Exam excellence.

• Position: Final entry

In this issue we're recognizing the accomplishment of Andrew Napolitano, who qualified for a 2012 Elijah Watt Sells Award on the basis or his exceptional performance on die Uniform CPA Examination, The award was established in 1923 to recognize outstanding candidate performance on the exam. Under the 2012 criteria, award winners had to receive a cumulative average score of 95.5 or higher across all four exam sections, completed testing during the previous calendar year and passed all four exam sections on the first attempt- This is what Napoiilano, who works as a transactions services-valuation/capital markets and accounting advisory services hybrid associate for PwC, did. He completed all four parts of the exam from April to September 2012 and graduated a quarter early Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in business economics (minor in accounting) from UCIA in the same year. California CIM gets to know this up and corner.

Why did you decide to become a CPA?

My professors at UCI-A had a large influence on my decision to become a CPA. I chose to take a wide variety of classes, but I always found dull my favorite professors were in the accounting and tax professions. Moreover, becoming a CPA is a great way to start any business related career. It helps you understand accounting fundamentals that many business professionals may not. Further, CPAs are in very high demand in the middle of a tough job market.

What was your first exposure to accounting?

It was working at a small business management firm after I graduated high school, t started at the firm as a file clerk but, after a couple months of solely filing;, they suited training me to help the account managers with bookkeeping Through this experience, I already had a good grasp on accounting before I took my introductory accounting class at UCI A in the spring of my freshman year,

What's your secret to ownage of the Uniform CPA Exam?

To put it simply, I studied a lot. I treated studying for the CPA Exam as if it were my full-time job. Everyday, I would listen to the lectures, read the textbooks and do the practice questions, I reviewed, all of the questions until I was able to get them all correct. The key was having the time to do that quantity of studying As such, It was my goal to finish the exam before I started working full time.

Any advice for students considering an accounting career?

Becoming a CPA is great way to learn the fundamentals behind a business. No matter what aspect...