynamic team to deliver value added audit services.

Responsibilities: Assist Audit Management in carrying out the annual audit plan; Assess the accuracy and adequacy of financial information and the Company’s internal control structure; Assist Audit Management in accomplishing certain administrative tasks; Supervise and work with junior auditors; Through continuous monitoring, keep current as to the development of relevant industry, regulatory and corporate matters that may affect the Internal Audit Department’s audit scope.

Skills: Our ideal candidate will have 5 to 10 years of broad capital markets experience with an emphasis in alternative investment products and services. College degree required. Advanced degree and/or certification preferred. Candidates should have demonstrated leadership capability, strong team work capabilities, solid written and oral communication skills and excellent, analytical skills. Candidates must have the ability to interact with all levels of management; Knowledge of the buy-side investment management business is a plus. Prior audit experience is preferred, but not required. Candidates should demonstrate a firm grasp and good working knowledge of the suite of Alternative Investment products and services including: Hedge Funds – direct investments and Fund of Hedge Funds.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

So You’re a CPA Thinking About Law School

We try to encourage you to think about your careers here at GC every once in awhile; present you with some options or ideas that maybe you haven’t considered before. We’ve covered several credentials out there that you can obtain and we’ve also touched on the pros and cons of the PhD.

But this time we’re going to get really crazy and give you the lowdown on an idea that we know many of you have had (including your humble editor) and that is the consideration of going to – gasp – law school.

For whatever insane reason, you can’t shake the idea of committing three years of your life and borrowing tens of thousands of dollars to live on PB&J, ramen noodles and frozen pizzas. Oh and of course there’s studying, tests and everything else that comes with returning to school.

But think about the benefits; you’ve got the CPA and if you were to get the JD, maybe you’ll top it off with an LLM and it’ll be smartest thing you’ve ever done. Think about the money! The prestige! The hot lawyers that you will bed and wed! It will all be worth it, right?


Well, maybe? If you spend even a little bit of time reading our sister site Above the Law, you might get the impression that the last thing you should ever do is go to law school. There’s an ncertain job market out there. You may end up with a huge debt load that can take a lifetime to pay back. And we’ve been told by a fair amount of our lawyers simply, “It’s just not worth it.”

Considering all that, we wanted to get some first-hand perspective, so we put the feelers out to a few CPAs turned lawyers to get an idea of their experience so those of you considering law school can make a more informed decision.

We spoke to three CPAs turned attorneys, Eric Gullotta who has his own practice in Sonoma, CA, Steve Farrar of Smith Moore Leatherwood in Greenville, SC and Timothy Gagnon who has in own practice in Needham, MA.

Messrs Gullotta and Gagnon both specialize in estate planning and taxation while Mr Farrar is a litigator who defends lawyers and accountants in malpractice lawsuits.

The three men agreed that their decision to go back to law school was worth it but that the process is certainly a challenge, “It was a tough three years. Probably the hardest thing is getting re-oriented with being a student after being out for awhile,” Mr Gagnon said.

Motivation and Benefits
Gullotta and Gagnon both believe that the biggest benefit that they’ve enjoyed by obtaining the law degree is that clients recognize the value that a background of a CPA can add to providing legal services. “The amount of respect and trust that clients put in you when you are both a lawyer and a CPA is really unbelievable,” Mr Gullotta told GC. “Being able to see the tax effects of legal transactions is really amazing and you can really bring value to your clients when you are able to negotiate or structure deals with tax effects in mind.”

Steve Farrar had a very different thought process before he returned to school. He went back because he was interested in being a trial lawyer, “I went back to law school with the intent to try cases,” he told us. While he was interviewing, most firms wanted him to consider working in a more transactional capacity but he found a firm that was willing to let him work in litigation and it turned out to be a perfect fit, “I’ve been ecstatic. While you might hear stories about people being burned out, I enjoy every minute of it.” And the biggest benefit for him? “This is going to sound hokie when I say it but I enjoy the theatrical chess match of going to trial.”

Back to School
But before getting to all the benefits of CPA/lawyer superstardom, there is the little matter of going to law school. While many lawyers we’ve talked to have said that the law school you attend is everything, it really depends on what you’re looking to accomplish with the degree. As Eric Gullotta told us, “it’s important to know what you what to do. If you want to work in [a large city], you’ll have to go to a reputable law school. If you want to practice locally, hang the shingle out, then you can go to slightly less prestigious school that is more practical for your situation.”

