[splinter1643]

I see many people switching from audit to tax….but what about the other way around? Anyone here able to make the switch from tax to audit or accounting? If so, how?

*EDIT:

Due to the nature of the topic, I’d like to clarify: I started in tax for 2 years, but I’m looking to get a couple years of audit experience, THEN switch to industry. Is it even possible to go about it with the help of a recruiter? Or will I need to go back to school or apply directly to the company?

CPA license in progress....

[wizards8507]

You WANT to make a career change into Auditing? Most auditors I know are “doing their time” until they get a job offer from a client and can leave. It's a tough lifestyle, especially at a larger firm where you'd be pulling long hours and probably travelling a lot. The “billable hour” is king in the Audit world, which is fine for single 20-somethings but it seems like you have at least somewhat significant work experience under your belt and that would be a jump back to low man on the totem pole.

When I was interviewing for full-time jobs in school, even the Audit managers I spoke to were dumping on Auditing. Their recruiting pitch was “come work for us for ten years and then you'll have a great resume to leave and get something better.” One guy told me “I missed my kids growing up” and he said it as if it were a badge of honor.

NY CPA

[splinter1643]

wizards, I should have worded the subject line better. I've already considered everything you've said prior to this post. I've got 2 years of tax experience, but I'd like a couple years of audit experience under my belt (or as much as is possible for my sanity) and soon, before I start a family or continue to have a life, as you suggest. At least where I live, having that dual experience is ideal. Do you know anyone who started out in tax but was able to find a job where they could gain audit or accounting experience?

CPA license in progress....

[Keely]

I think it's good to know both sides. That's why I like my job where I do both audit and tax. I really despise the audit work, though. It is so dull. But you will really be a valuable commodity if you can do both, so I would definitely go for it. Can you talk to your partner about switching to audit? I don't know if that's frowned upon or not. Otherwise, I'd say just start throwing your resume out there…sounds like you might have to take a bit of a pay cut though, since you don't have any audit experience. Just my assumption.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[neika822]

Before I left my firm, there was SOMEONE who switched from tax to audit. A few that switched from audit to tax, and a few who switched into consulting. I even considered switching into consulting, but just decided to leave. I think it's completely possible, you just need to make your intentions known. Either talk to your career adviser, mentor (I had a CA and mentor at my firm, but it probably depends how large your firm is) or someone you're comfortable speaking with about what your options are.

Or are you not in a firm right now? Or you can go to a small firm where you do both, like Keely. Best of both worlds!

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

[jrc1988]

Well the least you can do it request to do some Tax Provisions. If not, you can try transferring groups in your firm?

I'm at a Big 4 and I've seen a few people switch between Audit/Tax. I personally would NEVER go into Audit, but that's just me haha. I'm a Tax guy.

Oh and as far as hours worked and “overtime”…I think we in tax work more hours than the Audit folks, overall. I have 3 busy seasons throughout the year. At least in my office here in San Jose, CA.

[splinter1643]

Thanks for responding, everyone!

@jrc1988: That's very different from my experience. I worked for a big 4 company in the Washington Metro area, and we were all pigeonholed unless audit really needed people (a rare occasion). I think we were territorial of our work and our groups or just didn't have enough people to spread around.

The recruiters I've talked to through LinkedIn so far have pretty much implied that they'd rather market me for tax positions or that they're unsure about my prospects (which I usually take to mean, “tough luck!”). I think I'm looking in the wrong direction if I want to have the best of both worlds.

Keely, did you find your current job through LinkedIn?

CPA license in progress....

[kobebryant168]

Hey Splinter

Excuse me for off topic, but have you done your ethic exam yet? which state are you in?

Thanks

[jrc1988]

@splinter1643

I should clarify. It's difficult to make it happen, but I have seen it before. It's always been the people who were at the top or near the top of their “class”. Firms really want to keep their top people, so they're rather they switch groups then lose them altogether. If you have good reviews and a good reputation, it definitely helps. But if you're someone who has struggled in one group, chances are they aren't going to make the effort to transfer you to another group.

[splinter1643]

@jrc1988: I agree to an extent. Regardless, I'd say that any difficulties in getting a rotation is probably because of the difference in office culture. Where I previously worked, rotations were frowned upon than encouraged, but top employees were promoted as fast as possible.

CPA license in progress....

[splinter1643]

@kobebryant168: Already finished my ethics exam. Score submitted and everything. What do you want to know about the exam? Do you have to take the AICPA Course in Professional Ethics?

CPA license in progress....

[kobebryant168]

@splinter

I bought the course from calcpa and now I'm trying to finish the exam. It's very hard to get 90% and they don't tell you which questions you got wrong?

Do you mind to share some of your experience? thanks!

[jrc1988]

@splinter

Yeah it's definitely different in my office. It seems like once a person gets promoted to Senior, they sort of get the rotation of their choice. Out of the 4 seniors that got promoted in my group last year, 3 went on rotation to other groups for anywhere from 3 to 6 months. It's almost like a reward. You get promoted, then you get to try out whatever you like.

Given, this is my specific group, which is a specialty tax group.

[splinter1643]

kobebryant, I'm not from California, and my state requires that I purchase my ethics course from the AICPA. However, I have heard that it is hard, because 1. it's done in randomized order and 2. you don't know which questions you got wrong. Hoping to move to CA at some point, and I hear it's a requirement for anyone licensed outside California, so you'll have to let me know how that exam goes instead! 😀

CPA license in progress....

[Author]

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