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The CPA Exam Chronicles, Thursday October 13, 2011

2011-10-13T23:30:00Z

During the course of seven days, CPA exam candidates inch one step closer to fulfilling their dream of conquering and passing the CPA Exam. CPAnet's CPA Exam Club (www.cpaexamclub.com) is there to capture the daily successes and defeats of CPA Exam bloggers everywhere...welcome to The CPA Exam Chronicles the weekly recap of their journey.

This week we find mccsma coming to the realization she is actually understanding the concepts and is taking her time as a "Recovering CPA Exam Slacker". Kevin confesses studying while working is not as easy as he thought it would be, but is still on the plan to put in 180+ study hours per month. MissGina kicks off Week 1 of AUD study as well as helps an anonymous poster get their BEC WC writing up to speed. Christine encounters a case of deja vu as she walks out of REG feeling utterly defeated. This week's parting quote is from gotjessa "I'm studying the IRS audit and appeals process and I want to gouge my eyes out". Until next week, happy Studying!

Would you like to be part of the CPA Exam Chronicles? If so, join us over at CPA Exam Club, add the badge to your blog or start your own here and then contact CPAnet with your blog address.

CPA Exam Notes: Join the new @cpaexamclub group, latest upload FAR 2011 29 pages...

2011-10-13T21:21:43Z

CPA Exam Notes: Join the new @cpaexamclub group, latest upload FAR 2011 29 pages. http://www.cpaexamclub.com/group/cpaexamnotes #cpaexam

Groups - CPA Exam Club
www.cpaexamclub.com
This group is for the compiling and sharing of notes. All sections. You must be a member of CPA Exam Club and join this group to view the notes...

CPA Exam Update | 10/13/2011

2011-10-13T21:35:39Z

CPA EXAM UPDATE : HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING

NEWS
= Let’s Talk CPA Exam TONIGHT – Working, Studying and Keeping Your Sanity with guest Caleb Newquist of Going Concern
= CPA Exam Notes [New Group]
= Let's Talk CPA Exam 10/19 - Auditing with Phil Yaeger and Gary Bulmash of Yaeger CPA Review

REVIEW SPECIALS
= Yaeger CPA Review - Now & Then Protection Plan CODES - Yaeger 2012 Protection Guarantee
= New Discount – $25 Off Yaeger CPA Review CRAM, use code: cpanetcram

UPLOADS & VIDEOS
= FAR 2011 CPA Notes - uploaded | 29 pages
= Video: The Importance of Creating a Study Plan by Roger CPA Review

Happy Studying!
CPAnet

NEW CRAM DISCOUNT: New Discount – $25 Off Yaeger CPA Review CRAM, use code: cpan...

2011-10-15T18:49:48Z

NEW CRAM DISCOUNT: New Discount – $25 Off Yaeger CPA Review CRAM, use code: cpanetcram and if you are a Yaeger student, make sure you join our group! http://www.cpaexamclub.com/group/yaegerstudents

Yaeger Students - CPA Exam Club
www.cpaexamclub.com
JOIN HERE FOR THE YAEGER FREE COURSE GIVEAWAYS...one section will be given away every other week, now until September 9th!! Group for students using Yaeger CPA…

FAR Notes - cpaguy85 - CPAnet Forum: FAR

2011-10-15T21:31:03Z

Reshared post from

FAR Notes - cpaguy85 - CPAnet Forum: FAR

The CPA Players Present: Casablanca

2011-10-16T08:44:55Z

What if love and taxes played into the famous farewell scene from Casablanca? CPAs give their take on this volatile combination.

PICPA's "105 Seconds of Career Advice" from Kim Huggins

2011-10-16T08:48:34Z

Kim Huggins, president of K HR Solutions, offers interview advice for recent grads and young professionals.

Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum! What have CPA Fees Become? (15)

2011-08-20T16:12:33Z

FAR Notes - cpaguy85

2011-10-15T21:31:03Z

FAR Notes - cpaguy85

Thank you for pushing things forward Mr. Jobs...R.I.P.

2011-10-06T03:17:29Z

Thank you for pushing things forward Mr. Jobs...R.I.P.

Think Different
www.youtube.com
Think Different

Make your move to the cloudbut educate yourself first!

2011-09-12T20:14:00Z

The Cloud, the Cloud, the Cloud. It seems like every time you pick up a trade publication you are being told that transitioning to the cloud is a necessity.

Strengthen the CPA/attorney relationship

2011-09-14T16:33:00Z

Theres nothing better than a warm referral and most CPAs are always on the hunt for new sources.

BDO one of eight CPA firms named Working Mother's 100 Best

2011-09-15T17:28:00Z

BDO USA was named one of the 2011 Working Mother 100 Best Companies by Working Mother magazine.

