[jphantastic]

I did 3 years of public accounting straight out of college. For the most part, my job was great. Amazing co-workers (a lot of them are now my closest friends) and the hours were fine with me. I didn’t mind the long days and weekends because I was working with my friends. I eventually left because the only senior/manager I was forced to work under was a horrible person (to her core). So much so that many staff before me left solely because of her and more continue to leave after I have.

I’m now doing private accounting. My team is small. They isolate themselves. No one else in the company really knows/respects what accounting does. The relationships are definitely not the same here. I’m really regretting leaving my previous job. The senior manager and partner have asked if I wanted to come back. A part of me wants to go running back, but a huge part of me feels like I need to get out of accounting period. It’s never really come naturally to me. I’ve struggled all along the way. Perhaps it’s just the way that senior/manager made me feel? I wake up everyday dreading work.

I guess my point/question is: Have any of you or anyone you know transitioned from accounting to another career? If so, how and did having accounting background help?

This exam will be my second job for the rest of my life.

FAR: 74,74,74 [Rematch Aug 28 2014]
REG: 76
AUD: 79
BEC: 81

[Mayo]

do you mean completely new career, accounting related, or either?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[jphantastic]

Either accounting related or completely different and unrelated.

This exam will be my second job for the rest of my life.

FAR: 74,74,74 [Rematch Aug 28 2014]
REG: 76
AUD: 79
BEC: 81

[Tux]

Remember that there will be terrible jobs in ANY career. So, just because you had a couple bad experiences doesn't mean you need to start over.

However, it's good that you're re-evaluating to make conscious choices about going in the right direction from here….

Think about what you like about accounting and what you don't like.

What are you good at, and what parts do you struggle with?

Remember that there are many different areas of accounting – there's the bookkeeping part, tax, audit, etc

Consider your personality – it sounds like you enjoy working on a team, more than just by yourself.

So, that's an important piece of the puzzle. Do some research and decide what kind of work allows you to work with others.

But, again, you might not always be with others that you enjoy. So, that's a risky part of the career too.

Maybe you can go into financial planning. If you're outgoing and enjoy meeting new people, you can be proactive at getting new clients for a firm.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Anonymous]

I know a guy who got sick of accounting and wanted an outside job.. So he got a job working for an excavating company (he was related to the owners) and he did that for a while but then realized that it was a stupid move and he moved back into accounting..

If you work in public accounting I don't think like you will ever feel it “comes naturally” to you. I know in my public accounting experience there is always something new – at least we don't get bored!

As for a career move, you definitely do not have to stick with accounting. Most people switch careers around three times I think. However, I live in Minnesota and had previously done construction work (I actually worked in the oilfields in ND last summer) and I can't tell you how many times this winter I looked outside and was glad that I was doing accounting. But I have less than a year of public accounting experience so who knows if I will be in it for the long haul?

[Anonymous]

Dude, there is no way you got three straight 74s on FAR. I have never seen anything like that. God bless you.

[michaelabs22]

Hey. I made the switch from public accounting to being the CFO in a school. It can be fairly repetitive at times, but the hours are amazing, benefits are good, and pay is actually quite good. I made the switch because in my accounting firm I was pushed to do a lot of financial management for our clients that were schools, but was still stuck with the public hours and other work.

It might not be my last job ever as I'm only 30, but I love it right now.

A - 10/28/12 - Passed!!!
B - 11/20/12 - Passed!!!
F - 11/12/13 - Passed!!!
R - 02/01/13 - Passed!!!

Work Experience - Done!
Ethics Exam - Boom! Done!

RI Licensed CPA.

[jphantastic]

Thanks for the advice/insight everyone!

And yes,Bobcat87, I got 3 74's in FAR. I decided to move on and started passing the other ones (on the first attempt) and now back to it…

This exam will be my second job for the rest of my life.

FAR: 74,74,74 [Rematch Aug 28 2014]
REG: 76
AUD: 79
BEC: 81

[Author]

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