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Last Chance to Apply for Financial
Assistance from MAF
The Michigan Accountancy Foundation (MAF) wants to help you fund your
fifth/graduate year to assist you in becoming a licensed Michigan CPA – but
you need to act now! You have until January 15 to apply for the MAF
scholarship. The MAF has decided to bring you this scholarship opportunity
to fulfill its mission of excellence in the public accounting profession by
supporting accounting education. You could be the next recipient of the MAF
scholarship – visit the MACPA web site for
criteria and an application.
Contact Michelle Mohan at 248.267.3700 for more information.
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CPA Beat: Stay
Apprised of Changes in CPA Profession
New Laws Beef Up Integrity of the CPA, Protect Public
Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a package of legislation on December
19 that means new changes for CPAs, and an even more improved outlook on the
title of “CPA.” Michigan CPAs and business leaders collaborated on this
legislative effort that will allow CPAs and individuals employed by CPAs to
disclose protected information in instances of federal, state or local law
violations; requires CPA firm enrollment in peer review to enhance the
quality of accounting, auditing and attest services; and increases
enforcement of unlicensed activity or “copycat CPAs.” For more details on
these new laws, including additional provisions impacting the CPA profession
and the public, visit MACPA’s
online advocacy section.
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How Much Will I Make? Detailed Information Regarding Accounting Positions
You’re currently studying to be an accountant or CPA, and will be graduating
soon enough. Now’s the time to start thinking about the specific career path
you’d like to head down – so make sure you’re equipped with everything you
need to know to make an educated decision! The
AICPA web site provides
detailed salary information for various positions in the accounting field,
as well as for several different experience levels. You can find out what
you’ll be making as an entry-level employee in various accounting positions
as well as see how your salary will grow once as you gain experience.
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Why Get Your CPA Certification? It Will Pay
Students studying to be accountants – why not go all the way and get your
CPA licensure? There are several reasons to go on to obtain this highly
regarded certification. First of all, CPAs often have higher salaries than
their non-CPA counterparts. According to
Start Here Go Places, having a CPA
credential gives you instant credibility – you’re seen as THE trusted
advisor. A CPA credential will also open doors for you and give you more
salary-negotiation power. So why not take the CPA Exam? As you can see, it
will pay!
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Build Your Tax Skills and Resume While Helping the Less Fortunate!
The MACPA, in conjunction with its
Communications Task Force, is once again
hosting a tax assistance site at
Focus:HOPE in Detroit for the
Accounting
Aid Society’s Tax Assistance Program. On either Saturday, February 11 or 18
from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – or both days! – you can volunteer for this
event and share your expertise with low income individuals and families who
can’t afford the valuable advice of an accountant by completing their tax
returns. Volunteers must attend a
training session that explains the
software used, typical client situations and tax updates. Reach out to those
in need – share your financial expertise by
volunteering for this program.
For students who aren’t comfortable filling out returns, you can volunteer
as either a screener (check to make sure each client has the appropriate
paper work and identification; students must still attend
training to be a
screener) or as an observer (learn from a CPA at the event, as he or she
completes tax returns). Contact Kristen Benvenuti for more information or to
sign up.
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Is the MACPA Meeting
Your Needs? Let Us Know
The MACPA wants to ensure we’re offering you valuable benefits, services and
tools to provide you with insights to your future profession. The resources
we provide are all geared toward increasing your knowledge about CPA
careers, and making your journey to become a CPA easier. So, if you need
different or improved resources, let us know! We’re here to help you, so
fill out this
survey to let us know what more we can do for you.
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Resume Writing: Is Your Resume Up to the Challenge?
As the first thing an interviewer sees about you, your resume has a unique
challenge. It has to make you stand out against the stack of other
candidates’ resumes sitting on the interviewer’s desk. Is your resume up to
this challenge? If not, follow some of these tips from
CollegeBoard.com to
make sure your resume isn’t overlooked:
- focus on relevant information;
- be ready to write more than one resume – a resume should be targeted to
the specific position you’re applying to;
- include the “four key elements:” volunteerism, association memberships,
computer proficiency and other languages; and
- use action words.
Read several more ideas to help get your resume in shape – visit
CollegeBoard.com.
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Have a Question Relating to Your Future Profession? Ask a CPA!
The MACPA invites you to submit any questions you may have regarding your
future career, the CPA exam, what your potential job will be like – anything
you want to know about that relates to your future profession as a CPA or
accounting professional. The questions will be answered by MACPA members and
published in an upcoming issue of Student E-News. If you’d like to submit a
question, please e-mail it to Kristen Benvenuti. Look out for future issues
of Student E-News to get the answers to the questions you’ve always wanted
to ask!
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Advice from Professional
Leslie A. Murphy, CPA and Chair of the AICPA Board of Directors
Group managing partner at Plante & Moran
Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Accounting from University of
Michigan
32+ years in the profession
Leslie Murphy, now AICPA chair of the board and a group managing partner at
Plante & Moran, got her start as a math major at the University of Michigan.
After doing some research and talking with a counselor who suggested Murphy
consider accounting, she switched gears and majored in accounting.
“I enjoyed my accounting and business classes from the first course and I
decided to commit to accounting as a career,” Murphy said.
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Murphy on the CPA Exam
Murphy recommends that students complete the CPA examination as soon as they
possibly can. She notes that Michigan students have an advantage as
candidates are able to take the CPA Exam as soon as they complete 120 hours
of formal education and the requisite accounting classes. “This makes it
possible for them to study for the exam (possibly with the help of a CPA
exam review class often offered on campus) and potentially complete the exam
while still in school,” she added. “This also allows the preparation for
this rigorous exam to be done with the support of fellow students and to
enjoy the benefits associated with group study. Further, this means that
staff are able to focus on work after they graduate, without the added
pressure that comes with studying and completing the exam. Studies have
confirmed, time and time again, that the closer candidates are to their
educational experience, the more likely they are to pass the examination.”
Murphy on Licensure
“I would definitely recommend that students pursue the CPA certification.
The credential has been shown to have significant value in the marketplace
and will give any candidate a valuable asset that will bring value
throughout their career.” |
A final note from Murphy: “The profession is challenging and rewarding. It
provides significant flexibility to those who work in the field, and
provides multiple career path opportunities for each of the members. The
pace of change is very significant, but our core values of competence,
integrity and objectivity remain constant. Make certain you have a passion
for what you do and the organization where you work and have some fun along
the way!”
*View additional articles in the Advice from Professionals series posted on
the
MACPA web site.
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