NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

No Deal - Back to the Drawing Board

Hello Everyone,

Last month, I thought I sealed the deal with my exams, but I found out that I had no deal. The gods of the CPA world did not sign my release papers, and have therefore increased my length of time. I need 4 approvals (4 exam parts) to be set free. This time they took back one of their prior approvals (Reg) - (Lost credit).

Honestly, I am not a happy guy right now, but I have been through a lot lately, and in memory of my dear mum who passed on in December 2011, and has been supporting me through my exam process. I am going right back to the drawing board and have ordered all new 2012 materials. I loose credit again in November, so I am back to the basics from Next Month.

For those out there, who think it's the end of the world, just keep your head up. I have been through it all. This is very possible, it just needs time which is my greatest enemy, but I am ready to give it all the time it needs this time, so I can conquer my struggles.

Keep hope alive, you can all do this.

Cheers

EEA

Close but no cigar

Hey everyone. Hope this past weeks score release was a cause for celebration for many of you! Unfortunately I missed the mark on AUD by a measly two points. Womp womp.

A coworker of mine told me you used to get a 69 or 75 and no score in between. I almost wish it was still like that because failing by one or two points is such a bummer! Has anyone else had a similar experience? On the bright side you know you will probably do fine with a little more studying. To be honest busy season does not make for easy studying and I didn't quite meet my goals. Feel free to comment if you have tips on managing long hours and studying.

Most CPAs I have spoken to failed at least one part of the exam. I think it's important to keep your head up and keep moving. I have heard that it is very easy to let one small set back become an excuse to give up all together or put the exam on the back burner. Don't do this! Think of it as a momentary defeat and let that push you to beat the exam in the next round.

Anyway I know it's hard to be that positive all the time. It's totally normal to feel a little disappointed, but give yourself a day or two and then knock it off! Call up your parents or significant other or other source of support and let them tell you how awesome you are and how you will surely succeed next time (thanks mom & dad!)

Until next time,
Alyssa

Its the busy season

Hey Jersey,

Happy Presidents' Day! Shout out to all us accountants who don't have the day off. So were half way through busy season (almost), but the second half is going to be the tough one. I'll be busy bouncing back and forth between Audits and tax returns so the key objective is to stay focused and organized. Coincidentally, we recently had an in house seminar at our firm about time management and productivity. The speaker's main point was when you pick something up, finish it before you put it down or at least get to a sensible stopping point if need be. This is essential especially when you’re doing a certain section of an audit or a tax return. Of course missing information is the number one reason that prevents us from finishing a job.  So a good point that was made was to do the sections or returns that have complete information first. This way you don't have to go back and try and figure out where you left off. 

Also I was scrolling through the app store on my iPad and found a few that can help for studying. Wiley has some study apps on each section of the test that's pretty useful. Around $30 per section, it’s a good way to jump-start your studying. 

Good luck all. Until next time

 

And you are sitting for the CPA exam - exactly why???

Because firms are still hiring.  See the good news below.

 

http://www.fins.com/Finance/Articles/SBB0001424052970204301404577171413207752408/Accounting-Firms-Are-Hiring

An update to share

I have some personal news to share. I left public accounting for a corporate accounting position. This new position was an opportunity that I could not pass up.

With this new position, I will use my new found time to my advantage to study for the CPA exam, which, honestly, was put on hold because of the long and rough hours I have been working in tax season. Which brings me to a question: What is your work schedule for tax season? I would love to hear your answers. Shoot me an email, michael.delorenzo@mikedelo.com.

 

MRD

Career Wisdom in 6 Words

When Smith magazine and consulting firm Mercer posed the question last year, "sum up in six words what you've learned so far about how to succeed in business", they received thousands of entries (see link below.)  This started me thinking (and that isn't always a good thing), about how individuals, who have passed some parts of the exam, could sum up in six words what they have learned so far.  Thoughts??

 

 http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/02/09/career-wisdom-in-just-6-words/?iid=SF_F_River

There's an App for That

Hey everyone! I'm very happy to say that I passed BEC with an 85!!!

I took AUD last Friday and I'm feeling satisfied with my performance. As with BEC I am not going to get my hopes up or worry and when I get the score I'll move forward. No sense dwelling on something you can no longer change.

I just had a "thank goodness there's an app for that" moment when I found the type pad app (the site that hosts the blog). I am in Alabama and Denver for the next four weeks for a client and after staring at my computer for the past 10 or so hours there is no way I am pulling it back out to post. It did get me thinking, however, about all the great apps out there that make studying on the go possible. All the name brand study guides have them, and there are free tools as well. I recommend searching your smart phones app store if you haven't already done so.

As for me I am done studying for a few weeks. FAR is not until May so for now I will be focusing on work. I'll keep posting with tips as I discover them and I'll make sure to post my audit scores. Who am I kidding anyway, the next two weeks will fly and I'll be studying for FAR before I can blink.

Happy studies!
Alyssa

One down, three to go.

January is over!!!!  Which means we have two and a half more months to go until the end of my first tax season.

I must say, tax season has brought my studying to almost a full stop.  What is everyone doing to keep up with their studies!?  It has really become tough to study, work and keep a some-what healthy lifestyle.

Has anyone read January’s Accounting Today article titled, What's Up With Your Docs?  It talks about working in a paperless environment.  I lead the way to a paperless work place at my last employer.  It caught on rather quickly.  We kept a shared drive with the typical directory tree structure.  The firm I am with now, went paperless a year before my arrival.  We utilize CCH Document in addition to the shared drive storage.  I find Document to be very unreliable.  After months of pushing Document, I have went back to the shared drive.  It is dependable.  A few times I have searched for a PDF that was uploaded (or scanned) into Document, and came up empty.  (and I know, for a fact, it was sent to Document)

I've tried to go paperless at home a few years ago.  A few months into it, my hard drive crashed before I was able to implement a back up schedule, resulting with me reverting back to the old fashion way of keep personal records.  To be honest, I have thought about cutting back on the amount of papers I keep.  I have always kept receipts for all credit card purchases and every paycheck stub.  But I find it tough to answer the question WHY?!  Most of the information, if needed, can be downloaded from the internet. 

Is your office paperless?  How do you keep your personal finances?

MRD