CPA ProfileJulia M. Bristor, CPA, Ph.D.
|
 |
| Julia M. Bristor, CPA, Ph. D. |
I have a Ph.D. in Business Administration/Marketing. I taught at the university level for several years, and then spent seven years working in corporate market research and as an independent market research consultant.
Why accounting?
I was contemplating a move out of corporate market research when my family moved from Houston to Dallas in late 2001. I knew I had valuable skills, such as being very analytical and process driven. I was good at problem solving, and I had a track record of working well with clients, senior management, and line/staff employees. I wanted to continue to apply these talents if I changed careers.
At the time of my move, the media was covering the downfall of Enron, Arthur Andersen and WorldCom. I thought there might be a demand for new auditors. I’d taken a couple of accounting classes 20 years ago in my MBA program and decided to take a couple more to see if it was a good fit. I quickly realized that it was. In fact, I remembered that years ago someone had described me as having a “prove-it” personality, and I figured my natural skepticism would benefit me as an auditor.
Further, I discovered a high degree of similarity between the market research process and the audit process. Both are concerned with asking questions, deciding on appropriate methodologies and procedures, collecting and analyzing information, drawing conclusions and writing a report.
Approximately how long did your transition take, including school, certification, and finding a new position?
I spent about two years taking the accounting classes I needed to qualify to sit for the CPA exam. I passed the four parts of the exam over the next six months. I began my job hunt right after the fourth part of the exam and accepted a job offer about five weeks later.
What was your biggest challenge when changing careers?
My biggest challenge was confronting issues that are unavoidable when one is seeking an entry-level audit position in their late 40s. I knew there would be concerns, stated or unstated, about my age. Would I be willing to “get my hands dirty,” do “grunt work,” and work my way up? Would I be as motivated or energetic as a young college graduate? Would I be a know-it-all who wouldn’t take directions from people younger than me? I decided to be proactive and as I updated my resume and prepared for job interviews, I made sure my examples and explanations would help address any such concerns.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career change to accounting and CPA certification?
Conduct informational interviews with CPAs to be sure you are interested in doing what they do. If you are, go for it! Do a thorough assessment of your current skills and figure out how they apply to accounting so you can leverage prior experiences. Develop a realistic timeline to take accounting classes and the CPA Exam. Make sure you know the state eligibility requirements and verify that the accounting courses you take will count toward CPA Exam eligibility.