CPA Love Story: Exams, engagements and…LIFO?

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re highlighting Ohio accounting couples the entire month of February. Find out how they met, their first impressions and how accounting factors into their love story. These CPA lovebirds range from newlyweds to those celebrating decades of marriage, so check back each week for a new story.

By Rebecca Kerr, OSCPA communications intern

Studies show it’s beneficial to study for exams in groups. There is an opportunity to share what you know in a teaching manner, ask the group questions and review difficult material out loud with added brain power.

The CPA exam is no exception. After unknowingly growing up on opposite sides of Cleveland, Amelia Osiecki and Dan Tetelman met in Columbus during the summer of 2015 through friends of friends, many of whom were studying for the CPA exam. They formed a study group with their friends and hit the books in hopes of earning their certifications.

They spent long hours studying and preparing over the summer months, and before long it was the moment of truth: Dan passed all his exams immediately, but it took a little while longer for Amelia.

“Dan actually spent the whole next year that it took me re-studying for all the exams with me,” she said. “So, he was actually tutoring me, and he really is one of the reasons why I passed the exam.”

Studying for the CPA exam is an incredibly demanding task the first time around, and most people don’t even want to think about doing it all over again.

“The CPA exam isn’t very fun,” Dan said, “so that was kind of a defining moment for Amelia. I think that told her that I was worth keeping around.”

Amelia – who recently made the move from public accounting to JPMorgan Chase – and Dan – who works for PwC – are set to be married in September. They have already decided on #LoveU4LIFO as the hashtag for their wedding as a mini shout out to their career and their other accounting friends.

The couple agree having a partner in the accounting profession is convenient.

“I personally had to make a big decision this year changing from public accounting to industry and it was so nice having Dan there, not only to listen to me try to decide, but he was able to understand job descriptions that I was applying for and give me advice going into interviews,” Amelia said.

“There is a lot of jargon in accounting and it’s nice that I can come home from work and vent – and vent about the specifics of my job – and she’ll get it because she’s done the exact same thing as me,” Dan said.

In their free time, the couple enjoys reading books, going to the movies and binge-watching Netflix together. Something they especially enjoy is traveling. In fact, they will be traveling to Greece for their honeymoon later this year.