7 minute read
professional perspectives
Alicia Koeser, CPA
What influenced your decision to become a CPA?
An amazing business teacher in my freshman year of high school really inspired and supported me. I decided I wanted to work in public accounting because of the client relationships and diversity of the work I was doing as an intern. I knew I would hit my promotion limit quickly without getting my CPA, so that became my goal.
How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?
I finished my Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2019 and earned my Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) degree in 2020. The MPA program allowed me to take classes specific to accounting with an emphasis on taxation.
What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about CPAs?
One assumption is that accountants are introverts and not creative. I consider myself and the people I work with to be outgoing and creative. We create through problem-solving rather than physically creating something. Another assumption is that accountants love math. I would say my job is less about “crunching numbers” than about strategic planning and being analytical.
What’s the best part about your current job?
The flexibility. I like that I am not tied to a strict 8 to 5 time schedule. If I have an appointment during the day, I can take time off and make up for it by working at night. I am also more productive at night, so it’s nice that I can split up my day.
How did you find your first job out of college?
Recruiting events on campus. I also did my research on different public accounting firms, and Wipfli was one of my top three choices for an internship.
What was your first year like?
My first year full time involved a lot of learning. I was exposed to a lot of different types of projects and areas of public accounting. I worked on audits and tax returns, but I ultimately knew I was going to choose tax. It was beneficial to be able to gather resources and establish connections that would help me throughout my career.
What surprised you the most when you started your job?
The fact that I didn’t have to report to someone 24/7. I felt like an adult in charge of my own work. However, I still had someone to help me and ask questions of if I needed it.
What’s the best thing about being a CPA?
The opportunities. The moment I updated my LinkedIn profile with my certification, I was receiving offers left and right. I also noticed that clients took me more seriously once I added CPA after my name.
What do you like most about the organization you work for?
I like that we are one large team. I work with more than just the people in our local office. Wipfli has offices all over the country, and it’s nice to be able to talk to people in other states. It’s helpful to have access to people with many different areas of knowledge.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to continue learning as much as I can and share my knowledge through training interns and new staff. My ultimate goal would be to work in my preferred industry with a team that shares my interests.
Michael C. Nelson, CPA
Job title: Advisory Analyst l Employer: Deloitte & Touche LLP
What influenced your decision to become a CPA?
A number of my family friends who are CPAs, along with my introductory accounting professors in college, influenced my decision to become a CPA. These people represented the profession well and explained the many benefits of a career in accounting.
How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?
I completed the 150 hours in college (Vanderbilt University) and graduate school (University of Texas at Austin). I knocked out a lot of the relevant coursework during undergrad and fully met the requirement after finishing a master’s degree in accounting.
What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about public accounting?
In my experience, I know a lot of classmates and friends who avoided public accounting because they thought busy seasons would be too much to handle. Although there are some long nights, it is possible to find a good work-life balance in any season.
What’s the best part about your current job?
The best part of my job is its challenging nature. My job forces me to make bold decisions, try new things and deal with complex issues. These are skills that will serve me well in any area of my life.
How did you find your first job out of college?
I was very fortunate to have a group of mentors and friends who passed along my application materials to my employer. I applied for a number of audit positions at first but focused on my current job in advisory after a few rounds of interviews.
What was your first year like?
My first year in public accounting was interesting and a little unpredictable. I completed all of my onboarding and training in a virtual setting due to the pandemic. Luckily, I got to meet some of my work colleagues in person a few months after I started.
What surprised you the most when you started your job?
The biggest surprise to me when I started my job was learning about the enormous range of services that public accounting firms provide to their clients. There is a lot more to public accounting firms than just audit and tax.
What’s the best thing about being a CPA?
I felt a great sense of accomplishment after receiving my CPA license. My CPA journey involved years of coursework, studying and work experience. I think every CPA feels a healthy sense of pride after all their hard work finally pays off.
What do you like most about the organization you work for?
I like my coworkers the most at Deloitte — they are a lot of fun and help me get better every day.
What are your goals for the future?
I am not sure. I may choose to stay in public accounting for a while, switch to an accounting/ finance role in industry or pursue another field like law or education. Whatever I decide my goals for the future will be, I know my CPA license will help me achieve them.
Alex Van Ess, CPA
Job title: Senior Tax Accountant l Employer: Ernst & Young (EY)
What influenced your decision to become a CPA?
I wanted to pursue a career in accounting and thought getting licensed would help open a lot of doors for me. My mom, who is also a CPA and WICPA member, was a great mentor and helped motivate me to study and crush the exams.
How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?
I took larger credit loads, but I also included some fun classes like flag football and bowling. I also studied abroad in my junior year. My AP credits also helped, and testing out of classes allowed me to take additional classes.
What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about public accounting?
Accountants are boring and nerdy. We do “nerd out” when things tie out or we generate a big refund, but we also like to have fun. I also like to motivate the team with some good dad jokes!
What’s the best part about your current job?
The mentoring and coaching that I give on a weekly basis to the younger team members. I also like seeing the value-add when we save clients money and generate revenue for the firm.
How did you find your first job out of college?
I attended a career fair and was able to secure an internship in audit at EY in Minneapolis.
What was your first year like?
It was challenging because I was studying for the CPA Exam and working. However, I was able to really get after it and learn a ton. I learned a lot of life skills in addition to the technical knowledge.
What surprised you the most when you started your job?
Every day is a test — and even though you do not get a letter grade, you are evaluated. I was surprised by the long hours, too, but also the flexibility once the skill of time management is addressed.
What’s the best thing about being a CPA?
Being able to share the connection and bond with my mom, who is also a CPA. I also like the fact that I was able to accomplish a difficult goal that some people give up on.
What do you like most about the organization you work for?
The opportunities to move around and the opportunity to connect with a wide range of people across various states.
What are your goals for the future?
My goal is to continue to find opportunities to grow and challenge myself to seek out ways to help others with my skill set, whether they are working through a technical issue or facing a heartbreaking challenge. I want to be there as someone they can trust.
