AICPA

Eleven years out school, Wesley is doing well in the tax department of one of the "Big Four" accounting firms. He enjoys his work, his colleagues and his clients. So is adding CPA to his title really necessary?

"Absolutely," Wesley affirms. "It's pretty much a requirement in order for me to be promoted to a managerial position. I wouldn't be able to do the things I want to do without certification, and my ability to grow in the industry would be limited. I've basically hit the ceiling." He adds, "Once you reach a certain level, a CPA is what separates you from others—it makes you worth a lot more in the market."

Originally a math major at Villanova, Wesley first considered teaching. It was at an end-of-semester presentation that his interest in accounting was tweaked. "Accounting is basically a language for business. It's really the only way to communicate how certain things are going to affect your company as a whole. That appealed to me. And, at the time, a lot of CEOs and CFOs were coming from an accounting background."

While Wesley is happy about his career choice, his only regret is not getting his certification earlier. "If I held a CPA license when I was first looking into opportunities, many more doors would have been opened to me. That's why I recommend that any young person entering the accounting field take the exams right out of school. Also, the information is fresh in your mind."

For those still in school, Wesley has the following advice: "If you know you want to work in the business world, I think the most important thing you can do is to intern. And not just at one place, but at a couple of different ones. Try things out, experience whatever you can. Because you'll see how things really operate and what feels right for you."

Wesley provides services to high net-worth individuals (translation: people with lots of money) with their income tax and estate planning. He finds that he's perfect for his work. "Accounting is like a big crossword puzzle. You take a great big wealth of information and put it into a format that the IRS can appreciate," he says. There are several other things he likes about his job. "You get to teach every day. You're working with people who have a desire to learn and want grow in their careers." Wesley also gets satisfaction from making his clients' lives easier. "In the private sector, there's more personal interaction. Clients are thankful that you can go the extra mile and make the difference."

Another big plus is the mobility. "I've moved jobs now five times, but never for any other reason than location. There's a lot of flexibility in that you can work anywhere." Wesley currently keeps an apartment in Philadelphia near his office and indulges his love for the ocean at his weekend house on the Jersey shore. Free time is spent on martial arts, snowboarding, motorcycles, and video games.

For now, Wesley is planning to take the four-part certification exam towards his CPA over the summer. As with most processes, the Internet has made studying for and taking the tests much easier. "The exams are given two out of every three months of the year, so you can take it almost any time you want."

Wesley looks forward to the career boost that becoming a CPA will most certainly provide. And there's one more thing he anticipates. "Most accounting firms won't let you sign tax returns unless you're a CPA," says Wesley. Now he'll be able to proudly autograph the results of all his hard work.