Finance Department Accountant Becomes City's Fourth C.P.A.
Date:
12/22/2008 (Last updated: 12/23/2008)Summary:
The City of Yuma announces that Tahir Alhassan, an Accountant in the City’s Finance Department, has achieved the distinction of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).Contact:
Yuma, Arizona — The City of Yuma announces that Tahir Alhassan, an Accountant in the City’s Finance Department, has achieved the distinction of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Alhassan learned this week that he was certified by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy following completion of the requirements for certification, which have occupied his nights and weekends consistently for 18 consecutive months.
The 5-1/2-year City employee becomes the City staff’s fourth CPA, joining Director of Financial Services Pat Wicks, Deputy City Administrator Bob Stull and Accounting Manager Wendy Wrenn.
CPA status typically requires completion of 150 hours of college-level courses, including 36 hours of courses in accounting, plus a year’s work experience in accounting, as well as passage of the American Institute of CPAs’ four-part examination, which requires a score of 75 percent or higher. Alhassan completed course work through the University of Phoenix as part of his CPA certification process. Previously he earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from California State University Los Angeles.
A native of Ghana, Alhassan had been interested in attaining CPA status since his college days, but due to then-impending changes in the exam process and moving to a different city, the timing wasn’t right until 2007.
Going through the certification process prepares him well for the day-to-day challenges he receives at his position with the City, Alhassan said. “Going through the exam process gives me an overview of government accounting and auditing, plus it prepares me for anything in terms of advancement in my career.”
He thanked his friends and families, along with supervisors Wicks and Wrenn, for their support.
“While I’m finally glad that it’s over, I’ve enjoyed going through this process,” Alhassan said. “Of course it was stressful, but nothing good comes easy. It’s been a great experience.”