And being a CPA could possibly put you at an advantage when applying to law schools, “The interesting thing is that because you have experience and have a CPA, it can help you get into some of the better law schools,” Tim Gagnon said. “They’re looking to diversify their class, age, experience and you could bring something that diversifies the class that they can’t get out of somebody that just got out of undergrad.”

Drawbacks
But there’s got to be drawbacks right? Besides all the lawyer jokes, Steve Farrar mentioned losing flexibility in his schedule, “The best way I can explain it is that I have multiple busy seasons but I never know when they’re coming.” For Tim Gagnon, it sheer volume of continuing to keep up-to-date on the changing rules, “It’s hard enough to keep up on one but you put the two together and you really have a lot of information to cover.”

Oh, and then there’s the practical (and possibly more important) stuff, “Higher malpractice insurance,” according to Eric Gullotta.

So, are your aspirations for law school a good idea? Hard to say. Knowing what you want to do with the degree seems to be the key to making a decision. If you are thinking that a law degree will be the solution to your self-perceived lackluster career to date, you could find yourself very disappointed.

However, if this is a career that you truly want then it sounds like there isn’t any shortage of success stories. Choose wisely.

How the ACFE is Promoting CFE Awareness

After Caleb forced me to write a few posts on Credentials for Accountants meant specifically for those of you who still do not know what you want to be when you grow up, I managed to bumble one so badly I was contacted by Scott Grossfeld, CFE CPA and Cttp://www.acfe.com/”>Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. See, it appears I made a typical media mistake in using fraud and forensics as interchangeable fields within the industry and Scott felt compelled to speak up.

This wasn’t exactly wrong (I was being lazy actually) but as CEO of the ACFE, he’s got a responsibility to make sure the media represent the field of fraud examination correctly, especially when it comes to giving forensic accountants credit for what he and his fellow CFEs do out there. Thankfully, we had a nice little chat and cleared up that little point.


Additionally, Scott promised us access to recent salary survey information available shortly that will give us a better idea of what CFEs make. For now, he told us that the data confirms a 22% pay premium for individuals with the CFE compared to individuals in the same position without the CFE. We liked this approach and wish more organizations would take an active role in monitoring and engaging in the conversation, as Scott was obviously doing by reading our series on credentials.

Along the way, however, I discovered that the ACFE is also on top of things by promoting the credential, interacting with their audience and reaching potential new members through new avenues like blogging and social media. The ACFE is excited to be launching a new social media campaign shortly that we can only hope rivals that of the AICPA’s total social media genius (except for that whole Feed the Pig thing, which still creeps us out but is brilliant and weird enough to get a pass).

The strategy of having a CFE on staff is akin to carrying insurance on your home or car, and diversifying a company’s staff can mean the difference between a lawsuit and a slap on the wrist thanks to our favorite unnecessary accounting legislation of all time, Sarbanes-Oxley. “If you look at the CFE, originally the idea behind it was that we had accountants who really didn’t know how to investigate and investigators who don’t know accounting so we were able to bring those two together,” he said. “If you look now, Enron was the big thing that really changed perspective… here’s a big financial risk but you could lose your company if you’re not careful (with SOX) and I think that really raised awareness. Before that fraud work was sort of like insurance, you knew you needed it but you couldn’t always justify it.”

But CFEs do justify their price from a prevention standpoint, assuming fraud to be a risk all companies are exposed to. “5 – 7% of the company’s revenue is lost to fraud, that’s where the fraud examiner pays for themselves,” he told us.

But how does the ACFE promote the usefulness of a 20 year old credential like the CFE? By getting to the kids when they’re still undecided, of course.

“It used to be that the CFE was a secondary credential. [Promoting the credential is the goal of] the higher education partnership we provide to educators. We have 300 colleges and universities in that program. Now it’s part of the discussion; risk is on the radar in terms of what companies are looking for. What we typically see is fraud being an elective type class though there are a few schools that specialize in fraud and or forensics.”

The ACFE also promotes its mission by encouraging those interested in pursuing a career in fraud-fighting to join the organization as a student member for something like $20 a year. Student Associate membership is open to undergraduate students enrolled in 9 semester hours (or equivalent), or graduate students enrolled in 6 semester hours (or equivalent) in an accredited college or university. We agree with this approach, as surrounding yourself with like-minded folks gives you a chance to expose yourself to those already on your desired path. There’s plenty of opportunity for mentorship, commiserating and gaining insight into what the credential actually means for your career.

