[Anonymous]

Hey,

I figure this is the best place to post and get some honest advices from some of you guys. I’m actually considering leaving public accounting or accounting in general due to a couple of reasons. First I’m miserable and hate what I do, second I received bad review during my evaluation. In currently in a senior tax role and I don’t feel I’m performing at the level I need to and it’s mainly due to the fact that I don’t like what I do. Recently I been offered a job outside of accounting which come with hefty pay cut but I feel like I’m a good fit for it. I’m considering the offer but I’m worry on how to approach my current firm and what they would think if I tell them I’m leaving since it’s 2/13/15 and busy season is up on us? I know they would not be surprise by it due to my bad review and counseling meetings throughout this time. How soon should I let them know ? How many weeks of advance notice should give them 2 weeks or more? Please guys give me your thoughts and opinion.

[StephAV]

If they gave you a bad review, I'd give 2 weeks and move on. Why torture yourself and possibly risk being fired or forced out when you don't have another job lined up. I would just be cordial about it, thank them for all of the experience, but explain that you are not enjoying the work and it is time for you to move on to another opportunity.

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.

[Anonymous]

If you don't think you will want a career in accounting at all, then the fact that they'd give a bad reference won't matter. So, I'd tell them that you're quitting. As far as how long of notice to give, that depends on what level of obligation you feel. Realize that if they get mad, they can tell you to leave sooner than the notice you give – say you work out a month with your new employer and give a month's notice at your public accounting job, your current job could say “No, don't even come in tomorrow, just leave today”. Can you survive a month without pay? Or could you change your start date with your new employer? If so, then giving extra is OK. Definitely give at least 2 weeks, though. Also, you can give a flexible date – last time I resigned from a job, I told my boss I would stay at least 2 weeks and could stay up till a certain date, we settled on a date midway between the options.

All this being said…hating public accounting doesn't mean you won't like any accounting. If you're looking for a job change in the future, it'd be worth looking at some other facets of accounting. I can't say that you would or wouldn't like it, but there's enough variety that it would be worth trying.

P. S. Like Steph said, definitely be cordial and professional. Apologize for the bad timing, etc. Leave on as positive of a note as possible – make the timing be the only thing that leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

[JS867_5309]

I'd go ahead and leave, too. You're not obligated to an employer to be there during the “busy season”, especially if they gave you a bad review anyway. As far as notice goes – my company has a requested notice time in our employee handbook. For exempt employees like myself, the preferred notice is 4 weeks; non-exempt employees are 2 weeks.

Exam:I'm done 🙂 🙂 🙂
REG - 71 (2/22/14); 67 (4/3/14); 74 (8/29/15); 83 (2/29/16)!!!
BEC - 72 (5/24/14); 85 (1/3/15)!!!!
AUD - 72 (8/23/14); 76 (10/15/14)!!!
FAR - 77 (5/26/15)!!!

Started in 2013 using Kaplan and failed REG, REG, BEC, AUD. Switched to NINJA suite in Sept 2014 and passed AUD...then BEC...then FAR!
REG took 2 tries but I finally got it in too!
I'm a hard convert - Using NINJA method with NINJA video/book/notes/MCQ

Education: Check
Experience: 3 months left! I hit 4 years on May 30 🙂

[Mamabear]

I believe that by law if you give a notice and they ask you to leave that day, they are obligated to pay for 2 weeks because that is standard notice time period. I am not certain on that, but you may want to check it out so you go into it knowing your options. I would definitely leave. No sense in being miserable and if they gave you a bad review you aren't likely to get a good reference anyways.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply guys I really appreciate it. Quick question how should I initiate the talk in letting them know I'm putting in my 2 weeks notice. Should I first let the HR know and then the partner and director? Or should I let the Partner and Director know I'm putting in my 2 weeks notice or 3 weeks then let the HR Manager know afterward? They may ask me to leave right away or ask me to stay for more than 2 weeks since it busy season technically. How would you approach this in way to cordially and professional as possible?

[fuzyfro89]

First, Accept that you might not make everyone happy.

Next, unless you have a close relationship with someone OR there is any chance of someone talking you into staying for a while, I'd just send a formal note to HR and then make your personal rounds. First, let your engagement manager/partner know so they can start figuring out things. Next, any people you would like to stay in touch with after leaving the firm.

Giving 2 weeks is standard. 3 is generous. Any more than that and they're just taking advantage of you despite poor planning on their end.

[taxgeek83]

Maybe public accounting firms are different, but I work in a fairly large organization – large enough to have several levels of management and an HR department. If I were to ever leave, I would simply hand my resignation letter to my immediate supervisor and call it good from there. Management can take care of the HR end of things, or at least let me know if I need to do anything further on my end.

That said, kudos to you for recognizing that you are not happy where you are at, and taking the first step to finding a happier career – good luck!! 😀

[Anonymous]

Every job I've had, I turned in my resignation to my main manager/supervisor. I'd usually ask if there was anyone else that I needed to formally notify, but generally manager/supervisor is the person. However, none of this was B4, so standard practice may be different there.

[StephAV]

When I left public accounting we had 2 partners that handled a lot of the HR stuff. I found one of them and let her know I wasn't coming back. I left during maternity leave and had another month of leave remaining. I think it was obvious when I showed up during maternity leave with all my stuff.

It sounds like you are making a good decision for your career. Best of luck!

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.

[Author]

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