Guilt

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Guilt
3763
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 10:20am

Why does the media portray working moms, always, as having guilt?


http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/family/07/30/hm.mommy.guilt/index.html


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 7:46pm

no,no i don't which is why i asked........but i'm curious since you bring up the accountancy exam not being a necessary component for accountants. what,iyo,separates the cpa from an office accountant without that certified title? tia.




Edited 8/6/2007 7:49 pm ET by egd3blessed

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 7:51pm
thanks for clearing that up. ;)

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-10-2007
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 7:53pm

What you can do without becoming a CPA

You most certainly can perform accounting functions without being certified, and there are many successful people in the profession who have taken this route. Non-certified accountants are not required to fulfill the five-year requirement; they aren't even required to have a degree in accounting (although, obviously, it helps). A traditional four-year degree is all that is necessary to be a non-certified accountant. The actual functions of an accountant are not, as the saying goes, rocket science, and complicated mathematics is rarely needed; thus, advanced certification might not seem necessary. Internal auditors, management accountants and tax personnel may all practice their professions without the CPA or any other professional designation.

Furthermore, many accounting professionals (CPAs and otherwise) contend that the CPA exam is nothing more than a rite of passage, an intense exercise in memorization that adds little actual value to your technical development as an accountant. These people generally feel that all of the information you crammed into your brain disappears once the exam is over. Many of them even said that this "brain drain" should happen since much of this information will never be seen in your actual practice; if you ever do need it, you can quickly look it up.

What you can't do

However, not being certified has a few significant drawbacks. Foremost among these is that it can be career limiting -- most public accounting firms will not promote an auditor above a certain level (senior associate; these levels are discussed later in this guide) without at least passing the exam. There are a couple of important reasons for this. First, only a CPA may sign an audit opinion. This signature is crucial, as it signifies that the auditor believes that the financial statements reasonably represent the company's actual financial position, giving the users of these statements more confidence that they can rely on them to make their decisions. Thus, an auditor without a CPA cannot perform one of the most important activities of the profession.

Furthermore, a failure to pursue certification is often interpreted by public accounting firms as a lack of commitment to the profession, and few firms are willing to invest resources in someone who might leave the profession altogether (especially when there are so many others out there who are willing to pursue certification).

Another downside of not having a CPA is that you would miss out on the credibility that the certification carries. As with other advanced professional certifications, the CPA tends to give the stamp of "expert" in the eyes of the public and thus more perceived confidence in the accountant's abilities. Such credibility could mean the difference to a recruiter who's deciding between two otherwise comparable job candidates. One final, ever-so-important downside of not having a CPA: you'll make less money. According to the staffing agency Robert Half International, the CPA can, on average, increase a candidate's base salary by 10 percent, with specialized fields (such as forensic accounting) commanding even higher salaries.

Now, this is not meant to scare you into pursuing the CPA, nor is it meant to suggest that you are a slacker if you don't pursue the CPA. You can still have a successful career in accounting without it. For example, public tax accountants generally do not sign off on audit opinions, and tax returns generally do not require the signature of a CPA. However, pursuing the CPA opens you up to many more opportunities and can only help a career in accounting. Thus, plans for certification should be seriously considered by anyone looking to break into the accounting field.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2007
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 7:56pm
What's an office accountant? A CPA is one of several licenses that a person with a degree in accounting may choose to get if the time and expense is worth it. (Many times, it's not.) Anyone with a degree in accounting is an accountant.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:01pm
I didnt say you did said always. My comments were based on what she said. It is all about context.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:02pm
So things that you dont experience are odd? Hmmmm.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:03pm
Well since I have already answered this question in another post I wasnt sure.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:04pm
It is quite clear she made the statement that what I do to my home MOST people hire general contractors. I am asking her to tell me where she got that information.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:06pm
I guess so. Now it has changed that if you own a home and sell it for more than you paid for it you are a WAHM. I dont get it either.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: peteynjoeysmom
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 8:09pm
I have been more than clear time and time again that I dont flip houses. The industry of flipping houses is much faster than we are. The budget is limited and the time frame is very quick. We dont do that. I wish I had enough spare time to fill with busy work but I dont. Well the next 2 weeks I do. My children are in school all day and I dont start work for 2 weeks. I have loads of spare time.

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