Wheeler is excited to congratulate Natalie Nguyen on passing her final CPA exam, bringing her one step closer to becoming a licensed CPA. She shared that as soon as that final exam result came in, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief and accomplishment. “All the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices had finally paid off.”

The toughest part of this process was balancing her full-time job and overtime with the rigorous demands of the CPA study schedule. In order to make this happen, Natalie had to regularly communicate with project managers to ensure deadlines were manageable, allowing her to focus on her studies. She says, “a part of my success was from the firm support, which I am truly grateful for.” Their flexibility in adjusting assignments was instrumental in reducing work pressure during exam preparation, which goes to show how critical proactive communication can be.

We asked Natalie to share her best advice for people still working on passing the exams. She encourages people to, “stay persistent and not get discouraged by setbacks. Tailor your study method to what works best for you. If working full-time (like me), seek support from management regarding work schedules and assignments. Although you may experience a temporary dip in work performance, obtaining your license will more than compensate for this in the long run. Remember, ‘One step back for two steps forward.’”

Now that the exams are DONE, she’s looking forward to applying the knowledge she’s gained in a practical setting and taking on new challenging projects without the added pressure of studying.

Now, with all the necessary hours for licensure under her belt and 4 passing exam scores, Natalie is working to complete her Masters in Taxation Program to meet the 150 unit requirement. She looks forward to finalizing her CPA license after the Fall 2024 semester and the passing of the remaining ethics exam. Congratulations again, Natalie, we’re proud to have you on the team!