Cross boundaries to become a better leader

2011-09-21T20:22:00Z

A recent Center for Creative Leadership survey reveals that 86 percent of senior executives believe its extremely important for them to be able to work across organizational boundaries.

Stop Being Micromanaged

2011-09-22T18:41:47Z

No one likes a boss who excessively scrutinizes work and constantly checks in. Not only is this micromanaging behavior annoying, it can stunt your professional growth. If you have a controlling boss, you don't have to suffer. By assuaging a micromanager's stress, you may be able to secure the autonomy you need to get your work done and advance your career.

What the Experts Say
Micromanagers abound in today's organizations but typically, it has nothing to do with performance. "It's more about your bosses' level of internal anxiety and need to control situations than anything about you," says Jenny Chatman, a professor of management at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley who researches and consults on organizational culture. The bad news is fighting back won't work. "If you rebel against it, you will just get more of it," says Jean-François Manzoni, a professor of management at INSEAD and co-author of The Set-Up-to-Fail Syndrome: How Good Managers Cause Great People to Fail. So you can't change the way your boss leads, but you can change the way you follow using the these tactics.

Evaluate the behavior
Manzoni cautions that all controlling bosses are not cut of the same cloth. On one end of the spectrum you have managers who have very high standards who like some degree of control. They may regularly send you back to rework something that doesn't measure up. Manzoni offers Steve Jobs as an example of this kind of boss. They pay a great deal of attention to detail and exercise some degree of control but they don't stifle those who work for them. In fact, you may be able to learn a great deal from them.

At the other end of the spectrum are people Manzoni describes as "pathological micromanagers who need to make it clear to themselves and others that they are in charge." These are the bosses that give you little to no autonomy, insist they be involved in every detail of your work, and are more concerned about specifics, such as font size, rather than the big picture. "Micromanagers are obsessed with control. You know you are working with one if he or she gets involved in a level of detail that is way below his or her pay grade," says Chatman.

Don't fight it
Both experts agree that it's counterproductive to rail against micromanagement. "If you push back in one way or another — passively or aggressively — your manager may conclude you can't be trusted and get more involved," says Manzoni. It may be tempting to complain but it is not advisable. "If I sense disdain, I'm going to be encouraged to show you that on my forehead it says 'boss' and on yours, it doesn't," says Manzoni. Instead, try to understand what is causing your boss's behavior. Is he under immense pressure? Is this his intuitive way of managing? Does the company culture encourage and reward this kind of behavior? By recognizing the underlying reasons, you can figure out how to respond.

Increase trust
According to Chatman, micromanagement is usually "based on a general view that the world's standards are not up to what they should be." You therefore need to make a conscious and honest effort to earn your manager's trust by succeeding in the dimensions that he cares about. "You absolutely, positively must deliver and deliver in a way that doesn't increase your boss's stress. In fact, identify things that reduce your boss's stress," says Manzoni. He suggests you say to your manager, "I see you're under unbelievable pressure, how can I help?"

Make upfront agreements
Another tactic is to talk to your boss — before a project starts — about how she will be involved. "Try to agree on standards and basic approach," says Manzoni. Explain what you think the ideal plan of action is and then ask for her input. "Be sure you understand upfront what the guiding principles are for the work — not just the tactical elements. These principles are what you should be discussing with your boss," says Chatman. For example, if you are working on an internal marketing campaign, be sure to talk about the message you want to send, not the font you should use. If the discussion becomes overly focused on detail, try to bring it back to the principles and approach you agreed on. Flattery can also work. Remind your boss that she is better off not getting involved in the minutiae because her time and effort are more valuable to the big picture.

Keep your boss in the loop
Remember that micromanagers are often motivated by anxiety. "They are nervous about anyone else being able to do things as well or in the way they would do them," says Chatman. You can often address that concern by keeping your manager informed of the project's progress. You can schedule regular check-ins that help her feel part of the process. Or you can send unprompted emails that share important information. If she has made it clear that she wants to know about detail, don't hesitate to get specific. While annoying now, it may save you the effort of redoing work later on. Most importantly, Manzoni says, if you have questions or need clarification, don't wait until the last minute. That will only amplify her worry.

Give feedback, only if appropriate
Telling a micromanager that you don't appreciate his controlling behavior may only trigger more of it. But some well-meaning managers may be open to hearing your input. "Try to catch your boss in a moment of openness," says Manzoni. He suggests using the time in a scheduled performance review. Then try something like, "Look, I like working with you but there is one thing that would make things better." You can also involve a trusted third party, such as an HR manager, who can help you get your point across.

Be careful though, if you have a manager who enjoys showing he has the power and you don't, this could backfire. If none of the above strategies work, ask yourself: Do I really want to work here? "If it's pathological, you should consider transferring to another part of the company or finding another job," says Manzoni.

