[quote]RRibber wrote:
Good luck. Sounds like Strategic Management Accounting is the equivalent to BEC in the USA. I passed that 2 months ago. All of these tests are hard but this one is definitely the least hard.
I have FAR on the 9th and it has been a beast for me. I am definitely overwhelmed and even ask myself, “Why didn’t I just become a doctor?” at times. [/quote]
Good luck…I’ve got FAR tomorrow and I feel the exact same way. [/quote]
I got FAR & REG on my first shot.
BEC… Ah that shit hole test. Got a 74 my first time, and a 73 the second. Failed twice by a combined 3 points. Looking back not sure how I didn’t hang myself. When I passed I ended up with like a 89 lol.
[quote]RRibber wrote:
Good luck. Sounds like Strategic Management Accounting is the equivalent to BEC in the USA. I passed that 2 months ago. All of these tests are hard but this one is definitely the least hard.
I have FAR on the 9th and it has been a beast for me. I am definitely overwhelmed and even ask myself, “Why didn’t I just become a doctor?” at times. [/quote]
Good luck…I’ve got FAR tomorrow and I feel the exact same way. [/quote]
I got FAR & REG on my first shot.
BEC… Ah that shit hole test. Got a 74 my first time, and a 73 the second. Failed twice by a combined 3 points. Looking back not sure how I didn’t hang myself. When I passed I ended up with like a 89 lol.[/quote]
I feel pretty got about FAR. There was a lot more gov/not-for-profit than I was expecting, but overall it wasn’t as bad as AUD imo.
BEC worries me. I feel like it can’t be that hard, but it seems like everyone fails it at least once. I’m retaking AUD (71) in 2 weeks and then BEC the last week of August.
Any BEC tips since you obviously studied the material?
Well for me, I just did every single problem in the Wiley review book. It’s really easy to slack off on BEC because the section is a level below FAR, REG and AUD but you will get overwhelmed very fast.
The written portion of the exam is like free points. You just need to write clearly and demonstrate you have some knowledge without having to get the answer correct.
Also, I just took FAR today. Goddamn that test is a beast. There were a lot of questions with nit picky twists and details that turned my answers into 50/50 guesses. You really have to do your due diligence and go beyond what the review materials teach you to confidently answer those. Also, I had an IFRS sim which was a backbreaker. Also, it sucks to know that 50% of the topics I studied were not even on the exam. Overall, I think I passed but we’ll see when the scores are released.
[quote]RRibber wrote:
Good luck. Sounds like Strategic Management Accounting is the equivalent to BEC in the USA. I passed that 2 months ago. All of these tests are hard but this one is definitely the least hard.
I have FAR on the 9th and it has been a beast for me. I am definitely overwhelmed and even ask myself, “Why didn’t I just become a doctor?” at times. [/quote]
Good luck…I’ve got FAR tomorrow and I feel the exact same way. [/quote]
I got FAR & REG on my first shot.
BEC… Ah that shit hole test. Got a 74 my first time, and a 73 the second. Failed twice by a combined 3 points. Looking back not sure how I didn’t hang myself. When I passed I ended up with like a 89 lol.[/quote]
I feel pretty got about FAR. There was a lot more gov/not-for-profit than I was expecting, but overall it wasn’t as bad as AUD imo.
BEC worries me. I feel like it can’t be that hard, but it seems like everyone fails it at least once. I’m retaking AUD (71) in 2 weeks and then BEC the last week of August.
Any BEC tips since you obviously studied the material?
Chris [/quote]
The format of the exam has changed since I took it, and I learn differently than seems most people. I don’t need nor like practice exams, all I have to do is read the material once or twice.
My best advice is think like a business man not an accountant when it comes to that exam. Know the formulas, but don’t think that will be the only thing you need to know.
[quote]RRibber wrote:
Good luck. Sounds like Strategic Management Accounting is the equivalent to BEC in the USA. I passed that 2 months ago. All of these tests are hard but this one is definitely the least hard.
I have FAR on the 9th and it has been a beast for me. I am definitely overwhelmed and even ask myself, “Why didn’t I just become a doctor?” at times. [/quote]
Good luck…I’ve got FAR tomorrow and I feel the exact same way. [/quote]
I got FAR & REG on my first shot.
