can you get a job as an accountant with a felony.?

Question

I have a friend who is about to graduate from college soon with a bachelors degree in accounting and every keeps telling him that he will not beable to get a job because he was in trouble 8 years ago for felony possesion of marijuanna. Would anyone out their hire someone who made some bad choices in life when they were younger and has learned while changing the course of his life. He has sence went to college almost graduated with a bachelor degree and has two kids a wife and a house and two cars. Would you atleast consider him after an interview providing that he fits what you are looking for in the position your hiring?

He was 21 when he was caught. He had an ounze split up and was charged with possesion with intent to deliver. He also has no problems with the DMV.

Does anyone have any advice that I can give my friend?

Answer 1

The very first thing that your friend should do is to find out if his conviction can be expunged. This can be done in many states. Once expunged, it will not appear on a rap sheet, and your friend may answere the question "have you ever been convicted of a felony?" in the negative. If this is not possible, and that is sometimes the case, your friend should bear in mind that the nature of the crime is of great consideration to most employers. In other words, an accountant firm would not be likely to hire someone who was convicted of theft, since the potential to "cook the books" would be available to him. So - if he is not able to get his record expunged, he should still pursue jobs in his field and provide the prospective employer with the truth about his conviction. He smoked pot, not robbed a bank or embezzled funds. Although it is always scary to be disenfranchised because of a conviction, it is possible to get employment in one's field. At the risk of being redundant, make sure that your friend's first move is to see if the record can be expunged.

Answer 2

First, what state did he receive that felony !?!? Some states are little more lenient than others. Also, if the school, that he received his degree is well known and credible, then I do NOT see an issue with the company at LEAST talking to him. Also, re: 8 yrs since felony...most states have a statute of limitations, like 7 yrs... thus you MAY be able to permanently expunge it from your records.

IMPORTANT, depending on the state, and how much marijuanna he had on his possession...it COULD be either 1) intent to ONLY use personally...or 2) intent to sell, WHICH IS MORE SERIOUS... Consult an attorney, on those particulars..! BTW, most attorneys will give you a free FIRST opinion and/or estimate. Don't just go with the FIRST opinion, but be courteous, in case, you MAY want to go back to the first opinion ...!!

Do a look-up on Yahoo or Google ... keywords: "expungement court records". If you talk to a family lawyer, they usually charge a flat fee, for all jurisdictions involved, local, county, state, federal, ATF (alcohol tobacco & firearms), FBI, DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)...and if he got caught while driving...you may ask the attorney to check the dept of motor vehicles (DMV ??), since that may impact any liabilitiy that a firm coud lincur if he got caught on the job, etc.!?!?!

If you do this...make sure he gets a copy from each jurisdiction, that it was expunged...since if NOT, you could always go after that jurisdiction...

This is ONLY MY OPINION...as with any legal advice, including BUT NOT LIMITED too my opinions and/or the laws/rules/regulations and/or procedures of each particular jurisdiction...please do your due diligence.

good luck to your buddy !

Answer 3

Considering he will be dealing with finances it will probably be quite difficult.
He's made it this far though and he's obviously committed. His past shouldn't prevent him from making a better future for him and his family. He's already come a long way.

I would apply for jobs that require resumes to get interviews and not applications because there are no resume requirements but applications always ask about your background. It will be easier for him to explain how he's changed and his accomplishments in an interview face to face with an employer than it will be on two lines in an application.
That's the best advice I can give him. Hopefully everything works out.

Answer 4

In many jurisdictions, felony counts for the possession of marijuana prior to adulthood are removed from the record. Much depends onwhether there are any other incidents. If this person has turned his life around, graduates from college, supports his wife and two children, owns his own home he should be worthy of much consideration . Remember don't listen to what everybody says if they haven't been up the same street.

Answer 5

Given the stellar choices out there I can't imagine giving a person that kind of responsibility, who chose to screw up his life with money in tight budget times. It ain't kum bah yah but oh well. He might wanna hang his own shingle.