Industries change over time and accounting is no exception. To keep up with the changes technology has brought to the accounting industry, the AICPA redesigned the CPA exam to focus more on higher-level skills like critical thinking, analytical skills, ethics, and professionalism. The new exam will be issued starting on April 1, 2017 and anyone who takes the test after…
Courtesy of the AICPA, here are some of the most important dates in your life for the rest of the year – when you takes the test, when the AICPA needs to receive the data and the corresponding score releases. Don’t forget: All dates and times are based on the Eastern Standard Time zone. Some boards of accountancy need a…
In a previous post we talked about how technical savvy was one of the top skills a CPA needs these days. But this is an important enough topic that it deserves its own post. Accounting firms are moving towards the cloud and a paperless office. It’s a more efficient and secure way to handle data and protect client information. It’s…
There are a lot of benefits to being a CPA which get talked about a lot (more money, etc.). But I think the most important benefits are the ones that are generally glossed over. They’re the ones that are broader, typically longer term and, thus, more meaningful as they tend to have the greatest impact on your life. Control You…
You failed the exam. The time, sacrifice, and heartache – all for naught. You’re crushed. So, what now? Get Ahold of Yourself First, take a breath. This isn’t the end of the world. It’s not even the end of your career. Let’s put this in perspective. According to the National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy, only about 1…
There were two sayings that come to mind when I was researching this post. The first is Hindsight is 20/20; the second is Learn from the mistakes of others. Both clichés perhaps but they’re clichés because they are used a lot and they are used a lot because they’re true. This is never more so than in the case of preparing…
I hate the proliferation of articles touting the 5 or the 10 best or worst of something. It’s click bait and so many times the things that comprise the list are of dubious value, included only to get a nice round number. You don’t see a lot of lists with 4 or 7 items. But, honestly, as I researched this…
It’s a good time for Accounting. The job market outlook is maybe the best it’s ever been and the number of college students in accounting programs is at an all-time high. Consider: The number of students enrolled in accounting programs broke 250,000 for the first time according to the AICPA’s 2015 Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and Demand…
Out of everything to consider when preparing for the CPA exam, the first and most strategic is the order in which you take the sections. This is the sort of question that’s tailor made for debate. And, with the pressure of taking the exam, it could be make-or-break, too. We did some research to see if our opinion as to…
So, you’ve done it. You’ve made it through the four-pronged crucible that is the CPA exam and you’re still standing. First off, congratulations. As we all know, this was no easy feat. Secondly, now that you’re about to embark on the next level of your career, what are the things that will continue your upward trajectory over the long haul?…
