[hasy]

Second post about job situation. Reaching my 90 day at work. About a week ago, I wrote about how I talked to my manager and I received feedback (not good) and I was questioned whether I’m cut out for accounting. I’ve been staying after work every day, reviewing my notes and work over and over (without billing it of course). I spent Sunday, organizing my training notes and all the feedback I received to make sure that my next job or task would be done correctly.

I don’t want to give up, but I don’t want to be let go either. I’m working mainly on ERISA audits and I’m struggling with the disclosure AND new disclosure requirements on the financial statements. We reviewed it during the audit meeting, but it’s still unclear to me. I’m almost always afraid to ask a question because I don’t want my senior to judge me or be critical of me again.

No one has made an indication that I’m performing that badly that I would be let go. But one of the staff that I started with, he got let go 3 weeks ago because his performance was poor. I’m trying so hard to not become him. I worry constantly that I might be let go though no one has asked meet with me to discuss my issues yet.

Can someone please offer some advice in how to deal with this situation? SoLost, if you’re still here, I read your post. I hope it doesn’t become that way either. I don’t have a family support but I believe my mom needs me to help her.

AUD - 83
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
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This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Anonymous]

@Hasy

It's a tough question to ask others for feedback on because you're going to get vastly different answers. In my opinion, work isn't something that I want to stress me out so much that I have to put in that type of extra time. I know that you don't want to quit, but sometimes you just have to recognize when something isn't a good fit. I am leaving my current position as an auditor after about 90-120 days because it's not something that makes me happy.

I would just say that you need to ask yourself if it is really something that you want to do with your life. If the answer is yes, then I would probably try to be more direct about communicating. There is nothing wrong about asking what the expectations for you are and whether or not you are meeting them. Honestly, if you are too afraid to ask questions then it's going to be difficult for you to ever get to a spot where you are confident and comfortable with your work.

Best of luck with everything, I hope it all works out.

[Mustang13]

I'm with Hendrickson on this one. Sometimes you have to know when to walk away. Life is to short to be doing something that is stressing you out a lot. With that being said, you have to recognize if it really is the job that is causing the problems or if it is all personal. I would think that they wouldn't let someone go that is trying like it sounds like you are. I would never fire someone if they are giving the right effort! I'm sure that if you stick with it it will come.

I personally didn't care much for tax accounting when I started my career. It was confusing and it seemed like I could never do anything right. Its been a year now and I really enjoy tax.

I think you will be ok! Just keep your head up and keep trying.

Whether you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.

AUD 73,77
BEC 74,76
FAR 66,79
REG 74, 81

[Anonymous]

Stay until they let you go.

This was you can collect unemployment.

So you no longer care what they think about you

ask all those questions you wanted to ask and learn.

They can not say you were fired when giving references.

They will take their time to fire you since they do not want the trouble.

[hasy]

Thank you for your replies. True, it makes sense to stay to collect unemployment, hopefully we don't have to result to that. Going to do more work and review my work more. I don't think that this is an end goal, I just want to do public accounting bc it can lead to better things. It's SO hard to get a job that I feel that I should stick with it. I wonder if it's the work or my learning ability. Because I've done private accounting before and lord that sucked more than I want to remember.

Does any senior auditor care to share their tips for success? Especially the ones that stuck around until Manager?

AUD - 83
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
-
This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[ruggercpa2b]

Make sure you are reviewing the notes timely and make an effort to not keep making the same mistakes. There is nothing more annoying as a senior than someone that keeps making the same error even after you tell them multiple times. You have to learn to adapt to work with different people that have different demands. I always hated that about being on 2 different jobs with different teams. If you are not sure about something ask. If you sit there quietly if I were your senior I would assume you know what you are doing. And then when you screw something you could have easily asked me about its not good. I would not worry so much about getting to manager. Focus on the now. And getting through your first year.

As an auditor you have to be confident. If you second guess yourself it will show and it will get people to question if you are cut out for it. I would take feedback and just that. And then whatever they told you to work on then show that you are trying to do better. Confidence is key. I would stick it out and keep working hard. Also I would avoid talking about the exam if they think the exam is getting in the way of work. Mostly because you don't want to keep pushing the exam back.

I have faith you can do it. I was the same way when I started out in public accounting. Didn't think I could hang but I survived for 2.5 years. It took me almost a year of being in audit before it all made sense and I could confidently say I knew what I was doing. You are still new only being there for 3 months.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[fuzyfro89]

Let me preface this by saying your firm may be a sh*tty firm if they let people go in barely a few months. That means their training is dysfunctional. Unless you stick your hand up a woman's dress or guy's pants, it's pretty tough to get fired for cause in just a few months for a legit reason unless you do something ridiculous (as mentioned) or if the firm is just trying to get rid of you.

“I'm almost always afraid to ask a question because I don't want my senior to judge me or be critical of me again.”

This sticks out to me. In a BAD way. You should ALWAYS ask for explanation. If you don't understand, then going back to your seat confused doesn't help anyone. The senior/manager assumes you understand and goes on with their day… later to find out you didn't understand. Rightfully, they will be annoyed if you don't ask questions and get it wrong than if you ask questions and get it right. Now, we all make mistakes, but you need to show progress. If I were you, I would start keeping lists and be SUPER CRAZY NUTTY organized with ALL the review comments you receive and then re-read those before you hand back work. Did you make the same mistakes again? Did you review your own work for x, y, and z?

A common misconception among new staff is that they are supposed to know the answers with little guidance. This is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. You are supposed to know when you don't know the answer, know to ask the right question(s), and find your way to the right answer… more often than not.

You can start looking for work elsewhere, but don't quit. You can either:

a) quit a job after a few months and try and explain that to a new employer while you are unemployed, or

b) work your a$$ off and likely turn things around, but if the firm is just a bad firm and they want to fire you, then you can work to explain how it was not a good fit, or they eliminated several staff, or some other reason

I personally see B preferable to A, but absolutely don't just wait for something to happen. Be proactive. Try and solve the problem. Don't sulk in the corner like a child and hope things get better. It doesn't work that way. Go fix it, or at least try.

[How many letters do you need]

Very good words of advice here. Textbook is always to start searching before you leave, but sometimes life isn't meant to be run by the book. I have been at my job for only 6 months, at my 3 month review I got vague terrible one word non-constructive criticism . When I asked for specific details or specific tips for improvement she just kept repeating her one word criticism. I'm not sure she even knew what it really meant. So then, about a month ago, she starts doing things that appear to be working against me, setting me up to fail and that kind of shit. Then she sits me down for the 6 month review. Repeats the same word. SAME word. Won't expand, says that I should know what she means. Says that she NEEDS me to improve over the next couple of months, but still can't elaborate or give me specific examples. It's been a long long time since I left a job without having one on the hook, but I took the weekend, thought about it, very politely explained to my girlfriend that I might be living the full on mac n cheese and kool aid lifestyle for a while, walked in this morning and handed my boss my resignation letter. Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[hasy]

Thank you again for all your replies. This post gave me a little confidence in how I approach my work, I'm still double-checking everything to make sure that it's clean. And I do realize that it's just a job, it doesn't control my life. I just happen to need the money since my family isn't doing so well. But I realize, I am young, I can find another job if it results to that.

I will try harder. Definitely not throwing in the towel.

AUD - 83
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
-
This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Author]

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