Principles to Remember

Do:

Do everything you can to gain the micromanager's trust
Know what motivates and worries your boss and try to assuage her concerns
Provide regular and detailed updates so your boss is apprised of your progress

Don't:

Label anyone who exercises a degree of control as a micromanager
Defy the micromanager — that often triggers the behavior you are trying to avoid
Try to tell a boss that he is overly controlling unless you know he may be open to hearing it

Case Study #1: Keep the micromanager informed
Harry Barkley* worked as a fundraiser for an Austin-based non-profit for four and half years when Sandra came on as his boss. He was considered the office expert when it came to fundraising and his coworkers regularly turned to him for advice. While he expected some changes when Sandra took over, he did not anticipate she'd be such a micromanager. "She wanted to see everything I produced and approve it before I moved on to the next task, right down to the e-mail responses I sent to donors who had questions about what types of in-kind donations we took," he says. Sandra's second-guessing even extended to issues like the amount of postage needed for mailings and how to load stationary into the office printer. "No matter what task I was performing and what my level of experience was with it, I always felt as if every aspect of my work was considered 'suspect' until it had been verified," he says.

Harry attempted to keep Sandra's behavior at bay by keeping her fully informed. He sent her regular updates on projects: once a day for high priority items and once a week for ongoing initiatives. He kept the notes brief, listing the task he had just completed and his proposed next step, which was always something he could complete before he sent the next update so she could see clear progress. This approach eased Sandra's anxiety.

However, the constant updates added to Harry's workload. "The pile-on meant that my work suffered and that things weren't done as fast as Sandra was expecting them to be done," he says. He was concerned that Sandra wouldn't be open to hearing how her behavior was affecting his work so he talked with the HR manager, who agreed to host a meeting. As Harry suspected, Sandra was unreceptive. In fact, she defended her actions. Harry ultimately left the organization.

Case Study #2: Be attentive to her concerns
In 2006, Marcy Berke* worked for an insurance company with offices throughout the US. Her boss's boss was a woman named Barbara*, who was responsible for 10 agencies in her region. Barbara was passionate about efficiency. At one point, she asked all of the agents in her region to produce a time report, accounting for the number of minutes each of them spent on various tasks each day. "She was concerned with keeping her own production figures up, and burnishing her image with senior management," Marcy says.

Marcy recognized what mattered most to Barbara. "If I were heading up a project, I would make certain to email Barbara, early and often, with any questions I might have about what her expectations were, and give her an outline of what my team was working on and the anticipated date of completion," she says. If her team was having difficulty meeting the deadline for any reason, she would let Barbara know as soon as possible, providing both a reason and a revised end date. As much as possible, Marcy supplied the information Barbara needed without being asked first, so that Barbara could learn to trust her.

Since Marcy knew that Barbara was so preoccupied with time, she arrived at least 2 or 3 minutes early for meetings. When Marcy needed to set up a meeting with Barbara she would make the request by e-mail, clearly stating the reason for the meeting, listing the questions she would be asking and indicating how long the meeting would last.

Above all else, she tried to keep out of Barbara's line of sight. "As I didn't report to Barbara directly, I took pains to avoid becoming any more visible to her than I needed to be, and frequently used my direct supervisor to run interference," she says. This approach worked well for Marcy. She was able to thrive at the company for four years, despite Barbara's micromanagement, before she left to start her own firm.

*Not their real names

Sooooo... Does This Mean the CPA Exam is Off?

2011-03-18T16:07:10Z

by Adrienne Gonzalez, Jr. Deputy Accountant

First, I guess we should get the background. The U.S. CPA designation has long been one of prestige and international candidates have been heading here to take their exams for as long as they've been allowed to so they can go home and say on resumes that they have passed the U.S. CPA exams. Last year, the AICPA (American Institute of CPAs, for those of you not hip to accounting's countless acronyms) announced the exam would now be administered in a handful of countries including, oddly, Bahrain. Just recently, they committed to an August launch of international testing, with Bahrain still on the list.

In analyzing locations for international testing, one of the AICPA's largest concerns has always been security. The CPA exam is proprietary to the AICPA and since the exam is meant solely to protect the interests of the profession, it would be a risk to its authority were the exam to be compromised and somehow bootlegged by unsavory international characters out to make a buck (or ruble or yuan).

Wonder if this changes the situation?

The Telegraph:

The financial district of Manama was deserted, shops and malls were shuttered and Sunni and Shiite vigilantes armed with metal pipes and clubs were in the streets after hundreds of troops rolled into Bahrain from Saudi Arabia.

State television interrupted normal programming to announce the state of emergency in the strategic Gulf state, which is home to the US Fifth Fleet and major international banks and finance institutions.

"Due to the ongoing circumstances in Bahrain ... King Hamad has announced a state of national emergency as of Tuesday for three months," it said.

This doesn't look good.

