[MustPass1988]

I recently left my job as an auditor at a public accounting firm (about 2 months ago) and started working in private industry. I realized quickly that the friendships you make in public accounting are just not the same outside of the industry, my manager is pretty difficult to work with, and they moved our desks so we’re sitting far away from the rest of the accounting/treasury department and I’ve made no friends and don’t know anyone except the 2 middle aged men that I work with. Anyways, I am really beginning to miss my old firm and I am worried I made a bad decision leaving. The partner that I worked with frequently told me on my last day that he thought I was making a mistake and wouldn’t be happy and if I realized that I was, I could come back. I am starting to think I should take him up on his offer. Did anyone else leave public accounting and realize that private wasn’t what you thought it would be?

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[Anonymous]

I don't have any experience with it personally but there are three people at my firm that went from public to private and then back to public. They all say the same thing… they became bored in private and missed the challenge and the flexiblity of public. Different than what your saying…no one said it was based on friendship. If friendship is your only issue and not the job itself…if you prefer the work you do in private then it would't seem your decision was wrong, just that you will need to find other ways to make friends.

[peetree]

It sounds like two things:

1) You work with some real boring people

2) You're not being utilized properly.

It may be a bad fit as there are jobs in private that offer a boat load of challenge while working with really intelligent and cool people. You sound like a person who needs a challenge and what is great about public, is that the challenges are always changing. In private work, you see a lot of young staff to senior level people who are competent switching positions and organizations every 1 to 2 years because they get bored. Its not a bad thing to be bored and want a challenge and if your current organization can't offer that to you, you need to find somewhere else to grow and that may be back in the public world.

If you go back to public, this will be a prime example of one of the many reasons why you don't burn bridges or send those dumb “piss off everyone” e-mails 😀

Good luck!

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Anonymous]

Grass isn't always greener. I've only been working a few months in public so I really can't chime in. However,one of my seniors actually came back to public after leaving for a year. She was tired of the same routine, same people, same shit EVERYDAY. Yes, the pay was a little nicer, but it wasn't enough to keep her.

[MustPass1988]

It's not about friendship- it's about being bored out of my mind! They give me things to do that they think are going to challenge me and it takes me maybe an hour and I don't have anything else to do for the entire day. I feel like I'm going crazy. Maybe I should give it some more time but I am extremely bored and unhappy as of late.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[j-reese]

I was in public for the first 6 years of my career, working mostly in not-for-profit and governmental audit. Shortly after my promotion to manager, I began working on a client who just so happened to have a Finance Director who was retiring. The COO and Executive Director of this organization urged me to interview, I did so, and 2 years later I'm still here.

At first, I felt the same EXACT way; I missed the challenge and more importantly to me, the fact that I was working with people my age! Let's face it, a 28 year old Finance Director isn't going to be doing much “after hours” with the three 50-somethings that make up his Finance staff (you may ask: “why is a 28 yr old finance director only 1/4 of a CPA?” Answer: I had WAY too much fun my first few years out and treated the CPA like a mid-term, but luckily I was at a firm where they were willing to promote as high as Manager without a CPA). I was quick to call the partner from my previous job (who actually made the same comments to me about being bored, etc on my last day) and she actually suggested I tough it out for at least a year. I did so, and I began to put my own perspective on the position and realized that being in private can be a challenge if you challenge yourself. I've since started a family so the after hours stuff isn't as important…its actually non-existing!

In short – I say stick with it and try to come up with creative ways to challenge yourself. I found that the times where I was questioning my decision were those where I was simply “going with the motions” in the private position. Hopefully this gives some insight…

AUD - 88 (8/12)
BEC - 80 (4/11,lost credit 12/31), retake 7/19/13
REG - 83 (1/13)
FAR - 84 (4/13)

[smalltimeauditor]

This hasn't happened to me personally but I've seen several people leave and came right back because they missed the relationships at the firm.

B - Passed
A - Passed
R - Passed
F - Passed

[MustPass1988]

Thanks for the advice everyone! It's been really bugging me so I'm glad to hear other's opinions. I think I'll stick with it until the summer at least, get the CPA Exam out of the way (which I never had time to do) and either go back to my old firm if it's still boring or try to find something else.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[Anonymous]

Must Pass1988~

I'm going back into public for the EXACT same reason – bored to death and what takes me minimal time, my peers camp out on for weeks. I'm sure they are smart and capable people, but the internal drive between myself and them is wider than the Grand Canyon. I didn't want them to make them feel bad when I left (telling them I'm bored to tears) as they said that if I get “bored” in public accounting, I'm welcome back. Nooooo!!!!!!! I'd rather pick up dog poo all day than do that again.

