It all began with Accounting 101. Or was it really 221? Accounting generally comes into a CPA’s life during the early years of college. Debits and credits. Assets and liabilities. Cash flow statements and footnotes. Consolidations. Cost accounting. Advanced accounting. All were buzz words of the pursuit of my accounting degree. The graduation finally came, not summa cum laude, but praise the Lordie.
The next step became the landing of a job that started not only my career, but the initiation of something that permeates our being – cash flow! It did not hurt to make a modest investment in a set of threads that resembled impressive business attire. Sitting in those formal meetings with a “real” CPA was a memorable experience. Now many years later I have sat on the other side (potential employer) many times and fully appreciate the trips I made to select firms in Columbia to apply for my first job at a CPA firm. Thank you Derrick, Stubbs & Stith for the opportunity to enter into this labor of love.
Being the new kid on the block is rather humbling. Taking the CPA exam is stressful, but not near as intimidating as getting the grades and your boss wanting to hear the results. When we passed two of the four parts, does the managing partner see this as the glass half full or half empty? A word to those in this position – get it done!
So now I’m a CPA. But somehow I still put on my slacks one foot at a time. There are still 10 numbers on my adding machine, my calculator or my BlackBerry. IRS auditors are a lot of fun. Government auditors are even a greater labor of love. And then we love the Peer Review Team that gets to look under the covers for all too long. Tax season or busy season, call it as you may, is always a labor that I love to put behind me.
2010 here we come, an army of CPAs, looking to place all debits and credits in their place. May refunds be many and balances due be minimal. January 31, March 15 and April 15 get ready, because here we here, armed and ready for our labor of love. Each number in its place and a place for each number.
Don’t you love it?
| Blogger: Charles ‘Eddie’ Brown, CPA |