All in all we approve of what the ACFE is doing and look forward to seeing whatever else they have up their sleeve unfold in the months and years ahead. Let’s face it, they’re pretty much guaranteed a job forever. We like.

Credentials for Accountants – Your Wheelbarrow Barrel Needs Tech Tools

Over the last couple months, GC has been profiling various accounting-related credentials. CPA, CFP, CMA, CIA, CFE, CVA, CFA… it’s a veritable alphabet soup of designations and employers are more and more likely to ask for a second helping these days. And you might want to pick up an MBA while you’re at it too. Y’know, in your spare time. In Canada, you can go ahead an//www.cga-canada.org/en-ca/Pages/default.aspx”>CGA, CA, and CBV to the mix as well.

Another day, another designation for yet another self-regulating body.

We’ve all heard of “grades inflation.” Well, in my view, we’re currently subject to “credentials inflation” at a rate that would make a Banana Republic cringe. In contrast, Zimbabwe Ben would likely nod in approval.


Beyond credentials though, there’s another critical piece in the employment puzzle that you would be well advised to consider as you venture into the field. Tools.

What are an accountant’s tools?

I’m not talking about the wheel barrel you’ll need to cart all those credentials to your job interview. I’m talking about the business software that more and more employers want pre-installed on their prospective employees.

At the entry level, it tends to be more of a ‘nice to have’ than a ‘must have’. But more and more, your progressive career path is affected by the type of tools you learn early in your career. There’s just no way to separate accounting and finance from the technology that facilitates accounting and finance work.

In the small business space, this is less of an issue. One small business accounting package is much like another. The “canned” reports (built in) will largely suffice, point and click. Just get yourself a healthy functional skill level with MS Excel and you’re ready to go.

Moving up into the enterprise, it’s a different story. The difference between having experience with Quickbooks versus SAP is akin to the difference between a degree from Eastern Michigan University and Princeton.

Think about that when you are venturing out into the job market for the first time. What are your aspirations? Where do you want your career to take you?

It’s difficult to blame employers for this predilection. Enterprise software is complex, subject to cryptic reporting languages, and training is expensive. The expertise is seldom institutionalized within the enterprise instead residing in the head’s of one or two key people. The “gurus.” Sometimes the expertise just walks right out the front door. It’s just way, way easier for everyone when “the new guy” can hit the ground running.

We may see this sad reality change in time.

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com, is a key person leading the charge for change. He is an out-spoken advocate of the “consumerization” of enterprise software. In Benioff’s view, enterprise software should be as easy to use as Facebook and we’re seeing this manifest with every iteration of the Salesforce.com platform.

Unfortunately, Salesforce is the exception rather than the rule and the incumbent systems are deeply rooted in business. The technology “stack” as it’s called is built up over time and choices of enterprise systems are traditionally big, capex decisions. Change is rarely proactive and technology is normally kept well beyond the end of its useful life.

The complex enterprise systems will continue to be persistent for sometime to come. So be prepared to factor this into your career calculations. When you’re out there looking for work, ask the question of prospective employers. What systems do you use? Then, research that system to figure out its prevalence in the market: Are they using some niche software product built upon an ancient architecture? Is it a proprietary system that you’ll never see again? Is it a “legacy system”? Is it vertical specific?

Don’t underestimate the importance of these questions. No one has the bandwidth to learn all the tools currently offered. Examine your career aspirations carefully within the context of these technology tools because it can be difficult to backpedal. The tools you learn have just as much bearing on your career as the credentials you chose.

And inflation is a fact of life.

Geoff Devereux as been active in Vancouver’s technology start-up community for the past 5 years. Prior to getting lured into tech start-ups, Geoff worked in various fields including a 5 year stint in a tax accounting firm. You can see more of his posts for GC here.

Will a CMA or CFM Get You Some Kind of CPA Exam “Credit”?

The short answer is no. The medium answer is hell no and the long answer is the rest of this post but first, let’s address the reader question, shall we?

Will any of the sections passed for the CMA and/or CFM count against the requirements for the CPA examination? In other words, can I avoid taking certain sections of the CPA examination because I have passed the CMA and CFM?


ALL candidates have to pass all four parts of the exam and for the lucky ones, there’s even a fifth part to worry about called ethics but that’s not all of you so we won’t get into that. There is no credit given for life experience, other letters after your name, certifications, and/or letters from your Mom attesting to your good moral character. You don’t get extra credit for making your written communications 15 paragraphs long, nor do you get a bonus for having the prettiest scribbles on your scratch paper. Nothing. Sorry kid but them’s the breaks.

