Chicka-Chicka!

Ms. Cris May shares her journey of dedication and sacrifice to pursue her goals. From unyielding effort to untiring commitment, her story shows the power of perseverance. Through challenges and setbacks, she remained committed on her path to success.

“I always doubted myself before, which made me exert more effort and do my best. Double your efforts, and the outcome will be more significant. Don't say, "passing rate is enough for me."

“Do what the majority needs to do or is willing to do. I always had these mindsets when I was still studying. People call me "the girl with books (or photocopies) and a calculator always with her." Who cares? I have a dream to fulfill. Without trying to brag, becoming a Latin awardee was my goal in college, not just passing all the subjects. You can call me "ambisyosa,".  Still, I could say that I did my best to achieve it—I sacrificed a lot of sleep and time for other stuffs. I did not want to waste my time, so I took every opportunity to study even while riding on a jeep or tricycle, waiting for my name to be called at banks or pawnshops, and taking our orders from the cafeteria. I can't say it was too much; I knew myself and was responsible for my goals. I always believe in the saying, "Do your best wherever you are with what you have." I didn't complain. Instead, I constantly adjusted to the situation. I should not get too frustrated. Despite my sleepless nights, I may not have done well in some exams, but I never got discouraged and instead tried harder. I always learned from the experience, reassessed myself, and responded positively. I did what worked best for me and did not depend on others. In the library, I always stayed at the corner of the long table, concentratedly studying, and always tried my best not to get tempted to join unnecessary chats with others. Others may say, "No, her ways are bad; she doesn't know how to relax and have fun." Then, so what?”

The Premium Beginning

In her reflections, Ms. Cris May discusses the perks and challenges of being a CPA. Initially, she saw it as a significant achievement but later realized it was just the beginning of a journey filled with various experiences. While there are benefits like high demand and good pay, drawbacks include the time and money needed, a lack of work-life balance, and occasional stress. Through her honest assessment, she offers insights into the reality of being a CPA and encourages us to consider the profession's upsides and downsides.

"I always doubted myself before, which made me exert more effort and do my best. Double your efforts, and the outcome will be more significant. Don't say, "passing rate is enough for me."

      “ So now, what are the benefits of adding these three letters to one's name? For those interested in accounting, having this title is the ultimate goal. Generally, it is the most significant educational achievement you could strive for in accounting. I felt fulfilled when I got the title and was assured, I'd be good for the rest of my career. But later, I realized it was a "Premium Beginning."  I began my career in public practice while teaching part-time at a university. I did and was amazed by the audits, tax filings, managerial advisories, and other services that an accounting firm can offer to various clients. I was happy, thrilled, and enthusiastic for the first two years with the firm's busy schedules and diverse learning and experience opportunities. Later, I felt overwhelmed or satisfied with what I got and thought about working for a private company. Still, I ended up at a university with multiple campuses. I was looking for a higher-paying job then. I know it is common for us, those in our early career stages, to want to learn more about something new and exciting.

        “Becoming a CPA changed my life. CPAs are in demand, given that passing rates are getting lower and lower. We are in demand in all accounting fields and just got to choose, and we always get higher pay compared to those who are not at an entry level. One of the best benefits of being an accountant is that we are in a growing and stable job market. Nothing is certain except death and taxes. With this, accountants play a pretty important role. Aside from this, we can work remotely, help businesses, and be our boss. A fantastic option to advance your career could be to start your accounting firm if you possess an entrepreneurial drive”.

Career Transitions and Continuous Growth

Becoming a CPA is often seen as the ultimate goal for accountants. Ms. Cris May's journey to achieving this milestone took a lot of work. That journey was filled with surprises and realizations. Join me as I share her experiences as a CPA, from the highs of success to the challenges of balancing work and life.

"We CPAs must manage our career path by balancing opportunities and continuous learning, given that technology is rapidly advancing, global markets are constantly changing, economic conditions are always shifting, and accounting standards, laws, and compliance needs are continuously evolving. As someone new in the profession, I always crave more knowledge, experience, and fulfillment. Despite the challenges that come with any job, I remain committed to staying up to date with the latest developments and striving to improve my skills. 

Human as we are, we always end up complaining. When I resigned from the firm to escape the hectic schedules, I focused only on one account or entity in other fields. But when I got into it, I realized I wouldn't say I liked it and was uncomfortable inside the office all day. I may have missed the field audits, meeting various clients in various forms and from different industries, and constantly receiving new knowledge and experience daily. But don't get me wrong, I still learned a lot from my second job, and I had the best leaders and co-workers then. They're respectful, not toxic, and we treat each other as family. 

I worked for almost two years until I decided to go abroad. I am in  Qatar right now. An opportunity came, and I just grabbed it to have the chance to explore or experience another country. As I said, I always want exploration and new experiences. So far, one of my biggest realizations is that being a CPA is less appealing to most companies here. When I was still applying for a job last year and did four interviews with different companies, the length of experience in Qatar and other GULF countries mattered most for them. During the interview, they would be highly interested in you till you talk about length of experience and salary expectations.

I ended up in a group with multiple companies (construction, production, and real estate). Since this is Qatar, their government, business ownership types, systems, and especially taxation differ from what we have in the Philippines. Here, people and businesses don't pay income tax, and you can't start or form a business without a Qatari partner (may that partner be a silent or an active partner).