A couple days late on this video but OMG its awesome…CPA CPA CPA!

This is what I have worked so hard for my entire life: my Bachelors Degree of Science in Accounting, my AIPCA certificate, and my PICPA certificate. I plan on adding more to this wall, but its one hell of a great start.

It’s 9/15…..have you paid your tax estimates! I did.

Believe it or not I am still alive and doing well. The summer and my impending wedding have been stealing my time. This time next week I will be renewing my vows with my husband in front of 96 of our closest family and friends. 96 guests with family coming in from Michigan and Rhode Island is a lot to handle, but pales in comparison to handling the CPA exam.

I will be posting a vlog up soon. I can’t wait to continue ranting and raving about the ups and downs of passing the exam and my new career in public accounting. I feel like this is the beginning of season 2 of my vlog. I look forward to sharing with my viewers and readers.

In the meantime, we are still in a blackout month and there is plenty of time to study and pass those tests in the 3rd quarter! I want to see more CPAs this fall and winter before 2012 turns into 2013!

Thank you!

Don’t get totally down. I gave myself a couple days of crying and punching CPA books, but got right back into the game. I got the same score on BEC and AUD. In fact, got that score right before I passed BEC with an 86. What I did to finally get a passing score was change my game plan. I made note cards as I reviewed material and I went through all the MCQs 2-3 times in the Wiley book, on the CD and in my Roger material. In addition, I found my weak areas after taking a couple review tests and studied each topic for a week or whatever time allotment felt comfortable. The intense focus on my weak areas gave me confidence as I reviewed the other topics. I slowly saw my practice tests increase. Let me know if this has helped.

Currently my bloggie video camera doesn’t want to charge, so I am typing an over due blog.

First on my agenda was letting everyone know 3rd quarter of 2012 has begun! Study hard, sit for the exam, and see results! Good luck and my the 75 be with you all!

Second on the agenda….I have some news…first it’s not so good, but then it gets real good. Last Monday, I received an email from my state board of accountancy that my validation of hours paperwork needed to be re-done. First, I freaked because I know I filled it out correctly. Second, I typed the fastest and most sincere email to my old firm asking them to please help. I also forwarded them the email from the state. I typed a letter, attached a print out of the email to the letter, and printed out the verification of hours form again. I wasn’t happy, but I got it done like a professional and crossed my fingers it was correct.

The next day, Tuesday, I checked my email during lunch and saw two emails from my old firm. The first email said this happens a lot and the state can be picky. The second email stated that after a conversation with the state they approved my hours. My old firm attached a letter from the partner validating my hours and that was good enough.

After I read and absorbed the email, I checked my state site. PA has a log-in site for checking on the status of your license. I have been checking it everyday for the past month and nothing has been changing. I sign in and look for the link to the virtual check list to see if the next step was completed in reviewing my application. I saw no link! I panicked….but then I saw it….the status changed from PENDING to ACTIVE and I saw a official number. I screeched in my cube at work and immediately took a picture on my phone and sent to to my whole family. Official as of 6/26/12 I am a CPA. 

Today I officially received my certificate in the mail :-) It currently resides on my fridge at the moment, but soon it will sit up on my wall. 

Now onto the topic that I was hoping to record…Top 5 Reasons to be a CPA

5. It’s a good paying job

4. Job security 

3. A respectable job

2. Allows for personal growth and unlimited knowledge

1. Being your own boss

I will briefly give a reasoning and hope to record tomorrow night to give a better in-depth explanation.

5. Money isn’t the most important thing in the world, but being a CPA sometimes comes with a nice boost in salary. It’s good knowing you can pay off all the review material you had to buy while studying.

4. I am a prime example of job security. I have a BS in Accounting. I was in public for 3 years and decided to move into industry accounting. I was laid off 8 months later when the economy crashed in 2009. The housing market bubble popped and you know the rest. I was only unemployed for 2 months, which was a very quick turn around. I am grateful for my education and background in accounting. I was flexible enough and had the knowledge to find a job quickly in a bad job market.

3. An accountant isn’t your average bean counter. When I tell people I’m an accountant (now I can legally say CPA), there is a different beam in their eye. All of a sudden a conversation may turn into a conversation about taxes. Although I am not a tax expert, I do have enough knowledge to bring them up to speed on a topic. I always recommend finding a CPA that is a tax expert for more in-depth expertise. If the question isn’t tax related, I do get general business or accounting software questions. It’s also amazing how I am now held up to a different standard. I am expected to know topics and be current on them. 

2. I love learning. Being a CPA means you have to continue your education and attend Continuing Professional Education (CPE) classes. I love the knowledge I am gaining and will be gaining as I grow in my career.

1. Isn’t the whole point of studying, passing your tests and getting the CPA to one day be your own boss! Well yes it is a dream of mine to one day run a successful company and make my own rules. If I can’t have my own business, I definitely want to help run and grow a successful company. Being a CPA will help me make that dream a reality. 

Thank you for reading. I hope my camera is working later week.

Everyone enjoy the 4th of July and watch some fireworks. If you are reading outside the USA, enjoy your weekend.

sorry for shaky moments, its a low budget production :-)

Lost your motivation…I hope I can give it back to you. This time last year I put my nose in a book and locked myself in the house! All I wanted was CPA at the end of my name. If you make the commitment and give this exam your time, you will be a CPA. This is the biggest accomplishment you will have completed. The joy that you feel is the best feeling in the world. 

I also thank those who have found my vlog and help spread the word. I wrap up with my review of Roger CPA Review. Truly a great course that is full of MOTIVATION! 

The 2nd window of 2012 has come to a close and score release is winding down, so I give you HAPPY DANCE! Congrats to all who have passed and KEEP GOING to all who have to try again. It isn’t the end of the world, trust me, been there and I’ve come out victorious. I have prepared a small pep talk for those looking for motivation! In other CPA news, Pennsylvania has officially received my application. The wait has officially begun in the eyes of the state. I will keep everyone posted. REMINDER! 2nd quarter estimates are due by 6/15. That’s a wrap. Anyone else have a happy dance?

I give an update on my new job. So far so good. Learning a lot about the inventory process and sales. It feels like BEC, but with out the test and I have a real world application for the material. I also finally mailed my CPA application. The Wait Begins……… I wrap up the video by discussing my co-workers currently sitting for the exam. I am glad I can help them as they navigate this exam process! Enjoy and thanks for watching! 

Taking BEC in the next window, studying over the blackout window and need a boost? I highly recommend Roger and he is having a free live BEC Webcast. Check it out.