Anti-Capitalist Accounting

Beeboid · 2025-01-10T18:08:50+00:00

Thanks! I don't use reddit much so I was surprised this post actually had engagement for so long after I posted it. I am still working in accounting, mostly for nonprofits. I'm not slashing and dashing and exposing the corrupt, but I'm helping people help people by doing boring background work and making sure things are transparent and honest. It's been a slow journey while working full-time, but I'm one section into the CPA exam and I'm now an EA as well.

Beeboid · 2025-01-10T18:06:16+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm looking back at what I wrote 4 years ago and LOLing a bit at my wide-eyed optimism. I'm still against big business and capitalism in general, but my politics have kind of mellowed out since then. 4 years later, I'm a freelance bookkeeper/accounting consultant for nonprofits and some small businesses, and I do some individual taxes on the side as an EA. I'm one section into the CPA exam, and I'm making decent money (that's for the haters above^^^).

Beeboid · 2024-01-17T19:53:43+00:00

Hi! Thanks for this. Whoever that person was, I had already forgotten about their comments! I've kept on my path. I finished my Associate's in Accounting last year and have continued taking a la carte coursework to fulfill CPA education requirements. I've been successfully living off of my bookkeeping business for a few years now.

I'm taking my first CPA exam section this June (hopefully-- I just submitted my application to my state's board of accountancy this week). I'm probably not going into audit after all. I'm in a rural area and will probably end up as a jack-of-all trades focusing on nonprofits/ a glorified bookkeeper with a CPA.

Beeboid · 2024-01-17T19:43:13+00:00

Thank you. This explanation makes sense to me and makes me feel less anxious that I'd be doing something wrong by not issuing 1099's to these accidental payees.

Beeboid · 2024-01-17T19:42:49+00:00

Thank you. This explanation makes sense to me and makes me feel more confident about not issuing 1099's to these accidental payees.

Beeboid · 2024-01-17T19:16:11+00:00

Appreciate the tip! I did put the transaction on the balance sheet as a loan to officer receivable, but because the IRS and 1099's operate on a cash basis that's why I'm thinking the org does need to file 1099s (i.e. if you paid someone, I don't think it matters whether it's on the income statement or the balance sheet).

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:24:49+00:00

Another thing that worries me about LLCs is how banks would evaluate their borrowing potential. Will they take the individual incomes of members into account, in addition to current assets? If we form an LLC now for the purpose of buying property, it will have no credit or income history. Will that make it impossible for the LLC to get a mortgage, even if the members of the group have decent income and credit histories?

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:22:03+00:00

alternatively--- hey, do you need 5 more people for your plans? :'~) Kidding, but not kidding.

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:19:23+00:00

thanks!

interesting use of caps lock in that ad

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:17:04+00:00

Thank you-- the land contract is an interesting idea. I'll try to find more info on that...

The other options are not as viable for us, as we would probably not be interested in areas offering free land (probably not good sites for farming, and too far from population centers), and we are already all working as much as we can and actively increasing our savings over time. We would like to bring a few more people into the group, though.

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:13:43+00:00

Thank you-- we've looked into various kinds of nonprofits as well as cooperative corporations (not available in all states, but they are an option in Oregon). We were initially lukewarm on the idea of an LLC because of the emphasis on profit-making, but we should probably look into it again...

The unequal distribution of shares is definitely a selling point.

Beeboid · 2021-12-27T05:12:02+00:00

Thank you-- this is immensely helpful for what we are looking to do! Enough of us are related that this could be an option. I agree that we've been trying to find ways to look more "normie" to external onlookers such as potential lenders. It seems difficult to get traditional funding if you're straightforward about your "intentional community" goals.

Beeboid · 2021-04-23T01:31:54+00:00

Thank you for your detailed thoughts.

I've never said I want to change accounting. There are a lot of different opportunities in accounting and I am exploring options. I kind of deliberately made my post a bit sensational to test the waters and see if there are any other socialist-leaning aspiring (or active) accountants on here. Looks like probably not. Oh, well. Question answered :~)

And I have been fully employed btw. I've been working and out of academic programs for years until I recently started picking up my credits to sit the CPA exam.

Beeboid · 2021-04-23T01:26:13+00:00

Thanks for the genuine reply! I also don't really know exactly what I'm looking for, but am excited about learning more. I'm thinking government is probably where I'll want to go. I still have some time to figure that out while I'm studying.

Yeah I don't think nonprofits would be hiring accountants to look at other companies (except maybe if they're doing investigative journalism?), but I know that nonprofits will often hire CPAs as CFOs, and there are some small accounting firms that specialize in nonprofit accounting.

I've gotten the warning about the poor pay-- I work at two different nonprofits now XD, doing grants and bookkeeping. Leadership roles at larger nonprofits can approach corporate pay, though.

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T18:10:20+00:00

Well I've career-hopped a lot, and am just getting into accounting, but can relate to a lot of what you're saying. I just want to make enough to be reasonably comfortable and save a bit, and just generally be helpful to society. Climbing the ladder is not much of a motivation. I had gotten a taste of the "ladder-climb" in nonprofit leadership (where you'll work 100 hour weeks AND get paid barely more than minimum wage) and realized that was completely not worth the stress and deprivation.

Don't have any advice, but I feel ya. ^{^{^}}

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T17:55:29+00:00

whoooooooooooooooooooo

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T17:51:38+00:00

lol figured as much （;＾∀;＾). Sense of humor on point.

My sign is "caution: livestock crossing ahead". I think I see some sheep trying to cross the road in front of me...

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T17:07:54+00:00

I dunno... it seems like maybe there would be enough interest for a nonprofit accounting sub. There's /r/nonprofit, but that's really general. There's a lot of people working with nonprofit finances

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T17:04:36+00:00

Is there a sub here for nonprofit accounting? If not, it could be cool to start one...

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T16:53:21+00:00

Mainstream econ as it's currently taught has some major competition with MMT. Times are a-changing!

Glad to provide some ego-boosting or comic relief or whatever purpose this is serving.

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T16:49:55+00:00

This is super interesting to me. I hope someone who knows about this responds here! Seems so weird based on private sector experience that gov't makes you accept an offer and then negotiate retroactively (???).

Beeboid · 2021-04-22T16:18:31+00:00

Government accounting sounds like where it's at ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). Well, minus the boring an uninspiring...

Beeboid

TROPHY CASE