[kudawudashuda]

So here’s the backstory, after not having a real job for a while and studying for my CPA, I recently landed an auditing job for a local CPA firm based in San Diego that specialized in governmental audits for schools.

The situation was unique because the LA office was not really an office and I was able to work at home at times and traveled to sites as necessary. I felt as if I got along with everyone, but after driving down to San Diego (from LA) on Friday for our firm’s training day, that’s when the trouble started. There was a secret meeting going on between the higher-ups and they decided I was not a fit for the firm. I drove again back to San Diego on Sunday to stay at the hotel for the night, only to arrive Monday morning to work with the news that I have been let go.

I was told although I have great technical skills, they felt my personality was not a fit for the firm, thus they decided to me let go. I was in utter shock because I felt like I formed a camaraderie with the people I have been working with for the past 2 months, and for them to do this me was so sudden and harsh. Throughout my stay at this firm, I never received any complaints about my personality or had any evaluations about my performance during my probationary period, which was 30 days when I started. Since the type of employment I had was an “at will employment” they can technically fire me without cause for anything they feel like.

Afterwards, I drove back home that morning, saddened and heartbroken. I felt like someone cheated on me with another person and in the end told me they did not love me anymore and that it was all my fault for ruining the relationship. Upon further inquiry with my coworkers and supervisors I found out that since my personality was the main issue (not my performance) they believed I would have never been able to be promoted to a senior, and thus it was not necessary to have me in the firm anymore. My director who hired me felt i had a “quirky” personality, but there were also complaints from the seniors auditors (from San Diego) that they didn’t like working with me and that they felt I was annoying.

Looking back, I feel like my coworkers thought I was annoying because I asked a lot of questions. I was a new hire and had received zero training from the people I worked with. Whenever I did work based on what one senior would tell me to do, another director or senior would say I’m doing it wrong and that I had to do it their way instead. Also I felt my personality did not fit with the firm because I did not play golf, participate in some of the coworker’s fantasy football league, or look or act like them (don’t want to bring up the racist issue, but 90% of the people were white).

Do you think I will be successful in my next auditing career? I wasn’t expecting this type of behavior in a smaller firm, and if I ever work for a mid-tier or big4, should I expect more nasty people? Thank you for taking time to read this.

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[acamp]

Zero training.

No coaching/counseling before axing.

Phuck them.

Shoot for a bigger firm that will give you training and values employees enough to work with them before axing. Not saying the Big4 I work for doesnt fire people, but I know its generally not a shocker to the people who get cut.

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

[kudawudashuda]

The common thing I was told to do was “look at the prior year's work papers, see what they did and try to follow the audit program”

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[fuzyfro89]

“Lack of fit” is a easy cop out answer. Wasting your time wondering why they let you go is… surprise, surprise… a waste of time. Let's go with the managing partner was a racist if that makes you feel better? Or Maybe the partner's mistress demanded a diamond necklace or his wife would find out and he had to cut your salary out to keep her quiet (I kid, sort of…). It doesn't matter. Not your problem any more.

Regardless, take a week or two off to get your mind off things. Get together a study plan to knock out FAR, and put together a recruiting/job search plan and go for both with your head held high!

Good luck!

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Racism/cultural difference is definitely a component. From the little you told me, it seems like that they didn't want to interact with you and were annoyed by you trying to talk to them and ask questions. I find ‘you're not a good personality fit' such a garbage reason. They say you are not fitting in, but you try to fit in but they don't want to have anything to do with you, but they claim that it is your fault that they don't want to.

I am a minority as well so I can relate, and although I was born here I've had a very not-normal life so not a ‘typical' American male.

Best thing you can do is be competent and know what you are doing (hard to do when you have no experience) and badazzle them with a good first impression by coming and looking to changing things, taking ownership of responsibilities and making improvements immediately. First impressions are pretty permanent, you cannot really change how people perceive you after they have made the initial judgement on you.

Also another thing I find is that having a good fashion sense and style somewhat offsets being a minority. As a minority you cannot get away with dressing down like your white colleagues because some people will assume that you are off the boat or use it against you. As a minority, you cannot slack in any area because it will more likely be used against you. Intelligence and qualification is not enough.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[Anonymous]

@ ScarletKingCPA:

“Also another thing I find is that having a good fashion sense and style somewhat offsets being a minority”

Ummmmmm…I think I get what you were TRYING to say here…but what you ACTUALLY said is that nice clothes “makes up for” being a minority…

Few problems with that:

A) Why is being a minority in and of itself something you need to “offset” in YOUR mind? I could see some racist jerk saying some crap like that, but not another minority!

B) While keeping a professional appearance is extremely important, if someone is racist/prejudice fancy clothes are not going to change their perception of you. Anyone who believes that is sadly mistaken.

C) What you were trying to say (or at least I HOPE this is what you meant) is that we as minorities must hold ourselves to much higher standards than our non-minority counterparts as not to give others a reason to complain about you to bosses. Point taken, but BRO you need to know how to better express that!!!!

@ OP:

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I can't say I'm surprised though. You're just going to have to regroup and hit the job market again. It's not fair, but you cannot let this hold you down…be resilient, persevere, and continue on with class and dignity. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT make mention of race when you apply for other positions and are called to give an explanation for this mishap. Actually, I wouldn't even include this on your resume so that you can avoid needing to have that discussion altogether.

