Job Dilemma! Please Help! Advice Needed!

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    Topic
  • #181354
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hey Ninjas!

    I am in a slight dilemma! I recently graduated with a BBA in Accounting back in May of this year and shortly after took a job as an accounting clerk or at least what they call it. After interviewing with the company that I currently work for as an accounting clerk I quickly discovered the position is far from accounting but that’s what they advertised and hired me for. So I have been there for a little over 3 months now making $12 an hour, not learning anything valuable or related to accounting. This frustrates me everyday that I go in, that I am working with a bachelors degree for a job that only requires a high school diploma and the girl who works on the opposite side of me has a high school diploma and makes the same as me. I have addressed my concerns with the financial controller of the company and he seems to not understand where and why I’m frustrated. But it really explains a lot to me that no one in the entire accounting department other than myself and another woman have accounting degrees, everyone else including the controller have just a bachelor of business. My dilemma is I want to leave and pursue my dreams in public accounting but I also realize that I only been with the company for 3 months and I feel that may turn some future employers off because of the fact that I was there for a short period of time. Also, I am currently pursuing my MSA online and will be done in May 2014 should I stay until I’m done then move on to bigger things or should I move on to bigger things as I complete my masters just to give me some time. feedback please!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 30 total)
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  • #461966
    KADFC
    Member

    Jump ship after you found a new one? It sounds like you are in private, but want to go into public. Not sure if that's the case such you don't mention much about your duties there.

    FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
    AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
    REG - 69 (4/8/14)
    BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

    #462059
    KADFC
    Member

    Jump ship after you found a new one? It sounds like you are in private, but want to go into public. Not sure if that's the case such you don't mention much about your duties there.

    FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
    AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
    REG - 69 (4/8/14)
    BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

    #461968
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What about public accounting makes your “dreams” be in public accounting? I think figuring out – and sharing – that will help you know what you want more and help us know better how to advise you.

    Without knowing that, though… Don't underestimate your current position. I left public accounting to take an accounting clerk position. Few reasons: It paid better than my public job, it gave me a window into private, and it allowed me to see private from the ground up. I honestly think that working in the lowest-level positions within an career greatly aids one's ability to do better in the higher up ones. Think about it – if you are one day an auditor, being familiar with the day-to-day actual work of the clerks will help you understand the risks, the effective safeguards, the common breaches of internal control (you know – the “hey DSP, I forgot my password, can I borrow yours?” that might happen in the privacy of clerks-only time, but they wouldn't dare say in front of an auditor!), etc. I'm not saying that if you go apply for an auditor position they'll necessarily see it that way, but I am saying that it contributes to making you a well-rounded accountant. My aspirations are within private accounting, and I think that this “front lines” experience is very valuable for me. Someday, I hope to be my boss's boss (or that equivalent position, not necessarily with this company). My boss has had several bosses who had no clue what the actual work was like in our office and thus were comparatively ineffective. I think that my ability to be a CFO or senior accounting manager will be greatly enhanced by having spent some time as an accounting clerk.

    The only accounting career that I can't see being benefited by clerk experience would be that of tax accountant. But auditors, governmental or private accountants, etc., would be benefited by clerk experience, IMHO.

    More importantly, your resume would be very highly benefited by more than 3 months with an employer! Try to approach your job each day looking for a way that you can learn from it, rather than thinking about the qualifications of the person working next to you. Whatever your dream job is, look to glean as much as you can from your day-to-day. Conversations with your boss and/or the accountants in the office may be beneficial; speeding through your work so you have time to assist them; etc. You are in an accounting office, and that means that you have the opportunity to learn lots. And…you now have the word “accounting” in your job history on your resume.

    #462061
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What about public accounting makes your “dreams” be in public accounting? I think figuring out – and sharing – that will help you know what you want more and help us know better how to advise you.

    Without knowing that, though… Don't underestimate your current position. I left public accounting to take an accounting clerk position. Few reasons: It paid better than my public job, it gave me a window into private, and it allowed me to see private from the ground up. I honestly think that working in the lowest-level positions within an career greatly aids one's ability to do better in the higher up ones. Think about it – if you are one day an auditor, being familiar with the day-to-day actual work of the clerks will help you understand the risks, the effective safeguards, the common breaches of internal control (you know – the “hey DSP, I forgot my password, can I borrow yours?” that might happen in the privacy of clerks-only time, but they wouldn't dare say in front of an auditor!), etc. I'm not saying that if you go apply for an auditor position they'll necessarily see it that way, but I am saying that it contributes to making you a well-rounded accountant. My aspirations are within private accounting, and I think that this “front lines” experience is very valuable for me. Someday, I hope to be my boss's boss (or that equivalent position, not necessarily with this company). My boss has had several bosses who had no clue what the actual work was like in our office and thus were comparatively ineffective. I think that my ability to be a CFO or senior accounting manager will be greatly enhanced by having spent some time as an accounting clerk.

