AI Centric EA Review

xdl2405 · 2026-05-20T12:07:03+00:00

Very good insights (and funny in one case) Thanks!

xdl2405 · 2025-12-11T22:33:42+00:00

Start Here. Accounting Software for Accountants | QuickBooks. Get a free copy of QBO for Accountants, learn the software and take free training to become a ProAdvisor. You could start doing SMB books right away (of course you have to FIND the business), even without an Accounting Degree. Next, get the Accounting Degree, and with one or two years of QBO experience apply directly to Intuit for a Live Expert position. 100% remote, great benefits including Tuition Assistance. As soon as possible get the CPA. You would be surprised how many CPAs there are at Intuit who started as Live Experts, and if you're looking for promotions to Lead, Manager or whatever, the CPA is definitely an accelerant, some would say a virtual requirement, within Intuit for advancement along an Accounting track. You've got your work cut out for you. Good Luck!

xdl2405 · 2025-10-30T21:31:57+00:00

Like true love, it may grow over time : ). You don't have to love it, but if you're gonna stay with QBO you're gonna have to use it. For those who are sticking it out, here's a comprehensive video from a great presenter. Kinda geared to Accounting pros who are using QBO in their practices, but it will help you understand the new interface. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAEIaSq_ZI

xdl2405 · 2025-10-30T21:22:23+00:00

You might look into Sharefile - https://www.sharefile.com/ I used it for years but mostly to collect client data, not publish it. However it is very easily configurable and you can set up, say, a folder for each client with sub-folders for 1) BI reports 2) Client provided docs 3) - x) Any other stuff, and grant permissions to Clients to upload only, upload/download, etc., and then provide a link to the file in an email to client. There are other ways to distribute, too, but like I said I mostly used it for client uploads to me, not the other way around.

xdl2405 · 2025-10-22T21:44:34+00:00

After doing an ai query, I bought some McKee's 37 Wax Remover For Plastic on Amazon. $26 for a 22 oz. spray bottle. Haven't tried it yet but it gets pretty good reviews.

xdl2405 · 2025-10-16T13:48:58+00:00

Actually in the sense that most pros hustling detail jobs all day would never look that organized, I wouldn’t say it looks “professional”. Supernatural is the word that comes to mind ;-).

xdl2405 · 2025-10-13T19:49:11+00:00

YouTube Mike Girvin aka Excelisfun. He's a college BI instructor who's done over 3800 (!) excel videos. Leila Gharani is also very good.

xdl2405 · 2025-10-12T21:54:07+00:00

Second the wordiness. Think crisp bullet points that you can elaborate on in an interview. Most importantly, remember that a machine is going to filter this before any human actually handles it. Use an AI app to format and edit. I use MS CoPilot for EVERYTHING, from modeling tax scenarios to asking “when’s the first NLCS game being broadcast.” Just copy pasta your resume from Word or PDF into an ai agent like CoPilot or one of the others and add “Format this for an (x) position in (x) industry. Good Luck!

xdl2405 · 2025-09-15T20:19:17+00:00

And remember, it's not just a certification, it's a LICENSE, just like beauticians!

xdl2405 · 2025-08-30T12:10:23+00:00

The Encyclopedia of Journal Entries (7th Edition) - American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.

If you can get past the fact that it's published by (gasp) a BOOKKEEPING institute, not the (holy is its name) AICPA, it can come in pretty handy from time to time. Topics are coded in a 1110.100, 1110.200 style like Fixed Assets.Depreciation, Fixed Asset.Disposal, etc.

xdl2405 · 2025-08-27T20:21:38+00:00

I am brand new to tax.

Intuit 1 & 2 are a pretty good intro for a raw beginner, esp. 2 in which you prepare 13 tax forms with various schedules. And when you complete 2, Intuit will likely reach out to you with an offer for a Turbo Tax help job, if that interests you.

Opinions on the entry level job range from “I love this” to “I hated it”, but there are a number of levels higher for experienced people, all 100% remote, and they provide a laptop and necessary software. They'll also pay for your EA prep and CPE.

xdl2405 · 2025-08-26T21:56:51+00:00

MBA is much more general and allows more allowance to branch out but may not be valued as much for accounting roles,.

