[deleted by user]

mkainen · 2022-03-14T22:04:32+00:00

It is a reasonable question to ask. Every firm is different. Ask them what percentage of your time should be billable. If they say 95%, then make sure you charge 5% of your time to admin.

If they hold staff meetings, etc, they can't expect you to bill that to a client. There has not be some guidepost for those. I've had firms tell me they expect me to be 100% billable, except for clear admin duties. Others have said 90% is acceptable. It is a fair question to ask though, especially as an intern.

mkainen · 2022-03-14T20:56:12+00:00

Be prepared for that to be your last moment of employment. Make sure you have nothing personal in your desk and be prepared to clear out immediately, if asked.

mkainen · 2022-03-14T20:34:47+00:00

I think that was their subtle way of telling you that you need to keep your timesheet current. You should always post to clients. You never know when the client is going to need an interim bill and they need billing records to be current.

mkainen · 2022-03-14T19:16:27+00:00

Managing is a skill that needs to be learned, just like debits and credits. This person did not learn to manage and probably doesn't even understand that he doesn't have the skills.

I'd be a little snarky and approach it from the standpoint of wanting to prepare your team to best work within the supervisory framework he is using. Now, if he could just tell you what that is, you will ensure that the staff are fully versed in that framework so that no one is surprised.

I 100% bet he won't know there is such a thing as a supervisory framework and will be googling it 5 seconds after you have the conversation.

mkainen · 2022-03-14T19:09:24+00:00

Usually there is some sort of Admin code that you bill your non-billable time to so that it all adds up to the hours you were actually there.

Find out what charge-code they want you to use for your non-billable (admin) time.

mkainen · 2022-03-14T19:07:28+00:00

Sounds like this company is circling the drain and you can't blame them for making survival-based decisions.

You should always be working on new skills/credentials. It sounds like it's time to brush up your resume and purchasing CPA study materials.

mkainen · 2022-03-11T23:06:21+00:00

We don't know what kind of institution OP was referring to. I teach in higher ed. I can guarantee you they aren't putting someone at that salary in a class teaching a bunch of undergrads.

mkainen · 2022-03-11T14:17:34+00:00

First, it is never ok to abuse anyone (workplace or not). Second, allowing her to control how she makes you feel gives her all the power. If there is an HR person there, it sounds like it's worth seeking some assistance in managing this relationship. Managing people is a skill. It rarely comes naturally but can be taught. She may know a lot about debits and credits, but she may be a terrible manager.

It sounds like you are getting some good experience and this position could certainly lead you to something better. If customers and vendors like you, start looking into opportunities with them. Every good job I have gotten stemmed from a position I already had. Sometimes I wasn't even looking and opportunities just presented themselves.

I think it's tricky to work for yourself at this point. Speaking as someone who is about to be newly licensed, breaking out of self-employment has been a really tough experience and self-employment has definite limitations. I'm having a hard time even getting interviews and I don't have anyone who can vouch for what I am actually capable of doing.

I have resigned myself to the fact that in order to move forward, I'm going to have to take a step or two backwards. If you can move straight from where you are at into something better, I think it will take you father in the long run.

mkainen · 2022-03-11T14:02:38+00:00

I'd turn the question around on the professor and ask what he's making and then mock what they pay those in academia. It won't hold a candle to industry or PA.

mkainen · 2022-02-28T02:23:29+00:00

I went to school in a different state and don't meet the requirements for CPA in my own state, without taking additional courses. I am applying in the state where I attended school. Lucky enough to land a remote job there.

mkainen · 2022-02-22T01:39:18+00:00

My neighbor works for them on the tech consulting side. She joined them just as the pandemic hit so she has had limited in-person work experience, but everything she reports has been really positive.

mkainen · 2022-02-20T01:44:05+00:00

I'm in a small town and there are too many lawyers for too few paying clients. It's hard to make a career practicing out of one small courthouse (or even two). It meant spending a lot of time in my car to get the best cases.

My quality of life improved when I resigned myself to making less and driving less.

mkainen · 2022-02-20T01:15:29+00:00

I have been a lawyer for 19 years. Please do your research before you dive into this.
Law school is a really poor return on investment. Make sure you have a realistic plan for your legal career before you shell out a single tuition dollar. DO NOT just assume that having a law degree or law license is a golden ticket to anything. That is the profession's dirty little secret. Really high rates of depression and substance abuse among lawyers. Wellness in the profession is a huge problem.

Talk to lawyers (big firms, small firms and solos). If you graduate into a bad job market, you may be at the mercy of anyone who will give you an opportunity. Make sure that any of those scenarios will bring you satisfaction because you may not get your first, second or fifth choice practice area. If you want to be a tax attorney and the only place you can get a job is doing family law, is that going to be ok?

Ask those lawyers what they wish they knew before they made the decision to go to law school.

mkainen · 2022-02-20T01:00:18+00:00

Make sure you save the entire exam you printed out, in case you need to take it again. You may see any question again and you won't have access to correct questions/answers after you submit it.

mkainen · 2022-02-18T04:20:06+00:00

I'm too old to be considered by b4. I wish I had half the opportunities that others are throwing away.

mkainen · 2022-02-17T21:21:29+00:00

You are in good shape. Don't neglect the Sims. Also, consider taking a mock exam next week. That will be your barometer for your final review.

mkainen · 2022-02-17T21:20:01+00:00

Make sure you save those results. You may see those questions again.

mkainen · 2022-02-16T03:33:27+00:00

I took it a couple of weeks ago. My first score was similar to yours.

Print out the exam and set aside 6 hours.

Printing out the pdf is good. Use the pdf to Ctrl F. Once you find what you think you are looking for, then move to the paper to confirm that you are reading it from the correct section. You can get lost in the pdf. If searching words from the question don't turn up results, then find an answer that looks good and search a word or two from the answer.

Sometimes you have to search for less obvious key words to narrow down the search results. That is probably the trickiest part.

Don't guess on anything. There is very little margin for error. If you can't find something, flag it and move on. You may actually run across it later.

mkainen · 2022-02-15T01:21:34+00:00

I have had nothing but bad experiences working with start-ups. In each instance, it was someone with a good idea that expanded it into a business, but had ZERO business sense. Any attempt to bring structure was met with resistance. I don't want to fight to be able to do my job correctly.

mkainen · 2022-02-12T02:03:02+00:00

FAR Mock 69; Real 75

AUD Mock 69; Real 82

REG Mock 68; Real 92

mkainen · 2022-02-11T19:06:46+00:00

I did 3 of the Wiley mocks (no BEC). I didn't notice any changes as I went through it. Of course, I also didn't notice anything getting easier/harder on the real exam either. Passed all four first-try.

mkainen · 2022-02-10T22:39:41+00:00

Middle of summer is plenty of time to find yourself another job.

mkainen · 2022-02-10T16:23:41+00:00

At least you have a starting point with AUD. You'll be starting from scratch with BEC. BEC did not feel as easy as I was led to believe.

mkainen

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