CPA, Pregnancy, and the BIG 4… I've got questions, you've got answers??

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  • #191806
    Heather
    Member

    Let me just throw out some FYI and TMI, and maybe someone will have some advice.

    I have two bachelors degrees (Poli. Sci. and Actg) and working on my masters.

    Currently, studying/taking portions of the CPA (hope to be completed within 2015).

    Job in State Audit

    27 years old and married…

    Situation: I after some medical issues, my doctor has informed me that if I want to have children, my husband and I will need to start in the very near future.

    I dream of BIG 4… A partner at one of the firms has really taken an interest in hiring me, but wants me to pass a few portions of the CPA exam first (so I look like an EXTRA strong candidate).

    So, my question is- should my husband and I try to have a baby within the next year? I will interview with said BIG 4 in August 2015 (college recruiting time) and start August 2016. OR hold off on the pregnancy, start with the firm in Dec 2015/Jan 2016 and wait a year or two?

    My major concern is that waiting a year or two and being pregnant while still so new at the firm will put my career on the “slow track”.

    Any advice, questions, or comments??

    AUD 1/30/15 - 79
    FAR 5/29/15 - 83
    BEC 10/2015 - 82
    REG 11/2015 - 75 and DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)
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  • #645494
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Given your situation, I wouldn't worry about being “slow-tracked”. It's none of their business how you plan your family.

    As long as you have the support of yours, you will be fine.

    #645495
    Determined CPA
    Participant

    You can always find an excuse/reason to push off having a family. Is there ever a perfect time? Do what makes you happy. And I agree with billbrasskey, it's none of their business. On the flip side, 27 is young. Don't rush to have a family (maybe friends/family are having babies that are putting ideas in your head) but don't put it off either. Do what makes YOU happy! The rest will fall into place.

    A - 75
    B - 78 God is good.
    F - 77 Answered prayers.
    R - 84! Done!!

    Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
    Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

    #645496
    Nicole
    Member

    As someone who had trouble getting pregnant herself, I'm glad I did it early and got it out of the way. I say do it now, but that's just my experience. Yours could be different. It really depends on how supportive your spouse is.

    FAR - 11/26/14 - 83 - DONE
    REG - 02/01/15 - 68 8/14/15 - 71 11/22/15 - 83 - DONE
    AUD - 04/01/15 - 81 - DONE
    BEC - 05/27/15 - 79 - DONE

    #645497
    MassiveDynamic
    Participant

    Go for the family AND the job. With your medical issues, it might take you guys a while to hit fertility success. Then again, you might get lucky very quickly… who's to say until you try.

    Important thing to think about: if you get the job now, it's best to wait 3 months to try for a pregnancy so you're having your kid at the same time family medical leave takes hold (you need to be employed 12 months to take the 12 weeks unpaid leave).

    OR

    If you get pregnant before you go for the job b/c you're passing some or all of the tests first, when you do get the job, make sure to negotiate a maternity leave when you are doing your salary negotiation for the new job. If they want you, they'll add the temporary leave to your benefits.

    Best of luck!

    B 85 Aug 2015
    A 81 Jan 2015
    R 78 May 2015
    F 76 Jul 2015
    DONE!!

    #645498
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I disagree with Massive Dynamic on negotiating a maternity leave. The one way to guarantee that you don't get a job would be to tell them you will be gone for six months before you're even there for a year.

    Besides, all the Big 4 have EXTREMELY GENEROUS maternity (even paternity) leave benefits as part of their standard benefits. They probably won't be willing to budge on them unless you are being recruited as a Director and have an existing book of business.

    I know this because my wife is a manager at Big 4 and we plan on starting a family soon.

    #645499
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    If it were me in this situation and I wanted a child, the child would be more important to me than a job at a Big 4. Unless you can tell the future, who knows what will happen, play the cards you are dealt.

    #645500
    StephAV
    Member

    Are there other options, like freezing eggs that would make waiting viable? If not, your decision is between having a family now and Big 4… I'd say let it happen, if you get pregnant that may blow your plan or maybe things will work out. My prediction is after you have a baby, Big 4 isn't going to be as appealing… Long hours, possibly travel…

    FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
    BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
    AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
    REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
    I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

    #645501
    OnMyWay732
    Participant

    Have your baby. You will regret not having a baby when you could have MUCH more than not accepting a Big 4 job. In my experience, even if you go to a Big 4, that's when you really regret it haha. But in all seriousness, do NOT let this or anything else control your personal life. That is SO much more important than anything else. It's one thing if your spouse is just not understanding of needing to get the CPA to pursue your career, but potentially having a shot at having a child which you may not get in the future is completely different. The CPA will always be here. The Big 4 will probably always be here. Until one buys out the rest and it just becomes Deloitte and EYPWCKPMG LLP.

    Live your life. Please.

    AUD - July 2014 - 76
    REG - August 2014 - 82
    FAR - November 2014 - 78
    BEC - January 2015 - 81

    DONE!!!!

    Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

    "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

    #645502
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Well, here is one other thing to consider if for medical reasons you may not be able to get pregnant later on…..if you wait a few years and due to the medical issues can't get pregnant, you can adopt. But, you have to make the decision that you feel is best for you and yours.

    #645503
    s2sylvir
    Member

    I just wouldn't tell them about my personal plans. No one is going to ask, and if they do, tell them “can anyone plan for pregnancy? it'll happen when it happens”. So, get hired, do an amazing job, get pregnant… Not only are you getting both, your firm is actually going to give you tremendous support with having a baby, throwing you baby showers, etcetc. Think of it this way, if you're with the firm and you get along, your firm becomes a second family.

    BEC - PASS (79)
    AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
    REG - PASS (88)
    FAR - PASS (58, 89)

    Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

    #645504
    MassiveDynamic
    Participant

    Big 4s give out six months mat leave? Lookit me, working in industry like a chump…. the standard here is three months, which is a blip in time in an overall employment life cycle.

    I have known many a folk who has negotiated a three-month or slightly shorter leave when starting at a new company.

    B 85 Aug 2015
    A 81 Jan 2015
    R 78 May 2015
    F 76 Jul 2015
    DONE!!

    #645505
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @massive

    At the firm I know of, officially, it's up to six months with 100% pay. In reality- good luck getting six months in a row off. But three isn't unheard of. It's really up to the manager and the pregger to figure out a re-entry plan.

    I should add that the full maternity plan is for more “seasoned” employees. Can't remember what the cut-off was. May be three to five years vesting.

    #645506
    mla1169
    Participant

    As others have said your plans for your family don't need to be disclosed to your employer. In fact, most employers will make an assumption that a woman in her 20's/30's potentially could have children in the near future.

    But that said, once you have children you may well rethink your career goals (or may not). The reason I never pursued a career in public was because of my kids who are now 15 and 21. I still don't want to miss my youngest cheering or her chorus concerts. No amount of money would ever compensate for that. I work in industry and have some late nights but for the most part I can duck out to see my kid and go back or finish at home.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #645507
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    #645508
    Heather
    Member

    Thanks for the advice everyone!

    I think I'm just worried about getting a job at a BIG4 and then having to take maternity leave within my first year or two. Does that usually put a bad light on you?

    AUD 1/30/15 - 79
    FAR 5/29/15 - 83
    BEC 10/2015 - 82
    REG 11/2015 - 75 and DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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