IMO quality training is priceless so as acamp said, I'd be going for the mid-size/big 4 firms because training is one thing they are known for. You can and you will get through this

[stoleway]

Well said scarlet, my boss always ask me why I dress very nice to work whilst everybody including the boss himself puts on jeans or dress casually to work everyday….”I just like to iron out stuff just to stay awake and get ready for work” ( this has always been my simple response).

If you're a minority, your path to success is simple; try to be 3 times better than the majority, professional and educational wise. This is the only way you can survive and be successful in the market.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Being a minority is an obstacle, not that it is a bad thing, but it is just one more thing for people to hold against you and offsets that to a certain degree in their minds. Yes we have to hold ourselves to higher standards and actual competence, qualifications and education are not enough.

The thing is, most people are not blatantly and openly racist. Today's racism in the work place is far more subtle usually, with it being more of who people want to ‘network' and associate with, and actually nepotism probably plays a stronger role than racism in of itself but Nepotism and Racism plays off one another.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[kudawudashuda]

Wow awesome tips everyone! At my job, I made sure I was in a suit everyday for work, and sometimes felt like I was in the running for the best dressed there.

Perhaps I may have taken the race thing a bit far, but let me rephrase that to a location thing. I had a talk with the director that hired me and she told me she said my work and performance was fine. It's just during the meeting where the higher ups from San Diego where they decided I did not fit with their company culture. Perhaps it was just a clash between the LA lifestyle vs. San Diego?

Had a coworker just texted me today saying he and a few others were mad when they found out the news. The firm did a poor job on how they handled the situation because I arrived to work socializing with everyone, and the next thing you know I was pulled away from my group and ousted immediately. Sends a negative message to our small firm, I'm assuming since it was supposed to be like family (I initially felt like these people were my new “family”).

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Anonymous]

As much as people like to rag on Big 4 firms, they provide excellent training and are obsessed with diversity and inclusiveness (which is a great thing).

Seriously consider applying to a Big 4.

[san4596]

@OP – Stop wasting time speculating why you were fired, and simply ask if you can use them as a reference. I would not even consider racism an issue, unless you had solid ground for that conclusion. Yes, you fit in with all the employees, but a couple of the higher-ups didn't care for you. Probably because your were not a brown-noser and did not play their reindeer games, which I applaud you if that was the case. Do not change who you are for the people you work for.

On another note, there really needs to be a change in culture today. I have seen the race card thrown out in everyone's face for the dumbest reasons. Today's generation really needs to wake up, and realize most people are not racist. Yes, they are out there (on both sides of the table). Most of them are of the elder generation.

Perfect example: People have been complaining about the local school district for years, and the black community has stood out claiming racism. Mostly black school district and mostly black administration. Those complaining were mostly white and minorities other than black. RACE CARD THROWN! Within the last year, the Texas Education Agency had an investigation, and many things were found, which led to FBI raids. The CFO and controller had laundered over $4M, family members of purchasing agents being paid premium prices for materials, and the list just goes on. Fraud has been present in this school district for years, and to the point where they cheated on standardized testing to get the ratings up. The color of their skin is just a coinsidence. Instead of saying it's a race issue first, people need to come together and get the facts straight.

For the record, the color of my skin is white, but I classify myself as an American. American's stand together against all prejudice.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[mla1169]

My honest opinion-if they told you (or someone told you) that they felt your personality was “quirky” that's honest feedback. I can't see anybody using THAT as a cover story for another issue. Sounds brutally honest in my opinion. Not to say they're right but just that it would be a pathetic cover for something else.

That said can a quirky CPA find a meaningful long term career? ABSOLUTELY!

I wondered though, were you working with staff that was more local to the SD office? Did they feel like you were thrown on them by the LA counterpart? is there a political undercurrent between those two offices or could geography be seen as prohibitive?

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

In response to people stating that race is not much a factor in todays society.

Studies again and again have shown that resume's with Western European names receive significantly more call backs for a job interview compared to more ethnic names on Resumes with equal qualifications. I have witnessed it first hand.

Asian Americans make the most income out of any other group in America but when you take into account the education level Asian American's make less than their white counterpart.

Everyone doesn't need to be racist, all it takes is one somewhat racist established individual (socially or work authority wise) to create a toxic environment because established individuals will support each other, bond over the exclusion of others, and not want to rock the boat. As I said, I feel like the real issue today is nepotism with racism a compounding factor.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[LongShot]

Are we sure any of it was about race? I mean, if the company hated minorities then why would they have hired you in the first place? Hypothetically, if I were hiring for a job and was a racist who didn't want any minorities working there, I'd hire somebody else who's “more qualified” or “a better fit ” or something instead of hiring the minority to turn around and immediately fire them, simultaneously opening myself and the company up to an avoidable lawsuit. It just doesn't make any sense for that to have been a factor in any way.

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[ScarletKnightCPA]

This is something that people don't get about racism. Racism doesn't require hatred. It can just be indifference but a little bit of preferential treatment. We all know that ‘pretty' people tend to get treated better, same concept is applied to race. Does that mean that non-pretty people are hated? Usually not, but they have to make up for that disadvantage in other ways.

Racism is not an all or nothing factor. There are varying degrees of racism and impact.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[mla1169]

Scarlet I agree. I am (lily) white and have the luxury of not seeing even very subliminal racism. But my daughter's BFF is black and she's really educated me on a lot of what she's seen at a very tender age of 14.

That said, sometimes the boss that terminated an employee is just a tool and would have terminated his own kid.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

Replies