u/Fabulous__8294

I was in audit for 3 years and I curently work a staff role in industry making about 65k.

Long story short, Ive been with my current company almost 2 years and I’m bored with my current job and dont really see much of an oppertunity to grow into making more. I also am starting to study for the CPA exam and this job doesn’t offer much for professional developement so i’d have to pay to sit for the exam and there wont be the same bonus incintives to pass as I’d get if I went back to PA.

I have an interview for a Senior Audit position at a small firm in a few days and want some insight on how much ppl are making at smaller firms as senior Auditors.

I’m a nontraditional accounting student/mom of 4 and I’d really love to hear from other people who took the CPA route later in life or under less-than-perfect circumstances.
I went back to school in 2021 and earned my associate’s degree in accounting first. While I was still in school, I was able to leverage that into a position at a small CPA firm doing audit work, which honestly changed my confidence level completely because I realized I was more capable than I thought. Now I work as a property accountant before even finishing my bachelor’s degree.
I’m currently finishing up my bachelor’s in accounting and will be graduating this fall. At the same time, I’m raising four kids, working full-time, and trying to build a stable future for my family.
I recently got accepted into the NABA CPA Bound program, which is basically a program/community designed to help students and young professionals prepare for the CPA journey through accountability, guidance, networking, and CPA exam support/resources. Being around other people seriously pursuing this path has been really motivating for me.
I guess I’m posting because I want to hear real stories from people who were:
nontraditional students
parents while studying
older when they started
working full-time during school/exams
financially stressed while pursuing the CPA
or people who just didn’t have the “perfect” path
Did you actually make it through?
Was the CPA worth it financially and personally?
How much did your career/income change afterward?
What do you wish you knew before starting?
And realistically… how hard was balancing life with studying?
Sometimes I look around and feel behind, but then I remind myself that a few years ago I only had an associate’s degree and now I’ve worked in public accounting, landed a property accountant role, and I’m about to graduate with my bachelor’s degree. So I’m trying to trust the process.
I’d really appreciate hearing honest experiences, advice, encouragement, warnings — all of it.