Sherri shares with us her all-too-common story of losing credit for three parts previously earned due to the 18-Month Rolling Window. We think her perserverance and hopeful attitude will serve as an inspiration to all! Sherri has passed BEC, FAR, and AUD, and now embarks on the REG Exam preparation.
Hey there fellow CPA hopefuls. I am writing my post this week from the rather cramped confines of a United Airlines flight. I’m on my way home from my second and last work trip for a while. I’ve been to the San Francisco financial district, Sacramento, Pleasanton and Oakland, in an effort to meet people and resolve issues that are more easily handled face to face. I expect the trip to pay future dividends too given that its MUCH harder, in general, to ignore someone via email or phone once you’ve met in person. At least…. that’s what I’m hoping for anyway.
I’ve found during my career that some Operations folks, who generate the revenue that hopefully adds to the bottom line, don’t always view accounting and the associated revenue recognition requirements, in the most positive light. I’ve talked until I am blue in the face about the difference between cash and accrual accounting on many occasions. Since accountants don’t typically add to project profitability, project managers often discount the importance of the CPA and internal controls. Hopefully I’ve made some inroads. If not, I had some really amazing food this week anyway. Ha ha.
I went down to the Wharf for seafood, to China Town for Mushroom Chicken, to North Beach for Italian and to a place that claimed to be the oldest restaurant in San Francisco. I walked or took rapid transit almost everywhere I went. I was amazed at the number of people out on the rainy streets of the financial district. It rained almost the entire week! In Texas, where everyone drives at least one vehicle, you rarely see people walking in the rain for any distance longer than it takes to run to a car from an office building. In San Fran, there are hundreds of people out walking to work, shopping and even getting a daily dose of exercise, by running in torrential downpours.
As for me, I’m a bit of a priss and tend to pack for business trips accordingly. My four inch heels and pencil skirts were quickly replaced with black rubber-soled granny shoes and a series of bad hair days. I’ve discovered that it is truly a fete of physical endurance to hold an umbrella, carry an oversized purse and lug around a computer bag, while running ten blocks to catch mass transit in the rain, without showing up to a business meeting looking like a drowned, wet poodle. I’ve got the apparel drill down now though if I ever return to San Francisco. Maybe next year!
One of the highlights of my trip was getting to meet Alicia and Sara and some of the other dedicated team members at Roger CPA Review on my last day in the city. As you can see, I even got to meet Roger himself! He is as energetic and insightful in person as he is in his videos. (Thanks so much guys for the warm welcome, gift bag and the chocolate! I’m eating my fifth piece as I write this! 🙂 )
This weekend will be my last weekend of freedom for a while. I’m holding myself accountable to get my study plan set by next week. Soon, I’ll actually start blogging about my CPA studies, my thoughts on the Roger CPA Review course and, of course, a few study tips and tricks that work for me along the way. I’m approaching this last test with optimism and cautious confidence that I will be celebrating a passing grade and an end to this long journey, in a few short months. I’ve got the support of family and friends, the resource of Roger’s exceptional CPA study materials and the determination to overcome the less than 50% odds of passing the REG exam.
Guess what AICPA? I like MY odds better.
Study hard everyone. Develop a plan and work to stick to it. Find ways to keep yourself accountable.
See you next week!