If you stay, you are not only doing yourself a disservice, but the private employer as well. Let them get someone else in who is a better fit for the position, and get yourself back into a position that fits you.

Good luck!

[neika822]

I go through phases. Lately, I'm bored and have been thinking that if I had stayed in public longer, I would have had better opportunities for more challenging jobs. I also work with people mainly in their mid to late 50's, so I see absolutely NO night life with my coworkers (which helps since I'm studying anyway). However, I love my current boss and thinking about going back to public and working the hours and working with the terrible seniors I did makes me want to vomit. I'm hoping to take advantage of my easy-going job to pass my CPA, get some experience, and maybe move on to more challenging work. It also helps that I feel okay going to my boss and asking for additional work, which I may do in the near future.

I'd say stick it out, if not for the experience, then for the time and opportunity to pass the CPA. After a year or two, see what other private jobs are out there, and if none interest you, go back to public.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[MrUnqualified]

To MUSTPASS –

2 years ago I left Public, as I was tired of the late hours and the daily criticism of my work. I thought that leaving was the answer, especially after my wife and I just had our first baby girl. I quickly realized during my new job that I absolutely made a mistake. The hours were better, and the money was as well, however everyday seemed like an eternity and the work was not challenging me. I was in a management position, and found myself taking on my subordinates roles just to give myself something to do.

I also left on great terms with old firm and was also told by a few partners there that they thought I was making a mistake, and that if I ever wanted to return I would be welcomed back. With that I went into private thinking I will never see another audit program, time budget or disclosure checklist again. Little did I know that I would receive a call from a partner a few months later asking how I was doing, which led me to tell them everything was great BUT, that I wanted to return to the public accounting world. 3 weeks later I was back in Public at my old firm, and I haven't looked back.

I was blessed to have an opportunity to try something and have the option to turn back. Not all people have that option but from what it sounds like you do. All I can say is make sure its not the place your currently working at that is giving you the feeling to leave and make sure its the work itself. I realized quickly that I like client service, and having new scenery every few weeks when I change engagements. The decision is yours, don't take it lightly as you do not want to put yourself back in public only to burn bridges later when you want to leave again.

Hope this helps.

[FlipACoin]

This is an interesting thread. Generally, corporate accounting does get interesting, but really not until you reach the manager level. You won't be dealing with accounting decisions until then, it will mostly be transactional and maybe a little bit of variance analysis or something of the such. From your second post, It sounds like it's not just the work itself but also the amount of work that's boring you. Sometimes in the corporate environment people have their “responsibilities” and that's just what is expected from you, no more no less (I know, very different from public). There is usually plenty of work to be done if you just ask for it!

Have you attempted to go up to your boss and say “What else do you have? Feed me Seymore FEED ME!” (I actually used that line once). That is a great way to be assigned more challenging work because you will begin to build trust that you are capable. Good luck!

[MustPass1988]

When I left, the partner I worked with told me multiple times that he thought I was making a mistake and wouldn't be happy. Then on my last day, he said that when I realized that I wasn't happy that I could come back.

It's kind of a strange set up…the senior manager that I work for is in my office but the guy that I actually report to is in a different state. Every morning I will check with both of them to find work and the response is normally “study for the CPA exam” or “read through PY documents”. The projects they do give me are very easy and take hardly any time, yet they are so surprised when they dont take me all day to complete. Its getting a little ridiculous. I'm incredibly bored and unhappy because I went from having a ton of responsibility to having none.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[Anonymous]

MustPass:

May I ask what your pay and hours are compared to working in public? No numbers needed, I'm just looking to see if you're being paid more and working 9-5 hours?

[MustPass1988]

I'm working traditional hours for now…and my pay increased by a small amount. Although i would be willing to work overtime if I actually had things to do

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[MustPass1988]

On the bright side, I will be traveling less, I have time to finally study for and pass the exam and I can actually go to the gym, clean my house, etc. But having a job where you don't feel utilized is a definite bummer.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[Author]

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