BEC… Ah that shit hole test. Got a 74 my first time, and a 73 the second. Failed twice by a combined 3 points. Looking back not sure how I didn’t hang myself. When I passed I ended up with like a 89 lol.[/quote]
I feel pretty got about FAR. There was a lot more gov/not-for-profit than I was expecting, but overall it wasn’t as bad as AUD imo.
BEC worries me. I feel like it can’t be that hard, but it seems like everyone fails it at least once. I’m retaking AUD (71) in 2 weeks and then BEC the last week of August.
Any BEC tips since you obviously studied the material?
Chris [/quote]
The format of the exam has changed since I took it, and I learn differently than seems most people. I don’t need nor like practice exams, all I have to do is read the material once or twice.
My best advice is think like a business man not an accountant when it comes to that exam. Know the formulas, but don’t think that will be the only thing you need to know.[/quote]
How did you find your jobs? I’m currently employed, but I’m not where I want to be and have had a hard time even getting calls back let alone interviews. I imagine at least part of it is the job market. Are there any accounting specific job boards or employment sources? I’ve tried all the typical ones like monster, careerbuilder, indeed, etc… as well as usajobs. I was able to get my current job through my college.
I was think of joining the Maryland Association of CPAs, do you think that will help?
Industry accounting isn’t the cream of the crop. I really enjoy being part of the company I work for but the day to day tasks can be a drag particularly whilst I’m waiting on other departments. I.e. I’ve had literally nadda to do this week. I really can’t do much before the 7th / 8th business day of the month because of our centralised structure. Then it is a busy 6 to 8 working days while I finalise the reporting followed by about a week of waiting for the new month to start.
Been trying to get my hands on other areas in the business. I.e. we have one systems administrator who goes to site and implements our info systems processes. I usually take some of the menial tasks like data entry off his hands. Fills my time, takes a lot of work that he shouldn’t even concern himself with off his hands.
Not my dream job, but it doesn’t suck either. I’m viewing it as a stepping stone. I can make a lot more money doing other things but right now I can’t see any other career that will leave more doors open long term.
Edit: on the plus side my work/life balance is pretty sweet. I can have days off as I please without having to justify my whereabouts so long as I meet my deadlines.
Industry accounting isn’t the cream of the crop. I really enjoy being part of the company I work for but the day to day tasks can be a drag particularly whilst I’m waiting on other departments. I.e. I’ve had literally nadda to do this week. I really can’t do much before the 7th / 8th business day of the month because of our centralised structure. Then it is a busy 6 to 8 working days while I finalise the reporting followed by about a week of waiting for the new month to start.
Been trying to get my hands on other areas in the business. I.e. we have one systems administrator who goes to site and implements our info systems processes. I usually take some of the menial tasks like data entry off his hands. Fills my time, takes a lot of work that he shouldn’t even concern himself with off his hands.
Not my dream job, but it doesn’t suck either. I’m viewing it as a stepping stone. I can make a lot more money doing other things but right now I can’t see any other career that will leave more doors open long term.
Edit: on the plus side my work/life balance is pretty sweet. I can have days off as I please without having to justify my whereabouts so long as I meet my deadlines.[/quote]
Ya, it sounds like our jobs are very similar. I’d like to get into audit myself and eventually forensic accounting. There’s a program pretty close to where I live that I’d like to go through after my current M.S. and probably an MBA. I figure by then I’ll know for sure what I want to do.
Tax time has started here in Australia. Every year I get dozens of requests to file personal taxes. About 80% will tell me about their $2000 - $3000 reimbursement last year. 79% won’t even have the tax invoices to prove these transactions but want me to claim them anyway (fat chance). When asked to provide the previous years notice of assessment (which is a confirmation that the tax office has processed your tax), most conveniently “misplace” this document or they give it to me thinking I’m a moron and unable to figure out that their $2500 reimbursement is BS as it clearly states the actual amount to be reimbursed or PAID back to the tax office.
In the past I needed the cash and charged people who weren’t immediate family or close friends $40 a pop, raking in a cool $1k or so every July.
Don’t need the cash as much as I used to so subsequently I now tell 80% of people to go f–k themselves the moment they mention last years tax return and can’t provide receipts, etc.
My network. Be friends with the smart kids in class.
One major downfall of online courses.
Go thorugh your school, fuck all those other shits.
But understand, now is not typical recruiting time for public firms.
Larger firms hire year round, and will take in a good canidate any time of year. But without a couple 1000 hours of experience and letters, you don’t typically fit that mold.
