Profiles and Success Stories of Non-CPA BSA Graduates

from Bicol University

Kristine B. Moran

Jamila C. Zarsuelo

Students, Bicol University, College of Business, Economics and Management

ABSTRACT

It is common for researchers in the Department of Accountancy in Bicol University to

trace back its CPAs; those unlicensed ones, however, are usually left unnoticed. The lack of
previous studies on this matter is what ignited the proponents to finally conduct one.
Through in-depth interviews with three non-CPAs from batches 2003 to 2007, Profiles and
Success Stories of Non-CPA BSA Graduates from Bicol University aimed to provide a
thorough narration of their profiles and success stories contributing to the thriving people
they are now. The researchers also dealt with the prevalent factors behind their non-
pursuant of the CPA title. Finally, the most relevant and useful insights these respondents
gained from their pitfalls were highlighted.

It was found out that these research participants share both similar and different
features; some of which were perception towards the program, one’s attitude over studies,
the way of handling failures, and the like. Moreover, they all agreed that time constraints,
pressure of filing once again, better current career opportunities, job satisfaction, and
acceptance were the dominant reasons in their case of not retaking the BLECPA. They
deduced from their situations that preparedness plays a vital role in taking any examination
but it is also a must that fun never be removed from the equation. Most importantly, it is
concluded there is no such thing as “one size fits all” in defining success. Lastly, they all
believed that failures are just stepping stones towards winning one’s success.

Keywords: profiles, success, non-CPA

INTRODUCTION

“If you don’t know where you are headed, you’ll probably end up someplace else.” –
Douglas J. Eder, PhD

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination is a licensure examination

prescribed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and given by the Board of
Accountancy (BOA).

To qualify as having passed the licensure examination for CPAs, an applicant must
obtain an average of at least seventy-five percent (75%), with no grade lower than sixty-
five percent (65%) in any given subject.

As many critiques would say, the BLECPA, otherwise known as Board Licensure
Examination for Certified Public Accountants, is regarded as one of the most difficult board
exams in the history of the Philippine career professionalism since 1923.The 2012 results of
the CPA licensure examination marked the lowest ever Philippine national passing rate at
only eight percent (8%) (Valencia, 2012). In the recent October 2016 exams, only 36%
passed the board. PRC has announced that out of 14,390 takers, only 5249 passed.
 Bicol University has once again shared the spotlight with the country’s top
performing universities when it placed fifth among 462 institutions that took part in the
Certified Public Accountants board exam last October 2016, reaping a passing rate of
84.93%. The university has produced 62 passers out of 73 who took the examination
(Pacleta,2016).

It can be remembered that in October 2015 CPA board exam, BU ranked third top
performing school in the Philippines with a rating of 94.20% and numerous times before
that, Bicol University has consistently claimed a spot in the regarded top performing schools
nationwide.

Through the years, Bicol University has successfully sustained high standing and
rating in carrying out the infamous BS Accountancy program. However, achieving 100%
passing rate remains an elusive dream. Truth be told, BU has already produced a bevy of
CPAs and quite a number of topnotchers. However, there are still a handful that fail the CPA
Licensure Examination.

This study focuses on these non passers and their profiles, which were examined and
analyzed. The aim is to know their current status and to prove a point especially to present
BSA students that life after college is not merely about passing the board exam and earning
that three-letter word of entitlement, CPA, attached in one’s name. This paper, furthermore,
aspires to show the other tracks that may be pursued by other non passers if they choose
not to retake the BLECPA and just make best of their present situation. May it be cleared
though that this research paper does not by any means encourage BSA students to be slack
of their schooling. Rather, the researchers just wish to address their curiosity with regards
to the aforementioned subject matter – learning the whereabouts of these non passers and
their own stories of success.

In addition, the researchers would like to reveal the most common and prevalent
reasons behind these non passers’ choice of not pursuing the CPA title. This will also give a
glimpse of how the statuses of the chosen respondents differ from those of the licensed
ones.

