Passing time

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #191425
    ala72
    Participant

    I’m in an interesting situation at my job where I’ve had a TON of free time. I’m not complaining and I know that any week now the tax season frenzy will hit and I’ll trade my firstborn for some ‘free time,’ but I was wondering what you all do in public practice when you have free time?

    I started about a month after graduating from my Masters program and in between little projects here and there I would study for my REG and BEC exams. I’m definitely not complaining, but since I passed my last exam I find that I seriously struggle to find things to do during the day when there aren’t any projects (or studying) for me to work on. I’ve done it all from shopping for my future CPA frame, hours and hours of online CPE, Wonderwall, etc. I’ve started to consider bringing a book/kindle/ipad to work to browse when waiting for projects to come in but I feel that that might be ‘meh.’ Thoughts? What are some things you all do when work is slow?

    Licensed NH CPA as of July 2015

    AUD - 74 (Oct '13), 84 (Jan '14)
    FAR - 79 (Feb '14)
    REG - 61 (May '13), 81 (Aug '14)
    BEC - 79 (Nov '14)

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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    Replies
  • #642607
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I am interested to see some responses. I have a lot of down time with my job (which I'm thankful for because of the extra study time), but I also have trouble filling it from time to time. There is only so many things to read on social media/newspaper/another71!

    I plan on bringing my ipad and reading during my down time when I finally finish my exams. It's something that I enjoy doing and I think it will help time pass quickly.

    #642608
    NJPRU
    Member

    I'd say study, but it looks like you got that taken care of! 😛

    AUD: DONE
    FAR: DONE
    BEC: DONE
    REG: DONE

    IM GOING TO BE A CPA!!!!!

    #642609
    Ntw6817
    Participant

    I just browse another71

    #642610
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I work in audit and right now I'm going through all of my old textbooks to really make sure I get the essential basics before I dive into busy season. I'm making flashcards with only the most basic and important things (like PCAOB assertions and AICPA assertions for balances, transactions, disclosures) too.

    #642611
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    When I worked in public I would pre-label envelopes. We gave clients envelopes for what they owed to the government and have it prepared with post-it size instructions. I would cut the instructions so we had some on hand. (Can you see why I switched jobs?) I'm in industry now and can't believe how much more I need to find things to do to pass the time. At my new job, they were using lotus 1-2-3 and exported the files into Excel. I changed all my spreadsheet's fonts so it didn't look like generic typewriter font. I also changed formatting and made sure calculations totaled properly (I also did this in public). I also prepare the next month's template between the previous month close and the end of the current month. A couple times I asked A/P if I can staple the check vouchers to the invoices. These are all mind-numbing tasks, but I have learned secretaries, payroll, A/P, administrative roles all seem to have “extra” work.

    #642612
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    My boss is out for the rest of the week. I have one quick project to work on and I will be studying away.

    #642613
    ala72
    Participant

    It's a really small office – 5 employees. I have my office right off the main hallway so I'm worried that if I client comes in for a meeting and they look into my office to see me reading on my Kindle, then it might not look so great. I'll get more projects as I gain experience but I can only browse another71, pinterest, and facebook for so many hours before I want to scream. Also, I ask the receptionist almost daily if she ever has a backlog of things to her help with and she doesn't. Do others think the Kindle thing isn't a bad idea and would be acceptable? Any other ideas?

    Licensed NH CPA as of July 2015

    AUD - 74 (Oct '13), 84 (Jan '14)
    FAR - 79 (Feb '14)
    REG - 61 (May '13), 81 (Aug '14)
    BEC - 79 (Nov '14)

    #642614
    TNCPA16
    Participant

    When I have some free time (and after I do my checks of A71, news, and blogs!), here's what I usually do:

    plan for upcoming audits (prepare workpapers, create request letters, etc.)

    – create training documents/manuals (I'm the only one who does what I do at my company)

    – create documents/packets for new hires (we have been hiring a LOT of people lately in IA!)

    – do research on areas I want to learn more about (there's always something to be learned)

    – developing plans for other projects outside of auditing I can work on

    – clean up and reorganize my desk and computer files

    I usually try to stick to work related items – being a one-man team, there's always something for me to be doing!

    #642615
    ala72
    Participant

    thanks all!

    Licensed NH CPA as of July 2015

    AUD - 74 (Oct '13), 84 (Jan '14)
    FAR - 79 (Feb '14)
    REG - 61 (May '13), 81 (Aug '14)
    BEC - 79 (Nov '14)

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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