    The only accounting career that I can't see being benefited by clerk experience would be that of tax accountant. But auditors, governmental or private accountants, etc., would be benefited by clerk experience, IMHO.

    More importantly, your resume would be very highly benefited by more than 3 months with an employer! Try to approach your job each day looking for a way that you can learn from it, rather than thinking about the qualifications of the person working next to you. Whatever your dream job is, look to glean as much as you can from your day-to-day. Conversations with your boss and/or the accountants in the office may be beneficial; speeding through your work so you have time to assist them; etc. You are in an accounting office, and that means that you have the opportunity to learn lots. And…you now have the word “accounting” in your job history on your resume.

    #461970
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @KADFC I work in private currently. My specific duties in the company since it happens to be a printing /manufacturing company is account for postage. Everyday I receive a report from the warehouse stating how many stamps they used or how many pieces of mail went through the pitney bowes meters and I basically cross reference between the report and the actual pieces to be mailed just to check there aren't any price discrepancies. Also, since we have a number of clients, our clients give us access to their postal accounts with usps which happens to have money in them so when I'm done with cross referencing, I pretty much submit the transaction for the amount of stamps that needs to come out of each clients account. Pretty boring!

    #462063
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @KADFC I work in private currently. My specific duties in the company since it happens to be a printing /manufacturing company is account for postage. Everyday I receive a report from the warehouse stating how many stamps they used or how many pieces of mail went through the pitney bowes meters and I basically cross reference between the report and the actual pieces to be mailed just to check there aren't any price discrepancies. Also, since we have a number of clients, our clients give us access to their postal accounts with usps which happens to have money in them so when I'm done with cross referencing, I pretty much submit the transaction for the amount of stamps that needs to come out of each clients account. Pretty boring!

    #461972
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Your work actually sounds like it could be described as auditing the postal function. It's not bean-counting accounting, but it's auditing-accounting. Yeah, it's not glamorous, but I'm pretty sure that first-year auditors don't do anything more glamorous! And first-year tax accountants are pretty much just data entry – either “add up this box full of receipts that the client gave us” or “take the amount in Box 1 of the W-2 and put it in Box 1 on your computer screen”.

    I'm not saying this to talk down about accounting jobs, but rather to point out that like I said above, there's probably something you can take from this. It sounds like the work that you do is every bit as “accounting” as most first-year jobs, you just need to find the ways to learn from it!

    My accounting clerk job is in the accounts receivable department, so my ongoing duties are to create invoices. The production departments enter the information in the computer, and I pull it through one part of the program and the other (like, push “Save”, then go to the next screen and open it and push “Save” again), and verify that the end invoice has the date, line amounts, and amounts that were on the sample invoice sent from production. Not that glamorous. But by being efficient with that, I am able to assist with other things and learn a lot – from my boss, from my own experimentation, etc. I had a simple project to do in Excel and a lot of time to do it in, so I decided to take it a step further. I have been working in Excel for about 15 years, but I learned a few new, useful tricks while working on this spreadsheet the other day. Right now. I'm in a position where I can take 3 hours to figure out how to automate a process in Excel; in 5 years, I hope I won't have that time, so I try to make the most of it now. These are the types of opportunities you have to look for!

    #462065
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Your work actually sounds like it could be described as auditing the postal function. It's not bean-counting accounting, but it's auditing-accounting. Yeah, it's not glamorous, but I'm pretty sure that first-year auditors don't do anything more glamorous! And first-year tax accountants are pretty much just data entry – either “add up this box full of receipts that the client gave us” or “take the amount in Box 1 of the W-2 and put it in Box 1 on your computer screen”.

    I'm not saying this to talk down about accounting jobs, but rather to point out that like I said above, there's probably something you can take from this. It sounds like the work that you do is every bit as “accounting” as most first-year jobs, you just need to find the ways to learn from it!

    My accounting clerk job is in the accounts receivable department, so my ongoing duties are to create invoices. The production departments enter the information in the computer, and I pull it through one part of the program and the other (like, push “Save”, then go to the next screen and open it and push “Save” again), and verify that the end invoice has the date, line amounts, and amounts that were on the sample invoice sent from production. Not that glamorous. But by being efficient with that, I am able to assist with other things and learn a lot – from my boss, from my own experimentation, etc. I had a simple project to do in Excel and a lot of time to do it in, so I decided to take it a step further. I have been working in Excel for about 15 years, but I learned a few new, useful tricks while working on this spreadsheet the other day. Right now. I'm in a position where I can take 3 hours to figure out how to automate a process in Excel; in 5 years, I hope I won't have that time, so I try to make the most of it now. These are the types of opportunities you have to look for!

