ISM- INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Student Name:
Printed Name of Person
Interviewed:
Role of Individual:

Place of Business:

Ali Ahmed

6th

Bryan Clark
___Mentor ___Other Professional #1
BC Consulting, LLP

Phone Number:

955 Gemini St.

Houston, TX 77058
713-226-7800

Date of Interview:

4/10/14

Business Address:

Period:

_x__Other Professional #2

Type of Interview: ___ In Person ___ Telephone* _x__Email*

1. For someone working in your field, please describe the fantasies versus realities of the job.
Being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) isn't as glamourous as people make it out to be. It involves
long hours and detailed computer work. Further, the tax laws change frequently. This forces a CPA to
attend continuing professional education to stay abreast of the rules.
2. What is your current educational level? What continuing education and training are required?
I have a BBA with a major in Accounting. I was required to pass the CPA exam in order to obtain my
license. At the outset of my career, I attended a significant amount of training via my employer.
However, as I gained experience, I did not need to attend as much training. Rather, I spend about 40
hours in training each year. This is the amount required by the State of Texas to maintain my CPA
license.
3. Please describe the typical day to day activities of someone working in your field.
A tax CPA typically prepares tax returns each day. Depending on the complexity of the return, it may take
more or less than a day to complete the return. In addition, meeting or talking with clients is a part of the
job, although this is not a daily occurrence.
4. How secure are you in your current position? What do you think is the future of your field?
I own my own CPA practice so I am very secure in my position. The CPA profession is a very stable one
and has very little risk that it will be replaced. I believe there will always be a need for CPAs.
5. What is a typical (average or lowest to highest) salary of someone working in your field?
An entry level position in a CPA firm typically pays $45,000 - $55,000. However, someone who has
worked at a CPA firm for 10 years might earn $150,000.
6. What potential for growth is there in your field?
The CPA field offers a high level of upward mobility. This is because many individuals decide to leave
public practice after only a few years. This creates job openings at more senior levels.

Revised Fall 2013

7. What is the typical timeline of progression for your career?

In a CPA firm, a new hire works as a "staff" for 2-3 years. Then, assuming the person is qualified and
does a good job, he/she is promoted to "senior." After working as a "senior" for 2-3 years, the person is
promoted to "manager," again provided the quality/ability requirement is met. After working as a
"manager" for 6-10 years, the person is then promoted to "partner" of the CPA firm. The "partner" is an
owner of the CPA firm.
8. How interrelated are your personal life and your career?
My personal life and career are very interrelated, especially since I started my own accounting firm about
12 years ago. Because I own and operate the business, I am able to set my own schedule and spend more
time with my family than I did when I was an employee of another firm. It should be noted, however,
that I would not have been able to start my own business at the outset of my CPA career. I first needed to
become a CPA, which took about 2 years, and needed to spend several years gaining experience so that I
could accurately prepare tax returns.
9. What are the pros and cons of your career?
Pros: steady, stable work; good pay; intellectually challenging work.
Cons: long hours; demanding clients; stress associated with risk of making an error.
10. What habits would you encourage someone to cultivate to increase chances of success in your field?
Use your college as a true learning experience. Don't just go through the motions of attending class just
to make a good grade. Rather, attend class with a true desire to learn the subject. Also, once you start as
a staff at a CPA firm, identify the best employees and try to work with them on projects. Use that time to
ask questions. Lastly, spend time outside of work reading about CPA issues. There are many publications
that address hot topics that will be useful to you and your clients. In short, a person with intellectual
curiosity will do better in a CPA firm than those without it.

Revised Fall 2013