I hate to stereotype, but anytime I meet someone who is a CPA, they seem to think they are head and shoulders above me. I know I’m not a grand master at a Big 4, but I’m far from a slouch on a couch. I just don’t understand the arrogance and ego. I’ve had no trouble associating and networking with BSD BB MDs. But at similar networking events, Big 4 Partners barely give you the time of day. Anyone else have similar experiences with CPAs? I mean, I’ve met a select few whom are pleasant to associate with. Not too long ago some 22 year old female (whom was not hot but thought she was) just got an offer from a Big 4 and trumped around like she was a BSV. Big 4 offers are impressive yes, but don’t put yourself as head and shoulders above everyone else. Lastly, almost ever CPA I meet thinks CPA>CFA. Recently an Audit Partner was slamming the MBA right to my face (either too dumb or too arrogant to care that I had b school on my name tag). I countered a few of his points and then basically left to go drink with more positive people. Had I had a few more in me, I would have probably told him to get back to his office and count his client’s money. At least in finance we are the gate keepers to asset allocation decisions (whether portfolio or corporate decisions). In audit they check other people’s work, wooptiedoo.
Very few CPAs I know have an ounce of personality but, I do know a couple pretty wild ones as well. If you’re a CFA then CFA>CPA if you’re a CPA then CPA>CFA. If you’re both then you’re a nerd. BSV, nice!
CPA = Back office. Nuff said.
bean counters.
they don’t know any better
Can you also get a CPA? Then they have to be nice to you.
BSV, bhahahahahaahaha. There are some great ones out there (the ones that use the CPA to strengthen doing other things, the ones that do just tax seem to think they’re deuces smell like mcdonalds to contestants on biggest loser.
What about software developers? Any luck socializing with them?
Anyone that is familiar with each exam process realizes that the CFA is much more difficult. However, the CPA requirements for even sitting for the exam are more stringent. CPA educational requirements to apply for exam: - 150 semester hours - Baccalaureate degree - Minimum of 30 upper division semester hours in accounting above the principles level and - 24 upper division hours of related business courses plus 3 hours ethics course - Only accounting subjects tested on the CPA exam are counted, e.g. International Accounting does not count as required accounting hours You basically have to have an undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting to be able to even apply for the exam. I wish the CFA would do the same. I know this would be a little more difficult to implement internationally but its doable. This would prevent people from taking the exams who simply wanted to use them as an inroad for a career change.
I have a CPA and am on the CFA track now. So I guess I am a nerd. I actually find the CFA material a bit easier because there is less memorization involved and I hate memorizing stuff like tax codes. Albeit, I my behaviour does not bely my credentials or accounting background. Quite the contrary, actually.
comp_sci_kid Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What about software developers? Any luck > socializing with them? I’ve met 1 that comes to mind and the individual was pleasant and polite. I belong to several organizations and networking groups where I come into contact with all these different people. I hate to stereotype, but it’s always the CPAs that are unpleasant. I’d never think of going to a networking event just to trump how great I am and how much everyone else sucks at life. The negativity they bring is just painful to listen to. A few exceptions exist, but for the most part, a CPA is not on my short list of people whom are fun to party with.
QuantJock_MBA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > comp_sci_kid Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > What about software developers? Any luck > > socializing with them? > > > I’ve met 1 that comes to mind and the individual > was pleasant and polite. > > I belong to several organizations and networking > groups where I come into contact with all these > different people. I hate to stereotype, but it’s > always the CPAs that are unpleasant. > > I’d never think of going to a networking event > just to trump how great I am and how much everyone > else sucks at life. The negativity they bring is > just painful to listen to. A few exceptions > exist, but for the most part, a CPA is not on my > short list of people whom are fun to party with. Dude, you should party with me. We ex big-4ers are nothing but closet AAs.
marcus phoenix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > QuantJock_MBA Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > comp_sci_kid Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > What about software developers? Any luck > > > socializing with them? > > > > > > I’ve met 1 that comes to mind and the > individual > > was pleasant and polite. > > > > I belong to several organizations and > networking > > groups where I come into contact with all these > > different people. I hate to stereotype, but > it’s > > always the CPAs that are unpleasant. > > > > I’d never think of going to a networking event > > just to trump how great I am and how much > everyone > > else sucks at life. The negativity they bring > is > > just painful to listen to. A few exceptions > > exist, but for the most part, a CPA is not on > my > > short list of people whom are fun to party > with. > > Dude, you should party with me. We ex big-4ers are > nothing but closet AAs. Solid. MPH will buck the trend and lead by example. Do you get what I’m saying though with the bold brash egos? Big 4 seem to act the worst. I swear, a few think that since they can balance the accounting equation they can walk on water.
Have them find out what a “recieveable” really is…on their FACE!
QuantJock_MBA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > marcus phoenix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > QuantJock_MBA Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > comp_sci_kid Wrote: > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > ----- > > > > What about software developers? Any luck > > > > socializing with them? > > > > > > > > > I’ve met 1 that comes to mind and the > > individual > > > was pleasant and polite. > > > > > > I belong to several organizations and > > networking > > > groups where I come into contact with all > these > > > different people. I hate to stereotype, but > > it’s > > > always the CPAs that are unpleasant. > > > > > > I’d never think of going to a networking > event > > > just to trump how great I am and how much > > everyone > > > else sucks at life. The negativity they > bring > > is > > > just painful to listen to. A few exceptions > > > exist, but for the most part, a CPA is not on > > my > > > short list of people whom are fun to party > > with. > > > > Dude, you should party with me. We ex big-4ers > are > > nothing but closet AAs. > > > Solid. MPH will buck the trend and lead by > example. Do you get what I’m saying though with > the bold brash egos? Big 4 seem to act the worst. > I swear, a few think that since they can balance > the accounting equation they can walk on water. I agree, though its usually managers and above who are douches with big egos, especially partners. The smart one with some social graces leave early.
i’m a cpa sitting for l3 of the cfa this june. cpa ain’t that hard - i know some real idiots that have passed. i work at a big 4 and there are plenty of people here that are laid back and fun to go drinking with.
smileygladhands Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > i’m a cpa sitting for l3 of the cfa this june. > > cpa ain’t that hard - i know some real idiots that > have passed. > > i work at a big 4 and there are plenty of people > here that are laid back and fun to go drinking > with. Stop being so fu%7# arrogant… JK DUDE!
CFA is definitely harder than CPA. The CPAs that say otherwise usually don’t have a clue as to what a CFA does, let alone entail. In one sense, CPA > CFA in that it guarantees you a job. You can get the CFA and have a good chance in being unemployed and the financial industry is tougher to break into. Also, the general population does not know what a CFA is, but they know what a CPA is. All things considered, if I could only pick one designation to have, it would be CFA because many finance jobs are not capped whereas CPAs are capped at 100k. C’mon, give CPAs a break. If you had to look at taxes all day and/or resort to bookkeeping… wouldn’t you be less pleasant?! This is coming from a CPA. 
CPAs get great insight into how businesses are run. but ask one to make a business or investment decision and you’ll usually get the deer in the headlights look, at least in my experience