    #461974

    @DSP4Life, seek out staff accountant position instead of your current one in order to get introduced and gain more or less of true accounting experience.

    In general, positions such as “Accounting Clerk”, “Accounting Specialist”, etc., are for those with AAS degrees. Compare that to “Staff Accountant” or “Accountant I” – these are entry-level for those with B.S. degrees.

    Similarly, “Tax Preparer” position very much differs from “Tax Accountant” position both in education requirements and scope of work.

    Another job-seeking tip for your future interviews: apply to jobs that have accounting manager with CPA or CFA credentials or master's and inquire during the interview of how many employees in accounting department are already CPA or working on that (passed some parts). This is usually great indicator (at least have been in my experience) of determining potential quality of the employer among other things. I've always looked for a boss or immediate supervisor that has more experience AND comparable or more education than me.

    Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
    CPA license pending 🙂

    #462067

    @DSP4Life, seek out staff accountant position instead of your current one in order to get introduced and gain more or less of true accounting experience.

    In general, positions such as “Accounting Clerk”, “Accounting Specialist”, etc., are for those with AAS degrees. Compare that to “Staff Accountant” or “Accountant I” – these are entry-level for those with B.S. degrees.

    Similarly, “Tax Preparer” position very much differs from “Tax Accountant” position both in education requirements and scope of work.

    Another job-seeking tip for your future interviews: apply to jobs that have accounting manager with CPA or CFA credentials or master's and inquire during the interview of how many employees in accounting department are already CPA or working on that (passed some parts). This is usually great indicator (at least have been in my experience) of determining potential quality of the employer among other things. I've always looked for a boss or immediate supervisor that has more experience AND comparable or more education than me.

    Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
    CPA license pending 🙂

    #461976
    mla1169
    Participant

    What did the job listing say, specifically? Did it actually list other job duties that they're not having you do?

    Of course if you're unhappy with your job, you should begin a search. Not worth continuing to be unhappy longer than you have to. But be sure to ask more questions during interviews. I'm unclear as to why you feel frustrated or what you were hoping for from your controller. It sounds like you were nervous and took the first job offer you received, which most of us do, but starting to compare your credentials to your peers and your management is a mistake.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #462069
    mla1169
    Participant

    What did the job listing say, specifically? Did it actually list other job duties that they're not having you do?

    Of course if you're unhappy with your job, you should begin a search. Not worth continuing to be unhappy longer than you have to. But be sure to ask more questions during interviews. I'm unclear as to why you feel frustrated or what you were hoping for from your controller. It sounds like you were nervous and took the first job offer you received, which most of us do, but starting to compare your credentials to your peers and your management is a mistake.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #461978
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @mla1169 The job listing sounded just like an accounting clerk position. I feel I was deceived because after the interview and after signing the papers for human resources. The controller then called me in his office and said what I'll be doing is a little different and nobody really wants to do it. But the listing is below.

    Accounting Clerk

    The purpose of this position is to provide critical financial analysis and accurate recordkeeping. Also, to assist the accounting team in monthly reports and year end reports.

    Major Duties and Responsibilities

     Assist in month end reporting procedures

     Process accounts payables and receivables as needed.

     Perform filing and general administrative tasks

    General accounts receivable functions

     Prepare and submit customer invoices

     Code, post and receipt payments

     Prepare and coordinate deposit activities

     Perform all necessary account, bank and other reconciliations

     Monitor customer accounts for non-payment and delayed payment

    General accounts payable functions

     Check, verify and process invoices

     Sort, code and enter accounts payable data

     Analyze discrepancies and unpaid invoices

     Maintain vendor files

    #462071
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @mla1169 The job listing sounded just like an accounting clerk position. I feel I was deceived because after the interview and after signing the papers for human resources. The controller then called me in his office and said what I'll be doing is a little different and nobody really wants to do it. But the listing is below.

    Accounting Clerk

    The purpose of this position is to provide critical financial analysis and accurate recordkeeping. Also, to assist the accounting team in monthly reports and year end reports.

    Major Duties and Responsibilities

     Assist in month end reporting procedures

     Process accounts payables and receivables as needed.

     Perform filing and general administrative tasks

    General accounts receivable functions

     Prepare and submit customer invoices

     Code, post and receipt payments

     Prepare and coordinate deposit activities

     Perform all necessary account, bank and other reconciliations

     Monitor customer accounts for non-payment and delayed payment

    General accounts payable functions

     Check, verify and process invoices

     Sort, code and enter accounts payable data

     Analyze discrepancies and unpaid invoices

     Maintain vendor files

    #461980
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    lol thats completely different from what theyre having you do

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