My New Laptop Bag + What I Do as a CPA

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Today’s post is a two-fer! I’m sharing my new laptop bag and a bit of what I do as a CPA. Future CPAs, you’ll want to read this!

My New Laptop Bag

First, let’s talk about this laptop bag from Sight. Sight is a small accessories company that focuses on vegan leather laptop clutches, totes, and other bags. I got the 14″ Everyday Bag in Beige and the first thing I noticed about it were the gold accents. It’s just enough design to make the bag pop but still make it professional. I also love the size – it has a smaller footprint than other laptop bags but does not compromise on space. I love this because when I’m hustling and bustling from client to client, sometimes I feel like my laptop bag is just this bulky parasite on my side. This bag is smaller and a lot easier to carry and maneuver. It’s also pretty study and is able to hold it’s shape when sitting upright on a counter when filled or empty.

The inside has a padded laptop sleeve that can actually hold up to a 15″ laptop (very tightly though). I tested it with both my MacBook (my blogging ride or die) and my firm-issued 15″ bulky Lenovo laptop. There are also three pockets on the opposite side that I find are great for business cards, pens, and sunglasses. The front of the bag has a zipped pocket that I like to use for my phone and keys.

The materials and bag construction are good. I’ve had this bag for a couple weeks and haven’t noticed any wear and tear. The material is vegan leather and from the tag it says that the material is spot washable. Part of me wishes this bag was made from real leather, but if it’s able to hold up to the dirt and grime of the city, I’ll save my real leather bags for other occasions and let this work horse do it’s thing!

Bag: Sight // Dress: Amazon // Shoes: Michael Kors //Blazer: Theory but much cheaper here

What I Do as a CPA

I’ve had a few people as me what I do as a CPA, or what my day is usually like.  Answering this question is always fun, because what I do is something totally different than what you would imagine a CPA would do!

I work at an accounting firm as a Tax Manger in the Federal Credits and Incentives group. My work is focused on calculating Research & Development (“R&D”) Tax Credits for corporate clients, but I also get involved in things like Meals & Entertainment deductions, Section 199 (aka Domestic Production Activity Deduction), and Section 174 deduction analyses. Basically my expertise is in the realm of credits and deductions a corporation can claim on their US taxes by performing certain activities in a given year.

I’ll focus on the R&D Tax Credit since that’s 90% of what I do. Rather than filling out a tax return, it’s more of a consulting project and people refer to them as ‘studies’. I leverage a company’s information (mostly from their general ledger) to identify potential expenses that can qualify for the R&D tax credit. There’s also a qualitative aspect to this credit, so I also spend a lot of time talking to engineers about what they make. My job is a lot like that show “How Things Are Made”. They tell me how they made a specific product or process and the technical steps it took to get there. From that information, I’m able to identify the amount of qualifying expenses that go into a computation to determine the amount of the credit.

I know, some of you might think that’s boring. But, I really love my job! I’m constantly learning new things whether it’s about engineering, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, or my personal favorite: food science. Every day is different, and sometimes it can get very complex and I’ll need to research specific case law and legislation to form a position on whether something can qualify or not for a taxpayer. That is why my group is comprised of both CPAs and lawyers.

I think my job has brought me to blogging since most of my day is spent on the ‘left’ brain. Blogging and fashion styling is a fun and creative break from all the numbers. It also helps to prevent me from mental burn out.

What about you guys? Do you have a favorite bag that you love for you job? If you ever think what I do might interest you, please feel free to reach out! I’m all about sharing the R&D tax credit love!