3 Es to Excellence on the CPA Career Path

3 Es to Excellence on the CPA Career Path3 Es to Excellence on the CPA Career PathIf youd like to work in a public accountants office, taking a CPA career path will open a world of possibilities. Todays CPAs are internal auditors, information technology managers, forensic experts, tax accountants, compliance officers, CFOs and CEOs of major corporations.With the continued need for fiscal accountability and cost efficiency in companies, accounting and finance professionals with the CPA designation are in high demand. This demand is also pushing up salaries.A closer look at wages gives further incentive for taking the step to get your CPA. According to the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals, the median salary for a staff accountant with one to three years of experience in financial services is $62,000. A senior manager in tax services at a public accounting firm can expect a median salary of $134,000.At the midpoint, candidates have average experienc e with the necessary skills to meet the job requirements, and the role may be in an industry where competition for talent is moderate. Salaries also vary widely from city to city, so use our Salary Calculator to find out what accounting salaries are offered in your market.Meanwhile, what are the steps along the CPA career path to acquire the skills youll need before you can add those three letters to your name? Consider these three Es to be your guide to the CPA Education, Exam, Experience.First step on the CPA career path EDUCATIONIf you would like to move toward earning your license, the first step on your CPA career path is earning a bachelors degree in accounting, finance or a related field. The degree must include at least 150 semester hours of coursework, 24 of which should be in accounting-related subjects, although this requirement may vary by state. Many states also require a certain number of business and ethics coursework hours as well.Since the typical bachelors degree r equires only 120 semester hours, youll need to make up the difference in continuing education credits or graduate school hours. In fact, some CPA candidates complete their masters degree before taking the exam.Next step Study for the CPA EXAMThe next step on your career path is to take and pass the Uniform CPA Exam, which is the only CPA exam in the U.S. accepted for licensure in every state. A score of 75 is the minimum needed for an accountant to pass the exam.To get started, ask your school to send a copy of your college transcript to your states Board of Public Accountancy. Then, register verbunden with your states Board of Public Accountancy to access, print out, complete and return the CPA Exam Application Package. If you are declared eligible, you will receive a Notification to Schedule, which is valid for six months.There are four parts to the examAuditing and AttestationBusiness Environment and ConceptsFinancial Accounting and ReportingRegulationYou can take all four parts at the same time, or you can schedule each section separately. However, the fee is nonrefundable, so dont schedule any of the sections until you are sure you can take them within the six-month time frame. All four parts should be completed on a rolling 18-month schedule, which means from the time you take the first part of the exam, you have 18 months to take the last part.Read our our roundup of all you need to know about CPA jobs - and then some.Along the way Get some EXPERIENCEYour career path also includes at least one year of supervised experience before you can take the CPA exam. As an accountant, you can obtain this experience in entry-level positions in a variety of areas, including public accounting, corporate accounting, healthcare and financial services. Generally, in your first year or so, you should gain experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciling statements, tax preparation, budgets and audit preparation.After you take the exam, many states also r equire you as an accountant to gain additional experience before actually receiving your CPA license. You need hands-on experience in this phase of your career path in general accounting and in attest experience (which is gained from assisting with audits and full disclosure financial statements). A licensed CPA in a supervisory position must document general accounting experience, and the attest experience must be documented by the employer on the appropriate forms received from the state board.After you receive your license, you will need to complete continuing education credits every year or every two years.Becoming a CPA can be an important milestone on your career path and increase your marketability. These tips can help you properly prepare and pace yourself. Tags