So, keep your head up and push hard again in Spetember-december.
[quote]I was think of joining the Maryland Association of CPAs, do you think that will help?
Thanks,
Chris[/quote]
Isn’t going to hurt, and they send you good informative emails and shit if they are anything like Mass Society.
Go to their networking events, and don’t act like a douchbag, lol. Build your network.
It happened. People further along than me in the CPA profession warned me about this before. One guy blamed working at PWC for his marriage failing.
I just have very little free time with work followed by studying for the CPA, plus I have a girlfriend, aging parents I help around the house, and lastly, I am trying to be big. Anyway, I RSVP’d to a friends wedding a few months ago and then just recently found out about his bachelor party which I was not invited to. I was really surprised until I heard from people it was because I haven’t been around for a while to socialize but I should just call the guy and ask to go. I totally understand the non-invite since I HAVE been absent a lot the last 2 years. I am way too prideful to call and ask to be invited and I feel like I should make up an excuse to not go to the wedding. Not because I am butt hurt (okay, just a little) but because I think it would make it awkward for everyone. Anyway, this sucks. Back to REG.
[quote]RRibber wrote:
One guy blamed working at PWC for his marriage failing. [/quote]
His marriage would have failed if he worked at McDonald’s.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, it is hard. Very hard. And you have to communicate with your wife more than someone who works 2080 a year and shits time off. (You should communicate anyway, but that is a whole other thread.)
You have to be upfront with the significant other, and be honest at all times. She has to be understanding, and a fat paycheck will go a long way to smooth things over, so splurge on her.
My best advice:
Never, ever, ever, start or otherwise engage in a fight during tax season with your significant other. You need to learn to choose your battles, and guess what, you choose zero during tax season. I don’t care if she wants you to help her bury the body of your uncle, you do it, and smile. You don’t want her sitting home stewing all night while you are at work, or worse, fucking texting you 200 times.
Don’t ever call from your cube. If you have an office, shut the door, or go outside. None of your co-workers want to hear how pussy whipped you are, and she wants you to be nice to her.
Never, under any circumstance, ever evr ever ever, never ever ever, tell her what time you are coming home. DO NOT DO IT! (You will all ignore this and learn the hard way). All that does is either force you to rush through shit and piss off your boss, not finish shit which is worse than sloppy because now your boss has to do it, or stay late which pisses off your wife, eliminating sex from your future.
Get a coffee on the way home the nights you think you have a good shot at fucking. Stay up late to have sex if you have to, but go to bed early when you can otherwise. No late night drinking during tax season.
bring her flowers now and again, and thank her for doing everything around the house like 3 times a month January - 2/28. But like once a week after 3/15. After April 15th take her out to Del Frisco’s or some other joint where you know you will spend at least 300 on a meal. Enjoy yourself, but it is her night.
Don’t nap away Sunday. She hasn’t seen you all week. Sack up, be a man and hang out with your chick doing what she want to do. And no, her idea of a good time isn’t a blow job before your nap.
But once you guys are done the exam, things get a lot better socially outside of tax season.
LOL I already do the flowers thing and I always run outside at work when talking on the phone because I am so pussy whipped lol. And yep, I will definitely be drinking coffee at night from here on out because lately, I’ve been “manning up” and getting the sex done but there are nights where I would rather just go to sleep.
My network. Be friends with the smart kids in class.
One major downfall of online courses.
Go thorugh your school, fuck all those other shits.
But understand, now is not typical recruiting time for public firms.
Larger firms hire year round, and will take in a good canidate any time of year. But without a couple 1000 hours of experience and letters, you don’t typically fit that mold.
So, keep your head up and push hard again in Spetember-december.
[quote]I was think of joining the Maryland Association of CPAs, do you think that will help?
Thanks,
Chris[/quote]
Isn’t going to hurt, and they send you good informative emails and shit if they are anything like Mass Society.
Go to their networking events, and don’t act like a douchbag, lol. Build your network.
I passed both BEC and FAR. I put in about 15 to 20 hours on BEC and about 30 for FAR. I felt I was underprepared for both, but scored 75 on each. I have stopped doing anything but the GLIEM practice tests, those have been helping the most and getting the job done.
Not steller scores I know, but a pass is a pass, and for this busy guy, I’ll take it. I should have done this years ago.
