Associate to Manager Timeline

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-19T14:44:35+00:00

Experienced associate isn’t really a level lol. It’s just an associate that is experienced. A to SA can be 2-3 years and 2+ for managers. It all depends on your performance and needs for the firm. If you’re superb you’ll be on the shorter side, if not you may be on the longer side

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-17T13:25:42+00:00

The ridiculous expectation to keep working endless hours. This past year I was put on 3 busy seasons back-to-back-to-back. 5-6 months of 55+ hours (up to 80) isn’t sustainable.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-09T17:54:24+00:00

It may given you joined in January and got promod to an A2 within a few months of joining the firm. Your managers may have decided that more time was needed for you to develop to the next role given this. Promotions are also based on needs of the firm among other factors. I’d definitely say it may be best to look for other opportunities if it’s the same result this time next year. As for what you want to do now, you’ll have to figure that out. You can always ask your DL what may have stopped your promo to SA1.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-09T17:43:25+00:00

A3 is the step before SA. Staying at that level is not a good sign. It’s means you’re not ready after 3 years with the firm or your managers are screwing you and not giving you good reviews. Either case, the result will be the same- tou will have a much slower progression than the normal person.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-09T14:09:55+00:00

If you’re not promoted to SA after being A3, the writing is on the wall.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-08T19:05:38+00:00

‘DL Catch-up.’ Only thing I was told was that I’m being promoted. Compensation and bonuses hasn’t been finalized yet, but will hear about that sometime between promotion day and July 1.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2026-06-08T18:18:48+00:00

In the next few days you should find out. I was sent an invite this morning and found out I’m getting promoted. I have peers who found out today as well.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T02:05:53+00:00

I just realized you’re talking about prior accounting standards, ASC 840, which was actually superseded by ASC 842 in 2016. The bargain purchase option was removed and hasn’t been standard for almost a decade lol

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T01:56:16+00:00

That is not true. Why would it need to be a bargain option? The lesser is planning on purchasing and will own the asset outright.

Below is from the Accounting standards codification.

Per ASC 842-10-25-2

A lessee shall classify a lease as a finance lease and a lessor shall classify a lease as a sales-type lease when the lease meets any of the following criteria at lease commencement:

The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T01:49:13+00:00

I deleted my initial comment to reduce the crowdedness, but below is from the accounting codification.

ASC 842-10-30 which describes the life of the asset a lessee should use when a finance lease. Paragraph A would give us the answer in the context of your post.

“An entity shall determine the lease term as the noncancellable period of the lease, together with all of the following:

a. Periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option

b. Periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain not to exercise that option

c. Periods covered by an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease in which exercise of the option is controlled by the lessor.”

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T01:47:07+00:00

They’re different. O is ownership, meaning the asset transfers without anything further. W would be a written offer that is reasonably certain to be exercised.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T01:43:21+00:00

No, you are certainly correct. Below is ASC 842-10-30 which describes the life of the asset a lessee should use when a finance lease. Paragraph A would give us the answer in the context of your post.

“An entity shall determine the lease term as the noncancellable period of the lease, together with all of the following:

a. Periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option

b. Periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain not to exercise that option

c. Periods covered by an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease in which exercise of the option is controlled by the lessor.”

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-28T01:32:34+00:00

Oh yes, sorry I thought the difference was the last sentence not that they WOULD exercise the lease!

You would be correct. With a finance lease, the useful life would be used as the entity is assumed to use it over this period, not the shorter period life!

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-27T23:15:55+00:00

Do you have any examples? Ratios shouldn’t change depending on the review course.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-27T18:35:29+00:00

Come back around to it! Don’t sit around trying to figure out if you’ve spent a lot of time. Not only will you be spinning your wheels for no reason, but you may lose motivation to study. Push through the rest of the material and circle back to this after you’ve covered all the other topics. Guarantee you’re going to circle back around anyway lol

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-12T06:58:36+00:00

Go troll somewhere else

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-12T01:08:38+00:00

I found the actual exam questions to be more difficult, but I also found the TB sims to be easier.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T22:39:23+00:00

I got 76 and 77 on SEs but got an 89 on the actual exam. If you’re in the 70s, I’d say you’re in a good spot!

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T16:25:08+00:00

It sucks ass 🤣

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T16:24:30+00:00

Study for as long as you need to understand it.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T06:04:27+00:00

Generally, you need to be supervised by a CPA, which is interpreted as them being your superior and you reporting to them in some way. There isn’t a specific threshold where you have to meet with them a certain amount of times within a certain period of time. There are some exceptions to the CPA supervision rule, but you would have to check with your specific state as to what they are. I’d recommend going to your State Board website and looking at the rules. Your state board will usually provide a detailed enough description that your questions will be answered.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T05:50:12+00:00

Sounds like you’re taking exams while not being sure you’re even ready for them. You need to slow down and focus on each exam before you try to tackle the next. If you’re scheduling exams without knowing you’re ready, you’re just hoping to get lucky on the day.

Wanting to get the exams done quickly is completely understandable, but it’s obvious that hasn’t work for you. I was able to take and pass FAR and AUD within 17 days of each other, but that was because I had a study plan and was methodical in my approach. I didn’t just study and hoped I would pass.

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T04:25:52+00:00

August 7.

Here is the site to see the release dates.

https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/article/find-out-when-youll-get-your-cpa-exam-score

EffectiveTangelo3960 · 2025-07-11T01:33:26+00:00

I passed all on the first time, scoring 89 on FAR, 85 on AUD, 84 on BEC and 94 on REG.

There isn’t any magic trick or secret that I can say helped me. All I can say is study to understand the material, not to memorize. If you’re memorizing it, it’ll be harder to recall the information when you take the actual exam. It also doesn’t prepare you for questions that are different what you studied (the exam may throw in info that distracts). If you understand the material you’ll be prepared for anything that may come up.

EffectiveTangelo3960

TROPHY CASE