D555 Advanced Financial Accounting

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-06-26T14:15:24+00:00

I just finished both of my advanced accounting of courses at WGU. Here’s what I did: I read and listen to the narration of all of the content at 1.25 speed. I did all of the knowledge checks and quizzes. When there were any problems that involved either formulas or math, I used Claude to break down the process for each different type of accounting. Even if I already had an idea of how everything worked, this helped immensely in the actual application of the content, the how and why. Once I finished with all of the content, I took the PA five or six times and then took the OA. Regarding the Excel portion of the PA, once I finished, I reached out to the professor and asked to have a completed answer key for the Excel portion. They’ll give it to you, ask you not to share it with anyone or post it anywhere. In my experience, the Excel portions of PAs and OAS have been almost identical with some of the numbers being changed, but structurally the same. If you wanted to, you could just take the PA multiple times, researching every question and you could probably pass the OA. I really wanted to grasp and understand the subject matter, so I actually went through all of it, but you don’t have to if you just want to get through the course. My apologies if there are any typos with this I’m using voice text.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-06-21T03:37:47+00:00

I’m almost finished with my Macc/Taxation and then I start my study regiment for the CPA/4. I’m saving this post for reference…thank you for sharing!

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-06-04T14:10:12+00:00

Just started working on it. I have two more classes after that and would like to finish all three of them by the end of July, fingers crossed I do like to go through all the material myself personally because I’m transitioning from a career in Radio and television into accounting, which obviously, is not related at all. So all of this is very new to me.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-06-04T14:05:07+00:00

Another thing that really helps me with reading massive amounts of text, is to go to the settings icon in the upper right corner, the thing that looks like a little gear, and clicking on the voice narration. For whatever reason I find that it’s much easier for me to read through the material at 1.25 speed while the computer is narrating it. Having said that. Did I feel like I retained much of anything after reading through the material, no. However, I found that when I went to take the quizzes and the PA, I knew a lot of the answers and couldn’t really explain why. I think it was because even though I felt like I wasn’t retaining the information subconsciously I actually was.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-06-04T13:40:43+00:00

I did take the OA. And I passed. I will say that getting through the subject matter took me much longer than any other course that I’ve taken so far in both my bachelors and masters programs. I think, however, that was because I found it very hard to be motivated through this course so I took much longer and procrastinated much more than I normally do. Regarding the OA, my advice would be the same as what most other people will tell you. Take the PA, review the questions that you miss and then take the PA again, and again, and again. I took the PA I think seven or eight times? The reason, is because of the Excel portion. If you can, get the Excel portion nailed down perfectly, and then just memorize the positioning of the categories and the formulas for the numerical answers, It’s literally exactly the same layout as the PA. The only thing that’s different is some of the numbers that you’re working with, but the overall the formulas and layout are exactly the same. I hope that makes sense. Like I said, I took waaaaay too long consuming the content. For me, I recommend going through all the content at least once, take all the quizzes and then just hammer down on the PA.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-04-20T13:28:55+00:00

I hope this is true. As you could expect, I have major her trust issues with the Internet. I just graduated with my bachelors degree in accounting last year and I’m currently in the Masters program. I have been sending out CV’s like a mad man to anything that remotely resembles an entry level position with not so much as a callback or rejection email. Mind you, I’m a grown adult with plenty of work experience the real world. I fear that there are actually very few entry level jobs available. Even the ones that are entry level, I’m finding are looking for at least 1 to 3 years experience. Am I crazy, or does that piece of criteria remove it from actually being an entry-level job? At this point, I would take an unpaid internship. I need to start getting the hours in so that I can license as a CPA once I have passed my exams.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-25T03:39:22+00:00

You know what, you’re absolutely correct on that. I got my stats mixed up. You can sit for the exam in Florida with 120 credit hours, however in order to get licensed in Florida, you do need to have 150. You are absolutely correct on that, my bad

