Interview Summary & Highlights
In Episode #114 of the CPA Career Paths Podcast, I continued my conversation with Jessica Simmons, CPA, and Part 2 turned into a masterclass on two things that quietly shape careers: managing CPA exam stress and building relationships—especially in remote roles.
Here are the biggest takeaways I loved:
- You don’t owe everyone your CPA exam timeline
- Remote success depends on proactive connection
- Ask for help early and often—without pretending you know everything
- Relationship-building goes far beyond your department
- Being “known” in a good way creates opportunities
After those highlights, I want to break down the most actionable advice Jessica shared—because it’s the kind of wisdom that pays dividends in every accounting job.
The CPA Exam Is “THE Exam”—So Protect Your Peace
I hosted this part of the conversation with a lot of emotion (because honestly… CPA exam feelings never fully leave you). Jessica agreed—and then gave one of the most underrated strategies I’ve heard:
“It’s okay with not telling everybody.”
She compared it to sharing pregnancy news too early. If things don’t go as planned, you’re stuck updating everyone—when you’re already stressed. Her advice was simple and powerful:
- Keep it vague: “I’m thinking about sitting.”
- Tell your employer what they need: dates off
- Save the big announcement for the finish line: “Congratulate me now.”
Jessica nailed the why, too: extra questions can become extra pressure.
“They don’t need to know… the process.”
Remote Work Early On: Possible, But You Must Be Proactive
I asked Jessica about starting a career remotely when so many people say in-office is better. Her answer was balanced: yes, in-person can help—unless the company has strong training systems and you take ownership of your learning.
Jessica said her remote firm did it right, and she thrived because she wasn’t afraid to reach out:
“I have no problems reaching out.”
Here’s her remote success formula:
- Message people on Teams immediately when stuck
- Ask for screen-share help, not silent suffering
- Learn how others think by listening to them “think out loud”
- Be honest about gaps
“Be upfront and honest… people help.”
The Real Career Hack: Ask Who the “Go-To” People Are
One of Jessica’s most practical tips: during onboarding (or even interviews), ask HR who the “guru” is for key areas:
- Tax software
- Depreciation
- Payroll questions
- Entity types (S corps, partnerships, nonprofits, high net worth)
This shows initiative—and speeds up your learning curve fast.
“There are different people… who specialize.”
Relationships = Opportunities (Even as an Intern)
Jessica shared how a connection with someone outside her immediate team directly helped her land a tax opportunity:
“She put her voice out… for me.”
And she gave a firm-friendly reminder:
- Don’t act like you know it all
- Ask questions confidently
- Nobody wants to clean up avoidable messes
“Never be afraid to ask questions.”
Don’t Network Only “Up”—Network Everywhere
This might have been my favorite part. Jessica builds relationships with everyone—receptionists, executive assistants, and even maintenance staff—because culture is built by people, not titles.
“I am friends with literally everybody.”
And the story that made me smile: the maintenance team saved her lunch because they remembered her.
“Jessica likes to eat.”
That’s the connection. That’s being seen. That’s belonging.
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