[HTXAccountant]

I’d posted recently about being a new graduate who is currently job-searching. Ideally, I would like a job with around a 40-50 hour work week, but so far it’s been tough to get any response from industry, as an recent grad with less than a year of accounting experience.

One of the interviews I’ve done so far was for a multinational investment management firm. I will be speaking with the recruiter next week about a possible offer (they said that they got good feedback from my interviewers and wanted to ascertain that I was really interested in the position/company, etc.).

On paper, it sounds good, but one thing that was repeatedly emphasized during my interviews was the fact that despite this being an “industry” job, it still has a lot of busy seasons throughout the year, where I might have to work public-accounting type hours. So far, they’ve said that November-through-the first half of December is the busiest time (12-hour workdays for about 6 weeks), and then it gets really busy again from January-March/April. Summers are apparently more normal, though (about 40 hours). I am very grateful for the opportunity, but the job sounds like it requires public accounting hours without the public accounting benefits (ie: once you’re in the mutual fund industry, you’re stuck, unlike public accounting where you can work your way to greener pastures).

Before I make a final decision–and I really want to be as careful as possible with it, because I don’t know how many options I will have in the future–I was just wondering if anyone else has worked/works in the TAX side of fund accounting, and how your lives/careers have been? I am especially curious to know how the “busy season” for mutual funds compares to that of public accounting (or any other industry).

[Thrawn]

Here's a little life lesson, any private sector job that is worth a lot towards building your career will be more than 40 hours per week. If you want a strict 40 hours you will probably be either in government, some sort of AR/AP/Clerk position, or Europe. There will always be busy times whether that is month-end, quarter-end, year-end etc. But that is a good thing.

BEC 87 Feb 14
REG 84 Apr 14
FAR 82 Nov 14
AUD 86 Feb 15

[TaxGod]

I actually work as an intern for an investment management firm. I cant speak to high level because im an intern but do you have any questions you think an intern could answer?

AUD: 02/28/15 - 89
FAR: 05/29/15 - 80
BEC: 08/03/15 - 81
REG: 08/27/15 - 76

[Anonymous]

I have never worked OT regularly except in public accounting. I have worked mainly for smaller companies but get generous compensation that i couldn't hope to match elsewhere. I'm very happy where i am. Just wanted to offer a different perspective.

[HTXAccountant]

Thanks for the input, everyone! I know that suffering more in the earlier years reaps greater rewards in the later, but as of now, I'm set on moving out of the country in a few years (unbeknownst to potential employers, of course), so I just want to be able to save up a bit and have time after work to study a different language.

@TaxGod: I think might tend to usually be a little easier on interns in terms of hours, but I will go ahead and ask. I'm mostly interested in knowing what the winter/spring season is like, since that is the “busy season” for mutual funds. If you have had experience working through your firm's busy season, how strenuous was it in terms of hours/work?

[TheGuyCPA]

I work in a large investment management firm. Work life balance is great. Tax has a busy season around November here.

FAR - 80
REG - 78
AUD - 88
BEC - 84

State of Illinois Licensed CPA as of September 2015

[HTXAccountant]

@TheCPAGuy: Thanks for the information! Do you know whether tax also has a busy season in the January–March/April months, as well?

[TheGuyCPA]

No we don't have that kind of last minute crunch. Mutual funds all have different fiscal year ends so reporting requirements will be spread out throughout the year.

FAR - 80
REG - 78
AUD - 88
BEC - 84

State of Illinois Licensed CPA as of September 2015

[Author]

Replies