I recently graduated in public accounting with a GPA of 2.8. The reason it was low is because I went through depression. Despite this I managed to get an internship at a hedgefund firm for a year during college and then I also got an internship at a managing company. I haven’t yet worked for any CPAs. I’m scared and worried that I won’t be able to. I know I don’t have a chance with big 4 yet. But my current goal is to get a job at a small public accounting firm first so I can gain the CPA experience requirement, pass my CPA and return to grad school.
Do I have a chance in getting a job at a small or medium CPA firm? Anyone with similar gpa recently what do you recommend ? I’m planning to do vita next year too
I’m a CPA and my S is a pretty recent CPA. Here are a few comments:
–There is no one answer to if a person with a 2.8 can get a public accounting job. It depends in part on what college you attended, how well you did in your accounting courses, how well you interview, if there are a lot of accounting firms in your location etc.
–Did you work with career placement at your college while you were there? That is generally the best way to get a job in the field. See if you can contact career placement and work with them as an alumni.
–Do you have the 150 credits needed to become a CPA? Most bachelors degrees are 120 credits. Although a masters is not required, many students go on to get a one year MS in accounting in order to reach the 150 credits. That could also be a good way to bump up your GPA. I don’t know about the smaller firms, but the large firms won’t hire a person as a full time employee until they have the 150 credits. So for many accountants, grad school comes before full time employment.
–You can take the CPA exam as soon as you have met the state requirements. You don’t need to have work experience before you sit for the exam. As an aside, my S took and passed the CPA exam a few years ago and found that the Becker review course was very helpful – it is expensive but he had a job lined up and his employer paid for it.
Step one working on passing the CPA exam (if you are currently eligible to sit for the exam). Step two get some CPA firm experience. The size of the firm doesn’t matter, just get in there and start getting your feet wet. Learn QuickBooks if you don’t already know it.
Get some experience, then go to grad school and kick some butt.
I got two jobs from the school stated above. I didn’t know how to network. I am working on that now. Yes I have 150 credits just missing the work at cpa firm requirement.
I have the accounting experience stated above just not cpa firm experience. Will I be able to find at a small cpa firm first so I can get that requirement and sit for my cpa exam?
Or should I take my gmat first go to grad school and submit my grades which I’m sure I can do well I got a 3.6 my last semester in undergraduate (not cumulative). I just didn’t do wel other years due to depression .
I’m thinking I should try applying to small cpa firms first , and if I get a job , then fulfill the cpa experience requirement , and take exam and network and find job at larger firm
Or if that doesn’t work take the gmat first and go to grad school I can def get amazing referrals and good gmat score and good gpa
My question is am I doomed unless I go to grad school ?
25+ year CPA here, please free to message me if you’d like.
You CAN indeed find a CPA firm job, but you may need to go out and make it happen. Small firms don’t recruit like big firms (I’ve worked everything from Big 4, to large local, to small local, to my own firm with a couple other CPAs on staff).
Get some CPA firm experience, pass the exam and then go back to grad school (perhaps). At some point, the GPA will no longer matter.
Also, any way to slice up the GPA to make it looks better? Does the GPA in your major look any better?
Lastly, you can have a great career in public without working for a Big 4. Good luck!
I’m a CPA as well and agree with the post above. I would focus on getting your CPA at this point. And keep in mind that (at least in most states – check with your state board) you can also fulfill the experience requirement of the CPA by working at a private firm for a CPA.
And yes, if your accounting or business coursework GPA is over 3.0 I’d list that out on your resume.
All the above are excellent advices. Additionally, you might want to network with people, people you know, friends, friends of a friend, relatives, organizations, etc. Let your name out that you are looking for a position in public accounting. Sometimes these jobs are available to someone who has connnections.