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acctingman
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Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 28

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 20:52 \| IP Logged

Hello all!

First time poster so here goes...

I work for Costco Wholesale in Financial Accounting as an analyst for one our departments. I look at individual orders all the way to the department P&L's and gross margin numbers. I like what I do and the pay isn't bad. I know I can make more elsewhere, but I've been with the company for 18 yrs and at the age of 40 I'm a little scared to leave. Mind you, I have no kids nor am I married. Condo owner with little to no debt minus the mortgage.

I meet all the requirements to take the exam and am seriously thinking about it in the next 1-3 years.

I plan on taking the Becker Review. The classes are conveniently located less than 10 minutes from where I live.

Here is my dilemma. I'm not sure I want to quit Costco and I know for a fact I do not want to move up into management (quite honestly, a CPA license would be total overkill at Costco).

I was thinking that if I did get my license I could get something going on a part time basis. My question is....just how feasible is this? I mean, I know I could find some work during tax season, but if that's all that I'm going to be able to do, why get the license. I'm wondering if there is someone out there who is a part time CPA? :)

I can slowly see myself weening off the Costco tit (so to speak) and developing my own side business and having it turn into something on a more full time basis, but this isn't something I would want to do until close to retirement age. It's too scarey for me to leave that security I have at Costco (6 weeks vacation, great benefits and the NOT low man on the totem pole).

Guess I'm looking for words of encouragement or to see if there is anyone else out there who thinks this is a feasible plan :)

Zeratul
Major Contributor

Joined: 11 Jun 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 987

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 21:01 \| IP Logged

Why do you want to pursue the CPA designation? I think this is the most important question and I didn't see a clear answer in your post.

kj_nyc
Major Contributor

Joined: 05 Jun 2009
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1145

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 21:07 \| IP Logged

I wish I had your job! Security, great benefits, what more can one ask for? Don't quit, especially in this economy! No debt, you don't need to make more money!

Newman
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Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 40

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 21:12 \| IP Logged

read the posts in this section about drinking the cpa kool-aid and working at a small cpa firm.

Heisenberg
Contributor

Joined: 16 Apr 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 94

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 21:26 \| IP Logged

If you want to become a licensed CPA, you most likely will have to leave your job at costco to obtain the work experience requirement (Either 1 or 2 years depending on your state). Unless your supervisor at costco is an active CPA, you will have to get another job to obtain the required work experience part of the CPA license. You will not be able to do taxes on the side if you are not a licensed CPA. I do not mean to sound negative, but there is a strong chance (actually 100% chance) that the job you get to obtain your 1 or 2 years of required experience will be much, much more stressful than anything you are doing now.

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