[Anonymous]

I recently passed the CPA exam and went to work for a public accounting firm. I HATE IT! Before passing the CPA I worked in several non-profits and really enjoyed the work. I found it satisfying and worthwhile. Public accounting firms just seem to suck the joy right out of life. However, I do need to fulfill the experience requirement before I can become licensed and am having trouble meeting the requirement of working directly for a CPA at a non-profit organization. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Suck it up. It's only a year.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it's the best I can do.

[acamp]

Hell I know Bill Braskey, hell of a guy! He once told me to suck it up, and as a result I stayed in public accounting and became the man I am today! To Bill Braskey!!!

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[soyanks]

I like Bill's advice. Sure, public accounting sucks. No one's denying it.

But everyone else goes through it as well. Even though it can be painful at times, i still think it's the best opportunity for someone right out of college to obtain necessary skills and experience for a long successful career in accounting/finance.

So suck it up. You will survive. And when your one year is up, go look for a new job. Having that Big 4 experience on your resume will help you as well.

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[OnMyWay732]

Do the requirement then look elsewhere. Life is way too short.

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!"

[Gatorgirl1231]

If you hate it that much go somewhere else and work directly for a CPA. That is what I am doing and I love my job!

Florida Candidate

AUD: 77
REG: 86
FAR: TBD
BEC: 79 (Expired)

[Determined CPA]

have a positive attitude and plow thru the year!

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.

[Anonymous]

Public Accounting doesn't suck because of the work; it sucks because of the people.

Ok, it sucks because of the work as well.

[Anonymous]

On that note, how long would you recommend being in public before looking elsewhere? I've only been in a year and am already putting resumes out. Is it reasonable to expect between $60-70k with a CPA and one year public experience?

[Gabe]

@audit…depends on the area (for salary ranges).. Most people I know say 2 years in Public. I, however, left after 1.5 years with a nice raise and only one part of the CPA exam passed at that time.

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[soyanks]

@Audit This. That depends on:

1) The market or the city that you work in

2) Type of industry (financial services vs. commercial, etc)

3) Whether you have a CPA license already

4) Your current base pay (because employers will usually give you a bump as a percentage of that)

If you hate your job, leave after a year.

If you are 50-50, stay until you make senior.

If you can somehow tolerate being a senior during the busy season, stay until you make manager.

If you stay even longer than that, then god bless you. You are a better man than I am.

If money is also important to you, you can switch your job every 3 years or so (especially in markets like NYC). It helps you move up faster and also, earn a lot more faster. That's working out for a lot of my previous co-workers from Big 4.

But if you do find one company that you can see yourself staying for awhile, you should keep that job. Those are rare.

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[funtiks]

Im a staff accountant at small CPA firm and all our clients are NFPs.

Most upper management are CPAs and can sign off on your experience even if youre in NFP

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't know why so many people hate public accounting. I think its a great learning opportunity and you constantly get to work on changing assignments. Private accounting is much more boring IMO although you don't have to put in as many hours in private accounting.

[PurpleK]

One of my favorite articles about millennials/Generation Y:

Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy

See chart with unicorns and flowers.

“While Lucy’s parents’ expectation was that many years of hard work would eventually lead to a great career, Lucy considers a great career an obvious given for someone as exceptional as she, and for her it’s just a matter of time and choosing which way to go.”

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am on the hunt for a non-profit accounting position with a CPA supervisor who can sign off on my work. It might be difficult though. I have worked for many, many non-profits the last 15 years and have yet to find one who had a CPA in upper management. Maybe it is a Colorado phenomena. Thanks Gator girl! I think our gender is a little more inclined to seek out a job that makes us happy rather than stay in misery. i am going for it!

[Anonymous]

@PurpleK – I enjoyed the read, I wish everyone in my generation would read the article.

[Author]

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