CMAs are not automatically eligible to sit for the CPA exam simply because they are CMAs however required coursework for both credentials are similar so if you are eligible to pursue one, you may be eligible to pursue the other without additional education. This career track is best accomplished by getting an MBA or Masters in accounting, not completing your Bachelor’s and simply picking up a few extra units to fulfill the CPA’s 150 hour requirement.

If you are into it, check out some recent IMA numbers on salary potential for CMAs and CPAs. So while you won’t be able to get out of any of the usual CPA exam gruntwork, it still might be worth it to pursue anyway. And bonus, you might just be able to count your CPE units twice for both designations.

Adrienne Gonzalez is the founder of Jr. Deputy Accountant, a former CPA wrangler and a Going Concern contributor . You can see more of her posts here and all posts on the CPA Exam here.

Job of the Day: Citi Needs an Audit Manager

Citi is looking for an internal audit manager to join its Audit and Risk Review group in Baltimore, Maryland.

The position requires a minimum of eight years experience with an advanced degree and certifications (e.g. CPA, CISA, CISSP) preferred.


Company: Citi

Title: Audit Manager

Location: Baltimore, MD

Description/Responsibilities: Audit and Risk Review (ARR) is a global organization of 600+ professionals covering Citigroup’s global businesses. Citigroup’s internal audit division provides independent assessments of the company’s risk and control environment. Our findings and recommendations influence business management processes worldwide and senior management decision making around the world.

Work with team to ensure all aspects of reviews and business monitoring activities are executed in accordance with ARR standards and government regulatory statutes and recommending appropriate interventions where needed. Qualified individuals have the ability to effectively communicate and develop relationships with all levels of management and with peers. Demonstrated ability to plan and provide leadership for audits or projects.

Qualifications/Skills: Must have a strong knowledge in the following areas: data retrieval and general information systems controls, financial analysis and regulatory compliance. Strong analytical skills. Require experience with Word, Excel, Access, ACL, Cognos, SAS, Oracle, Unix and HTML. Generally has 8+ years of relevant experience. Advanced degree or appropriate certification (e.g. CPA, CISA, CISSP) is preferred.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Credentials for Accountants: Certified Valuation Analyst

Need help deciding what you want to be when you grow up? Check out the rest of our posts on credentials for accountants.

The CVA isn’t like other certifications in that if you’re going for one, you’re probably trying to add to your arsenal of professional credentials and have a few days to spare for the intensive training.

What’s it take?
This is directly from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA):

The Business Valuation Certification and Training Center’s compact five-day intermediate level curriculum is comprehensive and substantive, providing value from beginning to end. A good understanding of accounting, taxes, economics, finance, and a basic understanding of business valuation fundamentals are prerequisites. The BVTC’s primary goal is to provide you with information that will serve as a solid foundation for your professional valuation endeavors, whether or not you plan to pursue a designation.

The five-hour CVA exam is administered in a rotating yearly schedule in 13 U.S. cities (twice yearly in Chicago) following the five-day training.

The NACVA is a NASBA-recognized CPE provider, meaning the training and certification can satisfy CPE requirements for CPAs. State boards have the final say on what counts for CPE purposes so check with yours if you are interested in completing this program to satisfy CPE requirements. The NACVA has trained 15,000 CVAs since its inception in 1990 and its members are subject to the same sort of ethical standards as CPAs.

The entire program – not counting the exams and any study materials – runs about $3,555 (by comparison, the CPA exam costs around $1000 – $1500 just to sit, excluding CPA review fees or retakes) and the exam itself is $595.

Who would want a CVA?
Tax professionals, for one, but also M&A consultants, investment professionals, financial analysts, financial officers and of course accountants interested in valuation and providing this service to their clients.

Why would you want a CVA?
Businesses need to be valued for all sorts of reasons. Mergers and acquisitions make up a large part of this but the CVA also comes in handy for estate taxes, employee stock ownership plans, divorce, and partner break-ups. This makes it an always-in-demand credential in a constantly-evolving marketplace.

Compensation
Salary is impacted according to one’s position or other credentials. For example, a CFO with a CVA can expect to make a median salary of $125,000 according to PayScale. On the other side of the spectrum, a senior tax accountant with a CVA weighs in at an average of $60,000. But we knew tax was a thankless gig to begin with, didn’t we?

Since CVAs can also unravel bankruptcies and liquidations, the career options may be just about endless moving forward. Better start saving your pennies for that 5-day excursion.