Past studies found by the researchers are majorly all about tracking down the CPAs
of Bicol University or simply CPAs in general. Rarely does anybody touch the subject of
tracking down non licensed graduates. The researchers of this paper then deemed the need
of conducting one. As the first line stated, although one is not certain of where he is
headed, it is still an assurance that he will probably end up someplace else. And who
knows? It might be something even bigger.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The theory that serves as the foundation of the study is the Great Person Theory or
also known as Great Man Theory. It is the well-spring from which much of the leadership
literature derives (Bass,1990; Bennis, 2003; Burns, 1978). August Turak (2013) said that
success emerges from the active “push” of individuals rather than the passive “pull” of
environmental forces acting on them.

Early business historians extolled the virtues of “self-made men” like Andrew
Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller and people like Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill –
concentrated on inspirationally reinforcing the inside-out will to succeed in the individuals
(Turak, 2013). A self-made man is anyone who attains far greater success than his original
circumstances would have indicated was possible. The self-made man often has to
overcome great obstacles to achieve his goals. They attain their success through education,
hard work, and sheer willpower (Brett and McKay, 2008).

AVAIL
THE GREAT MAN THEORY

ALTERNATIVESENVIRONMENTAL FORCES
(has nothing to do with the greatness of a person)

Education, Failures &

Hardwork & Obstacles
Willpower

SUCCESS

GREAT MAN
Figure 1. The Theoretical Framework

According to the book of Thomas Carlyle (1840), entitled ‘Heroes and Hero-worship,
all things that anyone sees standing accomplished in the world are properly the outer
material result, the practical realization and embodiment, of thoughts that dwelt in the great
men sent into the world. The idea presented in the great man theory also revolves around
this myth, with certain notions that a great man would magically rise. The greatness of a
person has nothing to do with the environmental factors.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The research process commenced with profiling. Profiling does not only revolve on
knowing the personal background and information of the respective respondents but it is
about featuring the story of a successful person who once experienced failure in the field of
accounting. The profiles are inclusive of respondents’ individual life stories throughout their
journey to success. This profiling is somewhat personal wherein the proponents will dig
deeper into the interviewees’ own experiences to uncover the story behind their triumph.

Moreover, the study identified the contributing factors for not pursuing the accountancy
profession through the profiles of the respondents. This is essential in understanding the
phenomena concerned. This study provided the insights of non-CPAs they gained from life
experiences. These outputs were based on the interviews conducted with the non-CPAs who
were considered as successful as per conformity with the quota set by the proponents.

Profiles of Successful Non-CPAs

Contributing Factors for Not

Pursuing the Accountancy
Profession

Financial Psychologic Current job

Difficulty al Factor satisfaction
(Fear of
Failure)

Insights of Non-CPA BSA

Graduates’ Experiences

Figure 2. The Conceptual Framework

RESEARCH MATERIALS, INTSTRUMENTS AND METHODS

The study utilized the qualitative research which is appropriately tailored to the
objective of the study. It aims to understand the perspectives of the research participants,
explore the meaning they give to phenomena, and observe a process in depth. The
researchers conducted an in-depth interview to collect information from the respondents
regarding their personal histories, perspectives and experiences throughout their triumph
despite of not having the CPA title. In identifying the respective research participants, quota
or purposive sampling is utilized. Using this technique, the proponents decided, while
designing the study, how many people with which characteristics to include as participants.
The prescribed quota, which served as the criteria in choosing the respondents, is the
successful non-CPA who graduated BSA from BU, from each batch (2003 to 2007), in which
success is defined subjectively.

The researchers made use of an interview guide as a tool in gathering pertinent data
in relation to the study. This includes open-ended questions defining the area to be explored
and studied. Aside from key questions, useful prompts were also included in the interview
guide for it will encourage the respondents to talk about certain issues if they do not come
up spontaneously. The questions generated are reflective of what the proponents wanted to
explore in respondents’ own perceptions and accounts. The data format in this study is
textual which was obtained in the form of audio, video and field notes. The proponents
made use of transcription and coding in analyzing data.

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

CAPSULE CURRICULUM VITAE