10 Tricky Interview Questions You Should Know the Answers To

10 Tricky Interview Questions You Should Know the Answers To10 Tricky Interview Questions You Should Know the Answers To2After applying for a fleck that you really wanted, youre thrilled when you get the call to come in for a job bewerbungsgesprch. But job interviews can be tough, depending on who is interviewing you. Some hiring managers thrive on asking those tricky interview questions that can potentially trip up any candidate- and cost you the job. Below, youll find 10 of the most tricky interview questions you should know the answers to, along with a guideline of what to say- and not to say.1. What is your current salary?Of all the job interview questions you might be asked, salary interview questions might be the most cringeworthy. Why? Of course, every job seeker wants to get the highest possible salary. To that end, you might have inflated your current salary so that you could negotiate for a better one. If you respond with a Id ratherbei not say or Is that information really relevant? be prepared to shake your hiring managers hand as youre shown the door.This is a question you cant avoid- and most definitely shouldnt lie about- so youre just best off telling the truth. After all, the hiring manager can easily find out what youre making, either by contacting your employer, using salary calculators, or just having a general knowledge of what your job title is worth. In this case, you should state your salary and be prepared to negotiate for a higher one should you be offered the position.2. Why do you want to leave your current position?Maybe the thought of going into work makes you want to cry each morning. Or perhaps hearing your fellow colleague incessantly gab away on the phone to her best friend makes you want to tear your hair out. Either way, you want to keep it professional (and avoid the personal) when stating why you would like to leave your current job.You can say that youve been there for years and are looking for something new, or that you r eally feel that this companys culture would be a better fit for you- and why.3. How did you get along with your former boss?You hate your current boss. There, you said it. But if you say that to a potential employer, you might raise an eyebrow and cut your interview short. The reason if youre so willing to gossip about your current boss, it doesnt reflect positively on you, even if your reasons for loathing your boss are totally valid.So think of other reasons that are valid for you to want to leave your job, such as wanting to explore a new field, looking to grow with a new company, or wantingto work for a company with a great brand and company culture such as this one.4. Why do you want this job?Can you admit that you really want this job because it will primarily allow you to work from home? Um, not necessarily. Employers like to hear why you want to work for them- and them only- and mentioning what many might still consider to be a workplace perk wont earn you many points.Flatte r your boss-to-be by mentioningthe companyssolid reputation, its admirable diversity policies, and its excellent mentorship programs instead.5. What is your desired work location?Of course, if youre looking for a flexible job, your desired work location might be your bed- or your home office. But some flexible jobs might require you to come into the workplace on occasion or even travel.While you can say that youre flexible when it comes to your desired work location, you can also add you would be amenable to working remotely, too.6. What was the corporate culture like at your previous job?The corporate culture at your previous position was, well, virtually nonexistent. You can be honest with this question, as long as you dont paint your previous position in a negative light.You can mention that your former job lacked company culture, and then mention all the reasons (company culture specifically) why you would like to work for this company.7. What are you hoping to gain from this jo b?Employers want to know that they are more than just a paycheck to you. They want to feel as if there is a genuine partnership between them and their staffers.So tell the hiring manager how youd like to grow in this position, the things you hope to learn, and the experiences youd like to have if you were hired for this job.8. What makes you the right candidate for this position?Some job seekers can stumble on a question like this because it walks a fine line between being proud of your accomplishments and bragging. The way to differentiate the two in your delivery.If you make it seem like you saved your former employer from financial ruin because of an initiative that you single-handedly implemented, then youre bragging. If you back up the specific reasons why your work experiences, education, and skill set align with what theyre looking for (and you can back it up with solid examples), then youll have a great chance at getting the position.9. Tell me about yourself.This question i s often used as an icebreaker. But before your job interview goes down like the Titanic as you give your potential employer a five-minute soliloquy, learn how to give a brief, yet interesting synopsis of your life. Include your early years (i.e., where you hail from), education, work history, and experiences. And make aya to keep it short- a minute or two is more than enough.10. What would the person who likes you least in the world say about you?Imagine that your job interview has been going along swimmingly. You feel a kinship of sorts with your hiring manager- and then he asks you this question. You might feel surprised since hes basically asking you to pick a trait about yourself that is negative.But theres a trick to this question. Youll still need to pick a quirky characteristic (your impatience, for example). Then, instead of just mentioning that youre impatient, turn it into something positive. Show how being impatient works in your favor as a remote worker- maybe it means t hat youre a stickler for deadlines or that you will always follow up with a coworker who might lack quick communication skills.There are always going to be tricky interview questions, but your goal should be to always be prepared for them. That way, youll know how to answer any interview question easily and deftly- and get the job.Readers, have you faced tricky interview questions? Which ones tripped you up and how did you recover? Let us know in the comments below

Heres how to get over confusion about problems

Heres how to get over confusion about problemsHeres how to get over confusion about problemsHave you ever been on the receiving end of confusion? Of a situation that you simply have not been able to figure out a fuzzy feeling that something is off? Maybe you were sure life was headed one way, but it quickly swerved out of seemingly nowhere or dissolved or blew up or became something that was completely different than what you intended it to be?From business deals that dissipated. Relationships that went off course. Potential that fizzled. Projects that went awry When we cant seem to figure out whats going on or what happened, we resort to whatever it is that we want to believe.Confusion is typically born from one party not being clear, and one party not asking for the clarity. In an effort to remain comfortable, we choose not to be direct. But in that lack of clarity is confusion. And confusion keeps us on the hook. Confusion becomes a murky pool of questions. Confusion leads to painful blindsiding they didnt see coming. Confusion harvests all kinds of pain and resentment that could have been avoided by just being clear. Being direct. And saying the things that are hard to say.Ive done it. Ive committed to things in person that I had no intention of following through on. Ive held my real feelings close because I didnt want to hurt their feelings on the spot. Ive hoped it would all just go away instead of having to own my responsibility in it, out loud. Ive ignored poor performances, thinking the positive can outweigh the negative eventually. Ive smiled to someones face and cried behind their back. Ive done it.Ive done it because being direct, and clear, and honest can be hard. It can hurt our own heart, and it can seem like it might hurt someones elses. But we must do it anyways.So if youre feeling confusion about where you stand, in your job, in your relationships, in your friendships consider creating a conversation for the sake of clarity. Examine why, exactly, youre not asking for the clarity you deserve. Yes, its possible you hear what you fear. Its also possible you hear something that gives you the freedom to move along with grace instead of weighted down with confusion.And if youre the person withholding clarity from someone hoping they get it together eventually, or they figure it out, or that the situation will just resolve itself on its own dig a little deeper for the courage to be clear. Examine why, exactly, youre not sharing your truth and saying what needs to be said. Itll release you from this tether of guilt, and itll release them to whats next, which is what everyone deserves to begin with.This article was originally published on MaxieMcCoy.com.