Decision: City Tax Auditor or Staff Auditor (public Acctg firm)

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #188303
    NumberCruncher4lyfe
    Participant

    Hey Ninjas! So I was offered two positions in the past week and I am really trying to consider which one to take. The first offer is a City Tax Auditor (government) where I audit businesses within the locality to ensure they are in compliance with IRS Tax Regulations. (Business, personal, meal tax, etc.). The other position is a Staff Auditor with a Super regional accounting firm. My concern is with accepting the Tax Auditor position, what would my career path be like for the future. IF I want to have that option in the future to work in public accounting it may be very difficult to do when you have government audit/tax experience. Has anyone started in government as a City auditor and transitioned into the public world? What benefit do you have working in government that would add a competitive edge in breaking into public?

    Input needed please!

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #596008
    thechapman
    Member

    If you want to break into public why wouldn't you take the public offer you have now?

    Passed - 2014

    #596009
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What state are you from?

    #596010
    NumberCruncher4lyfe
    Participant

    @thechapman I'm not sure if that's what I really want I'm still trying to decide. If I do the government audit position it will give me some free time to focus on passing the CPA just in case i do decide to transition. If I go with the public firm it may be difficult but doable. The City has great benefits and offer more and thats what I was basically making my decision from.

    #596011
    NumberCruncher4lyfe
    Participant

    @cpaexamstress Virginia

    #596012
    mystical guy
    Member

    Firstly, congratulations! I was also offered a Staff Auditor position recently and I'm still wondering about other companies that liked me.

    This is a very biased opinion from someone who's done taxes (and loved that) and done a bit of audit and loved it too. My thought is that being a Staff Auditor in industry would be better in the initial stages of a career, while governmental auditing work should come later on when you want to retire and get a healthy pension.

    The other reason is that I often feel it's easier to move into governmental audit after industry than the other way round.

    But this is my biased opinion, I am not independent in this report

    CPA - Since 2015
    CISA - Smashed 2012
    CIA - Passed 2015

    #596013
    taxgeek83
    Participant

    For what it's worth, if you don't like tax, I'd vote for the public accounting option. Government benefits and schedule are awesome, but it won't be worth it if you're not happy. I've seen plenty of miserable folks stay in a job they hate just because the benefits are good. That said, I'm currently in the process of trying to break out of government and into public accounting, so if y'all have any tips or suggestions…. 🙂

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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