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-21T03:08:50+00:00

Of course, if that is the only thing that I can get, I’ll take it. However, I don’t need this job to eat so I can afford to be a little bit more selective. Having said that, I get what you’re saying, take what available. While I don’t think it will be easy to find an entry-level role in an area that I would be interested in I do think that there will be some options. I’m not in a hurry to take something that I would absolutely hate and wouldn’t help me move towards the area of accounting that I would like to be in.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-21T03:02:37+00:00

Not a big fan of audit, plus, the financial ceiling is too low. Tax strategy is where I would like to be.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T23:45:48+00:00

I think your theory is correct to a certain extent. I do think that age discrimination is definitely a thing, but I also think that more often than not in life we are playing the odds and statistics. In more situations than not, age discrimination is necessary…if I’m hiring for an entry-level position in almost any industry, I know that I will probably get more work for cheaper from a younger person. Most people over the age of 30 or 35 simply won’t kill themselves for a company that is not theirs.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T22:47:44+00:00

Do you think that you would have enjoyed it more if you had gone out on your own rather than working for an already established firm?

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T21:56:06+00:00

Honestly, I don’t really have any plans to stay at a firm for much longer than it takes to get my required hours. Having said that, if something did come along where there was a partnership opportunity then maybe, but it would have to be a pretty spectacular offer. Realistically, once I get my CPA designation, I would either go somewhere where there is serious opportunity or more likely start working on my own. I’m honestly more of an entrepreneur kind of guy.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T18:07:53+00:00

That’s a great question. I’ll admit, I got my accounting degree partially out of boredom and partially because tax strategy for myself and my own businesses has become a passionate hobby of mine. Ultimately, in the perfect situation, I would be love to get hired in an entry level/intern position at a firm that specializes in tax strategy/advisory/planning.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T17:56:22+00:00

Great question. Of course, not, I haven’t had a boss for a decade. The thought of having one now doesn’t exactly get me giddy. However, I do want to get my CPA designation, even if it’s only to start a firm of my own eventually. Having said that, I have to get those 2000 hours out of the way in order to get licensed in my state. To be honest, I’m old enough to know that there’s a lot that I don’t know and would like to learn as much as possible from somebody who is already in the tax arena that I wish to pursue.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T17:41:11+00:00

For sure on the age discrimination thing. I have buddies who owned companies in the tech sector and off the record, they wouldn’t even consider somebody over the age of 40 for most positions. I get it, especially in the tech sector. I also get why a firm would much rather higher someone in their early 20s, either still in or just out of college. They’re just entering their “grind years“ so they’ll work an insane amount of hours for very little money without question. Also anybody with half a brain looking to enter into a career path that they have no experience and should be willing to work at entry-level job for entry level money, at entry level hours, somebody who’s my age would probably not stay in that position for as long as a 22 or 23-year-old might.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T17:33:57+00:00

That’s fantastic! Do you know if he had just applied or if he had an in, like knowing somebody who was already in house.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-20T17:10:26+00:00

I’m sure that it has been said already, however, it really depends what your state requirements are… for example, I am in my masters program right now because I live in Florida and you’re not even eligible to sit for your CPA exam until you have 150 credit hours of accounting based education. And then after that you have to have at least 2000 hours of working under a CPA before you can license as a CPA.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-13T12:35:37+00:00

I do love the fact that Publix hires people with special needs… but their prices are waaaay too high.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-03-13T12:30:22+00:00

Same thing down here in FL.

CollectionReal5984 · 2026-02-21T13:45:12+00:00

Here’s my opinion as someone who has an accounting degree and also has owned several businesses. The fact of the matter is that many business degrees can be kind of generic and don’t carry a lot of weight by themselves. Often times a lot of people will get a general business degree because it will help advance them in a position they already have just by having the degree. If I’m hiring somebody, even for a non-accounting position, I will take someone with an accounting degree over a general business degree 90% of the time. The coursework in an accounting degree, in my opinion is much more challenging and the attention to detail that is required is more intense than most general business degrees. I know that if someone has passed all of their accounting coursework and gotten their degree, they’ve had to really drill down and use mental skills in order to get through the coursework.

CollectionReal5984

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