CPA and CFA

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ditchdigger2CFA

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What kind of positions desire this combination? Where could one be expected to excel?
Since I’m an education addict at heart, I’m strongly considering adding the CPA to complement my continued interest in working in financial services. I will have the requirements necessary for the CPA Exam so that is not part of my question.
Many analyst type of positions tend to have ‘CPA Preferred’ in the job specifications. I was hoping some fine members of AF could shed some light on this.
 
I have been using the search function as well. If someone knows of a good post about this, please post it.
 
ran a quick search via the Wharton resume PDf
———
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATES
THE WHARTON SCHOOL, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
Master in Business Administration Candidate, Dual Major in Finance and Accounting May 2003
· Member of Finance Club, Assisted with Wharton Finance Conference planning
· Member of NYC Trek Committee; Christmas in April Selection Committee; Admissions Host; GUIDE Mentor
· GMAT Score 750
THE FISHER SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING, University of Florida Gainesville, FL
Master of Accounting & Bachelor of Science in Accounting with High Honors May 1996
· Completed dual degree in four years, Cumulative GPA 3.7/4.0, Class rank 3/48
· Elected to Board of College Councils and Fisher School of Accounting Council
· Member of Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting Honorary), Andersen Scholar, and Alternative Spring Break Graduate Advisor
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA) February 1997
CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST (CFA) November 2001
EXPERIENCE
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. New York, NY
Summer Associate, Investment Banking Division Summer 2002
· Built and analyzed an integrated financial model to determine the effects of various financing scenarios associated with
SBC’s put-back of its 20% stake in Bell Canada and assisted in the negotiation of a settlement price for the put option
· Assumed a leading role in developing strategic alternatives, performing valuation analysis, and presenting
recommendations to the Board of Directors of an IT Services company
· Developed acquisition candidate profiles, analyzed strategic and financial rationale and developed pro-forma financial
statements for each candidate for a major pharmaceutical company
· Performed financial analysis including discounted cash flow, comparable transactions, and accretion/dilution
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Arlington, VA
Senior Associate - International Private Sector Development Practice 1999 - 2001
Associate - Public Sector Consulting Practice 1997 - 1998
Auditor - Public Sector Audit Practice 1996 - 1996
Analytical and Problem Solving Skills
· Led team of six professionals to develop a standardized discounted cash flow valuation model and uniform prospectus
documents for the Government of Egypt to use in the privatization of state-owned enterprises
· Co-led team to develop a financial model to convert the financial statements of Polish municipal enterprises from Sovietera
accounting standards to International Accounting Standards
· Developed capital markets certification examination (roughly equivalent to the NASD Series 7 exam) for the Government
of Armenia, including a 500 question database and associated study manuals
· Conducted strategic review of the U.S. Navy’s worldwide network of infectious disease research laboratories to examine
the appropriate role of U.S. Navy research vis-à-vis other public and private researchers
Leadership and Communication Skills
· Top-rated member of 1996 Price Waterhouse - Arlington audit class; one of three auditors recruited to the Consulting
Practice; one of only two consultants invited to join the International Private Sector Development Practice
· Identified potential follow-on project for major client and independently developed project proposal and methodology and
prepared $500,000 project budget for senior management
· Led training sessions for over 200 World Bank employees on the development and interpretation of performance
measurement and evaluation techniques
 
Hey ditchdigger,
May I drop you a line outside of the forum?
 
Go for the CPA if you can.
It will always help to be fluent in the accounting language.
 
Oooh, there’s that CFA as a noun violation again.
 
soma80 Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Hey ditchdigger,
>
> May I drop you a line outside of the forum?
Sure thing, kevinh109 at gmail
 
In any position that involves analysis of financial statements, it will absolutely give you an edge. The accounting designations provide you with an in depth understanding of FS notes and complex accounting treatments that the CFA program just doesn’t (and cannot) cover. For investment research, it would be extemely valuable in my opinion.
 
I am looking in to it.
So hard to research - each state is slightly different, it seems.
 
What about CMA versus CGA for Canada? I can’t see myself working as an accountant so CA is out of the question, but the other two would really help with covering accounting stuff I see in financial statements that CFA doesn’t touch. What about accounting classes in an MBA program? Would they be pretty similar to CFA?
 
i would definitely appreciate more accounting knowledge. stuff comes in handy.
though getting the CA is out of the question due to time constraints.
 
This combination is crap…
CFA is like a Porsche Carrera. CPA is like a Hyundai. Having both will decrease the value of CFA.
Yes, I am a CFA.
 
AlphaSeeker Wrote:
——————————————————-
> This combination is crap…
>
> CFA is like a Porsche Carrera. CPA is like a
> Hyundai. Having both will decrease the value of
> CFA.
>
> Yes, I am a CFA.
I could not disagree with you more. CPA (I am one) and CFA (I’m a level III candidate) complement each other more than anyting. While I do think the CFA is a harder exam, the CPA is by no means easy. Alphaseeker why do you think the combo is crap?
 
AlphaSeeker uses this same analogy on every discussion concerning accounting designations. It’s ignorance at it’s best, but also a little humerous.
 
Bhill020, I am glad you find it humerous…. Hope u had a good laugh bud. Yes, I do bring this up every time people want to compare CPA to CFA, which is like comparing Old Navy (CPA) to Ermenagildo Zegna (CFA).
mzwerner, I know some very gifted and bright CPAs, but most of the CPAs out there are just of Hyundai or Old Navy class… So having both a CFA and a CPA is like wearing a Zegna blazer on top of a Old Navy fleece hoody. Just a tacky and crapy look.
Yes, I do wear Zegna.
 
CPA doesn’t seem to have the same reputatation in the U.S. that the CA has in Canada or even the ACA in the U.K. CPAs seem to be much more traditional accountants, not unlike the CGA in Canada. If that is the case, I would not disagree with Alpha.
Not familiar with what it takes to obtain the CPA designation, but I know it varies by state and in some states the work experience req’t is a joke (e.g. you could be an AP clerk and that would count).
 
I hear CA is incredibly hard to get. Two-day exams and you actually have to *groan* work as an accountant. Not for me.
 
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