Ask a CPA

Work-life balance has been a frequent discussion recently for both private companies and CPA firms alike. The good news is that, as a CPA, you will have credentials that designate you as a knowledgeable professional who can manage their own schedule and workload.

I currently work alongside a number of successful leaders and staff in our firm that are under flexible schedule arrangements to help accommodate family and other interests. Additionally, there are a number of opportunities for me and others to occasionally work from home or at varying times in the day, allowing us to maintain the schedule of our families while continuing down a great career path in accounting.

With the work-life balance and flexible schedule conversations on the forefront of employers’ minds today, the stage is perfectly set for you to enter a strong profession for a successful career while maintaining the quality of life you desire.

Being a CPA, Work/Life Balance

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The job market has become increasingly more competitive over the years. While I never applied for an accounting internship, I feel most firms have the same hiring process for potential intern and full-time candidates. From my experience interviewing for full-time positions, as well as from helping with recruiting at PwC, I offer the following suggestions:

1) Do well in school. Having a high GPA (3.5+) shows potential employers that you have the academic aptitude to add value to their firm.

2) Get involved! It's not enough to have a stellar GPA. Get involved with organizations that interest you on campus, and hold leadership position(s) in these organizations. Employers don't necessarily care about the quantity of extracurricular activities, but rather the quality. In our jobs, it is crucial to be able to balance multiple things at once - having a high GPA and holding leadership in activities show employers that you're able to prioritize and multitask.

3) Network, network, network. I cannot stress this point enough. Employers probably won't offer you an internship after your freshman year, but you could always try to do a job shadow in your early college career. I would recommend going to career fair as a freshman/sophomore to give you practice in speaking to employers, but also to help build relationships with people at firms that interest you.

For instance, my freshman year, prior to even declaring myself as an accounting major, I had the opportunity to meet with a partner at PwC. Over the years, we maintained a relationship, so that by senior year when I applied for a full-time job, he knew who I was and what I achieved throughout College. I truly do feel that network which started my freshman year made a difference.

4) Research the internship program. Prior to career fair and the various interview rounds, make sure you research the firm and the position you seek. By doing your research, you can ask meaningful questions and help set yourself apart from your peers.

5) Participate in a mock interview/go to a resume critique. To gain constructive feedback in how to improve your professional interaction skills, I strongly suggest signing up for a mock interview. Also, resume critiques will help you strengthen your resume and highlight the points that will matter to recruiters. Note that accounting firms conduct mock interviews and resume critiques - these opportunities could serve as another great way to network!

Good luck in your quest for an internship! It's a competitive and rigorous process, but the steps above should help make you a stronger candidate.

Internships & First Job, Public Accounting

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That is a great question! The hardest thing about successfully completing undergraduate, graduate and the CPA exam was finding the time to devote to my studies. I believe that one should always strive for academic perfection even if ultimately it can’t be achieved.

In my undergraduate program I was on a full basketball scholarship which meant prioritizing my time was essential. I had to endure long practices, late night study sessions, a hectic travel schedule which required me to take exams earlier than the rest of my classmates, and constantly utilize all my professors office hours because I was a dual major.

In my graduate program time management became even more important because I started working full-time and training to make a professional sports team. Graduate school was intense and required a level of commitment quite different from anything I had ever experienced. I traveled for basketball tryouts, played in semi-pro leagues, worked as a temporary consultant and performed my graduate assistant duties at school for two-years. Upon graduation I joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, studied for the CPA exam, and played professional basketball.

Education in and of itself is a powerful tool. Always create the necessary time to learn as much as possible so that you can constructively impact our global society in ways people have never imagined.

Colleges & Classes

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First off, if you’re interested in pursuing accounting in the long run, you should read the requirements to become a CPA. Some states require a Masters degree or 150 credit hours in college or work experience in a public accounting firm. Find out what your state requires here: www.startheregoplaces.com

Accounting is a good way to learn the fundamentals of how any company operates. You’ll be privy to learning the cash inflows and outflows, the financial structure of the company, and how to help a company plan for the future. It’s a very useful background to have.

Internships & First Job, Public Accounting

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The market today looks roughly like it did about 15 years ago. CPAs are still in demand. However, multiple offers for accounting majors right off campus will not be automatic. In today’s economy, large firms and companies are closely scrutinizing their hiring budgets and current headcount. It’s no secret that some public firms recently experienced a period of layoffs or right-sizing, appropriately named for counseling out poor performers. But it is not well known that many small CPA firms continue to weather the tough economy well. And there are also parts of the country and specific industries that have seen little negative effects of the recession. In those small firms and markets, we see job opportunities for accountants, especially CPAs. Check it out for yourself by reviewing the job postings on the AICPA’s CPA Job Finder at www.cpajobfinder.com.

In the 2009 PCPS CPA Firms Top Issues Survey, the majority of responding participants anticipated no change or even a slight increase in hiring between years. (Visit tinyurl.com for more on the survey.) Some medium-sized firms have told us that they are continuing their internship programs and will be hiring off campus again this year. And all firms agree that it won’t be long until the talent war for strong accountants is again in full force. They just don’t know exactly when this happen.

Although the job market for accountants has slowed as compared with a decade of a seller’s market, there remain opportunities. And the bottom line is that top performers and those with credentials, like a CPA, have great advantages over the rest of the competition.

Being a CPA, Professional Community

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