Kelly Newman- Tax Associate

Many have asked whether or not Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is still relevant to the Accounting Profession. According to an article in the CPA Journal written by William Stephens, BAP “has been and will always continue to be, an essential element in the preparation of accounting students to take an immediate, active, and contributing role in the profession and organization which they join.” Over the years it seems as though the Accounting recruiting model has changed quite a bit. Nowadays, “many Accounting students are committing to an internship in their junior year of college, with a successful internship often leading to a permanent job. Thus, at the very time when students used to be joining BAP, they already have serious job prospects.”

Over the last decade, more and more students have realized that having BAP on their resume is not the end all be all of being an attractive recruit—this makes them academically appealing to employers, however does not ensure that they have all the other sought after qualifications. So then Why is BAP Still relevant, why does it continue to receive support, and why should you join? Well, whether you want to believe it or not, BAP members really are distinguishable from many other quality graduates. According to Stephens, “BAP continues to assume a vital role in developing young men and women into active and contributing professionals who have the skills needed to make an immediate impact upon graduation, far beyond mere accounting, finance and information systems technical skills.” BAP manages to do this by building a bridge from the academic to the professional world:

B- Building Relationships with Peers and Professionals

R- Recognizing & Rewarding Scholastic Success

I- Instilling Commitment to Lifelong Professional Development

D-Developing Leadership Skills

G- Giving Back to the Community Through Service

E -Encouraging Ethical Behavior

So, even though you will most likely have no problem securing a job post-graduation without a BAP membership, it is still a great idea to join. Not only will it better prepare you to enter the real world, but offers valuable experiences to better yourself personally as well. For an in depth look at Stephens’s entire article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/miqa5346/is200711/ai_n21298625/ or if you are interested in joining BAP check out their website http://www.bap.org/ or stop in for a visit at the chapter at your school!

Lindsay Newman- Audit Staff

With busy season winding down, employees may be finding themselves in the office with seemingly “nothing to do.” Well, don’t you worry, because working in an accounting firm will never leave you playing Spider Solitaire or perusing YouTube for hours on end; well, maybe it will, but if that’s the case don’t expect that you will be working there for too long. As an accountant, you can ALWAYS find something productive to do to occupy your time.

Now first, before you come to the conclusion that you do indeed have free time, make sure you check all current jobs for review notes or any open items. Always offer help to other colleagues. Not only will it help with the cohesion of employees in the firm, but you are inevitably going to find yourself in the weeds somewhere down the road and when you do, people will be much more willing to offer you help. Remember that Golden Rule!

Lending help to others also offers you exposure to many different kind of jobs. It allows you to test the waters in areas which you may have otherwise never been subjected. You can gain valuable experience from working with different clients and in different fields by helping to wrap up jobs that are open or assisting in the planning phases of an audit.

Most firms offer many opportunities for furthering education or CPE. Courses on insurance, banking, standards, etc, are available through self study sessions and webinars. These classes can be taken on your work computer at your desk or in a conference room with a group of colleagues. This option is a great way to spend your free time since the state of Georgia requires 80 hours of CPE training every two years for CPAs.

Research is another great way to spend free time in the office. Firms are always trying to acquire new clients, so researching prospects or putting together summaries of new standards that are applicable to our clients is a great way to contribute. Technical reading is another form of research that can occupy your time. Catch up on the latest provisions or review past standards to get a better grasp on the concepts.

So, no chargeable work can be found. You’ve asked everyone in the firm if they need help. You even offered to staple packets together and lick envelopes, but everyone has turned you down. Since all your other options have been exhausted, take that time to study for the CPA exam! Becoming a CPA is important to any person in the field of accounting; it is the next step in furthering your career.