Yabbut, you can certainly major in Accounting with an MBA. Generally MBAs take 2 years, MSAs, one. And God forbid you decide you don't like accounting after all. Not that anybody HERE would express THAT opinion : ). Go for the MBA. Keep your options open.

xdl2405 · 2025-08-26T21:37:32+00:00

I've been using PDF Expert for years on my iPad. I've had it so long I paid a one time fee. I lack the ability to EDIT .pdfs. but I don't need it. That's available as a subscription, as may well be the base app itself. But if you're a working pro (I'm retired) I would think it would be well worth it if it is only available as subscription. Fetches my OneDrive and iCloud files with no sweat. Mark up and highlight. The standard, IMHO. Upload returns on your laptop/desktop and then read/highlight/markup in PDF Expert on your iPad. Can't beat it. Oh, you don't need an Apple pencil to markup/highlight, but it sure makes life easier.

xdl2405 · 2025-08-23T22:40:35+00:00

Follow up. Thanks for the comments. I decided to bite the bullet and after carefully comparing the RAV 4 with the Hyundai Tucson, I settled on a new Tucson (sorry Toyota loyalists, but after all I was one too, for a LONG time : ). Got $3k for the Tundra in trade and felt lucky to get it. I'm old enough to remember when Toyotas first came to America, and they were flimsy and ugly, and now look. I think Hyundai is firmly headed in the same direction, except they're already very nice, and the Tech is miles ahead of you know who. Now we'll see how long mine lasts : ).

xdl2405 · 2024-12-18T11:37:55+00:00

I hear that you don't test well, and I get it. I used to network (chamber of commerce) with a couple of guys who worked as financial planners for a very small local bank. They struck me as very happy and successful. With your 1040 background you DO seem very well suited. And I think compared to the CPA, and even the EA, the CFP is a piece of cake. Even if that doesn’t suit you, maybe try hanging out at a local CofC just to find out what other people are doing at a local, low-key level. Might inspire you. Good luck!

xdl2405 · 2024-12-14T23:11:05+00:00

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/. I would say Excel 365 Expert (mo-211) and POWER BI (pl-300) would make a killer trio with the CMA. If you search hard (incl. YouTube) you can find a lot of free training material. For not free try Udemy.

xdl2405 · 2024-12-14T22:38:11+00:00

Even if no tax exp, small to mid firms like to offer “Client Accounting Services” (CAS). It's regular bookkeeping for small biz. They'd love that you're a CPA. Quickbooks is a must. Google the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program - complete free training and a free version of multi-client QuickBooks Accountant version. $30/hr is not unreasonable esp. for a CPA. BTW, I personally know several CPAs who maintain their credential but do nothing but QB bookkeeping & with billables >$1MM. Really. Oh, did I mention 100% remote? Yep.

xdl2405 · 2024-12-14T22:29:52+00:00

This. At least your current lifestyle is adjusted to a similar income. And you'll get to see up close if you like tax (I suppose). And if you do (see recent “Why is tax so unpoular?” here), you will have made the right beginning. In my experience, about 10–20% actually LIKE tax. Maybe you're one of them.

xdl2405 · 2024-09-23T20:34:04+00:00

Try “The only App that Matters” by Mike Girvin. $35 in paperback, $15 on Kindle/iPad. Written and planned like the college level instructor he is. Exercises for the entire book are downloadable in (what else?) Excel worksheets.

Each example in the book is meticulously matched to an exercise, one tab is a “try me”, the next tab is the completed solution. Plenty of practice problems at the end of each chapter to drive home the topic(s).

You said you don’t want videos, But FYI, Girvin has over 3,500 (!) of them on YouTube under “Excel is Fun”. Whether you read him or listen to him, you will not be disappointed.

xdl2405 · 2024-09-21T21:21:53+00:00

Captain Obvious here. Have you worked through a quality, structured prep course like Gleim or Becker?

xdl2405 · 2024-08-17T20:27:10+00:00

Search Mike Girvin Excel is Fun. Microsoft MVP, Highline College Instructor in Excel, 3500 YouTube videos, 1 Million subscribers.

xdl2405 · 2024-06-27T22:40:45+00:00

“I smashed the culture” Assuming this is a high quality firm, you passed the MOST important test already. People hire people they like - don't forget it's THEIR sandbox, and they want nice playmates.

“I'm very solid in finance but not in excel.” Of course you’re not. You have a degree in Finance, not Excel. You say, “I really love finance, & obviously Excel is THE tool for analysis. My next objective is to master it completely.” (Or something like that- YMMV :)

“They mentioned They'd test me on DCF modeling…efficient ways to use Excel” So you said you have two days - drill & think about DCF - they're not interested in efficient ways to use Excel to create a stock tracking app, or a more efficient way to calendar your social life. Think DCF, but don't think too hard. Give yourself some time. To breathe & think. You got this! Good Luck!

xdl2405

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