Adrienne Gonzalez is the founder of Jr. Deputy Accountant, a former CPA wrangler and a Going Concern contributor . You can see more of her posts for GC here.

Accounting News Roundup: Tipsters Expose Fraud More Often Than Most Controls; What if the PCAOB Is Unconstitutional?; BDO Could Question Forensic Accountant’s Credibility | 06.01.10

Something Wicked This Way Comes [CFO]
A recent Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) study discovered that “[o]f the top eight controls ranked by effectiveness, only one — surprise audits, which cut fraud losses by 51% — is part of the traditional accounting-based control structure. Financial-statement review, internal audits, and Sarbanes-Oxley-mandated certifications by CEOs and CFOs all ranked below the nonaccounting controls in terms of effectiveness in preventing fraud.”

Controls have no match for good old human conscience, “tips expose fraud three times as often as do management reviews, internal audits, or account reconciliations.”


The problem however, is that employees may not be getting the training about how to report fraud if they know it’s happening, “an unsupportive corporate culture and poor employee training leave potential whistle-blowers unsure of whom to talk to.” Plus the baddies are doing their best to dissuade them, as Sam Antar told CFO, “[They] don’t go down without a fight, they don’t fight fairly, and they are going to intimidate whistle-blowers — that’s the nature of their game.”

Accounting for Crisis [Portfolio.com]
Gary Weiss writes over at Portfolio about the impending decision in Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB and he’s not impressed with the FEF’s argument, “claiming that the board would give our Founding Fathers heart attacks because its members are appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and not the president and can’t be removed except for cause.”

That despite the PCAOB’s lack of fireworks in its daily activities, “The PCAOB has not exactly rocked our world—and obviously its existence did nothing to keep Lehman from its Repo 105 book-cooking scheme. But getting rid of it, particularly on specious Constitutional grounds, would be a blow to the cause of more accurate financial statements.”

The odds say that the SCOTUS will affirm the lower court’s decision but just in case, Gary agrees with Interim PCAOB Chairman Dan Goelzer that Congress needs to act fast if the Court surprises us and reverses the decision.

Clifton Gunderson buys Stockton Bates [Philadelphia Business Journal]
Philadelphia-based Stockton Bates will join Clifton Gunderson’s 1,900 employees and 300 partners effective today. Stockton has 32 employees between three offices in Philadelphia, Lancaster, PA and Haddonfield, NJ.

BDO Seidman fights claims brought by fraudster Lew Freeman [South Florida Business Journal]
Convicted forensic accountant Lewis Freeman testified in the case of ES Bankest and BDO. So it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Freeman’s conviction could call his credibility as a witness into question as well as the Bankest bankruptcy proceedings, where Freeman acted as the court-appointed receiver.

Credentials for Accountants: Certified Internal Auditor

This is the fourth in our series on certifications for accountants. Previously, we’ve covered the CFP, CMA, and CFE so if you’re not sure what you want to be when you grow up, be sure to check those out.

So, what’s the CIA all about?


Education Requirement
CIA candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree. Unlike the CPA exam, which often requires certain coursework or a minimum master’s level education in accounting, the CIA certification has no such requirements. The CIA exam is administered year-round by the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Professional Requirements
Those interested in pursuing a CIA designation must have at least 24 months (2 years) professional experience in internal auditing or its equivalent. Equivalent experience would be in the areas audit/assessment disciplines, including external auditing, quality assurance, compliance, and internal control. Candidates with a master’s degree can substitute their degree for one year of experience. Candidates may sit for the CIA exam before satisfying the experience requirement but will not be certified until meeting this requirement.

Career Options
Certified Internal Auditors can be in public or private industry and experience a diverse workload checking controls, planning the audit process for their company, testing, and compiling reports. Internal auditors may also give feedback on management policies and procedures based on their findings.

Compensation and Other Benefits
CIAs can expect to make a median yearly salary of $55k freshly certified and around $100k with 20 years of experience, making it a cozy career choice for auditors (Payscale). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, growth in auditing and accounting positions is expected to rise 18% between 2006 and 2016, which gives CIAs a certain level of job security not seen in other industries. Equally important, executive responsibility attached to Sarbanes-Oxley means CIAs are that much more critical to an organization by isolating incidents of fraud or waste.

Obviously, CIAs are not in it for the money but for fraud-fighters who love information systems, technology and auditing, the CIA is a safe, always-in-need designation worth looking into!