Source: www.jrdeputyaccountant.com

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Yaeger CPA Review Discount Codes
Coupon codes & specials for Yaeger CPA Review materials
http://www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38169

Conquer CPA exam studying : This Way To CPA : AICPA

2011-03-18T16:31:27Z

photo via: www.cpaexamclub.com

Follow these tips to make every hour count

"Okay, let’s say you’re planning a hike. Let’s say it’s to the top of Mount Everest. You’re not going to wait to pack until the last minute, right? Of course not. In fact, you’re going to be putting yourself through some hardcore training long before you buckle your seatbelt on the flight to Nepal. You’re going to have a master plan. A strategy..."

In this article...
1. Know your strengths
2. Write out a plan
3. Use the free stuff
4. Get a lucky charm or something
5. Ask friends and family for some breathing room
6. Practice
7. Study some more

read entire article

Source: AICPA - This Way to CPA

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Yaeger CPA Review Discount Codes
Current coupon codes & specials for Yaeger CPA Review materials
http://www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38169

CPA Exam...News & Commentary

2011-03-22T15:11:42Z

photo via: www.cpaexamclub.com

OFFICIAL: AICPA Follow-Up on CPA Exam Score Releases
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/official-aicpa-followup-on-cpa

OFFICIAL: NASBA Follow-Up on CPA Exam Score Release Process
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/official-nasba-score-release

CPA Exam Score Release Process for NASBA States: Update via NASBA
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/cpa-exam-score-release-process

Official: Jan/Feb 2011 Window CPA Exam Score Release Update via @NASBA
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/official-janfeb-2011-window

Sooooo... Does This Mean the CPA Exam is Off?
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/sooooo-does-this-mean-the-cpa

Conquer CPA Exam Studying | via AICPA
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/conquer-cpa-exam-studying-via

CPA Exam Study Tips: Don't Burn Out!
http://www.cpaexamclub.com/profiles/blogs/cpa-exam-study-tips-dont-burn

PwC Interns Volunteer for Operation Hope at Chicago Schools

2011-03-19T02:21:27Z

"This month, PwC interns from the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Peoria offices volunteered their time to Operation Hope at two Chicago schools. PwC interns instructed financial education sessions from...

Tired of eating Ramen? AICPA scholarship programs can help!

2011-02-26T17:03:00Z

Current scholarships offered by the AICPA scholarship program:

AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop The AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop is an annual invitational program for minority accounting students who plan to pursue the CPA designation. The program aims to strengthen students’ professional skills and understanding of the limitless possibilities and benefits of earning the CPA credential. An all-expenses paid event, the AICPA covers the cost of student attendees’ transportation, hotel accommodation and meals. Program deadline: May 6, 2011

AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship The AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship program provides financial assistance to liberal arts and non-business degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and the CPA licensure. These awards are intended to encourage students with little or no previous accounting education to consider professional accounting careers. Program deadline: April 1, 2011

AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students The AICPA Minority Scholarship awards outstanding minority students to encourage their selection of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession. Funding is provided by the AICPA Foundation, with contributions from the New Jersey Society of CPAs and Robert Half International. For four decades, this program has provided over $14.6 million in scholarships to approximately 8,000 accounting scholars. Program deadline: April 1, 2011

AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship The AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship program provides financial assistance to outstanding accounting students who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in the CPA profession. Students must have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least 30 semester credit hours (or equivalent) with at least 6 semester hours (or equivalent) in accounting coursework. Program deadline: April 1, 2011

Learn more about scholarships at www.thiswaytocpa.com/aicpascholarships

CPAnet's shared items in Google Reader

The CPA Exam Chronicles, Thursday October 13, 2011

CPA Exam Notes: Join the new @cpaexamclub group, latest upload FAR 2011 29 pages...

CPA Exam Update | 10/13/2011

NEW CRAM DISCOUNT: New Discount – $25 Off Yaeger CPA Review CRAM, use code: cpan...

FAR Notes - cpaguy85 - CPAnet Forum: FAR

The CPA Players Present: Casablanca

PICPA's "105 Seconds of Career Advice" from Kim Huggins

Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum! What have CPA Fees Become? (15)

FAR Notes - cpaguy85

Thank you for pushing things forward Mr. Jobs...R.I.P.

Make your move to the cloud but educate yourself first!

Strengthen the CPA/attorney relationship

BDO one of eight CPA firms named Working Mother's 100 Best

Cross boundaries to become a better leader

Stop Being Micromanaged

Sooooo... Does This Mean the CPA Exam is Off?

Conquer CPA exam studying : This Way To CPA : AICPA

CPA Exam...News & Commentary

PwC Interns Volunteer for Operation Hope at Chicago Schools

Tired of eating Ramen? AICPA scholarship programs can help!

Make your move to the cloudbut educate yourself first!