[kcrc]

I’m currently a Senior Accountant in a large hospital. I’ve been working in accounting and finance for ten years. I went back to school for my Master’s in 2011 and completed the CMA and the CPA in 2012 and 2013. I still haven’t received anything but the standard inflationary raises they hand out to everybody. I feel like I should be transitioning into management for the next part of my career, but I’ve interviewed lots of places over the years, inside and outside of the hospital, and came up empty-handed. I recently interviewed for a lateral move within the hospital, but that doesn’t look to promising either. I definitely thought I’d be in a great management role with a great salary by 35. I’m now 18 months away from 35, but I feel like I’m years away from what a typical 35 year old accountant makes. My question is: is it time to think about other career opportunities since the accounting career isn’t happening? Does anybody have any similar self-imposed deadlines for life or career? Should I start focusing on something else like board positions, hobbies, networking?

[Missy]

Have there recently been management openings at your current job? I know in public there doesn't seem to be a limit to how many people can be promoted as long as they are qualified and have merit but in industry unless someone leaves or retires nobody seems to move up.

Now, if there have been management openings that have been going to people other than you, thats where I'd be concerned that they were either too comfortable with me where I am OR they are not seeing something in me that they need to see.

As for finding another job, I will tell you I had to kiss a LOT of frogs (over 300 applications and 50 interviews) to find my prince. Persistance will pay off if its what you really want.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Kettlepot]

I'd say to keep at it, you've eventually got to get a break that'll put you into that management position you've been looking for. This situation is certainly not unique to accounting. Is your Masters an MBA or a Macc? Mayyyyybe an MBA would be more worthwhile to hiring managers looking to hire a manager and not “just” a highly skilled accountant, but getting an MBA if you already have a Macc sounds awful.

Changing your career is a good way to put you way behind “what other people make your age” which is kind of a bad way to gauge your progress, but that's a whole different post all together!

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[kcrc]

There were recent management openings, but that was more of a restructure of the department in general and there were people working here 10-15 years to my 4 that were due.

One thing I've found in applying to Accounting Manager, Assistant Controller, and Controller roles is that they want 5-10 years of management experience now. They won't hire based on how much promise you have or if you've put in the time at the lower levels. That's PRIVATE though. I feel like public accounting is much more vertically oriented, like you mentioned, that if you just put in the time at staff and senior, you'll get to manager by 28, at which point you can defect to industry for twice as much money. There isn't any mobility anymore in corporate accounting. I only get calls from recruiters that want to place me in the exact same job I already have.

It's entirely possible (almost likely) that managers are judging something about me. I was laid off from a financial consulting job in 2010, but that was due to the recession. I was initially blackballed from a lot of second interviews, but I would think that five years later that that would be old news?

[Missy]

You really have to keep at it. My first manager role, I had never supervised anyone but it was in a niche type industry (manufacturing for primarily the dept of defense) and I was a good fit. Now I got flat out FIRED from that job, it was ugly (I refused to do something I was asked to do and threatened to report it) and was able to find another management job within months. Hated that job, continued looking and after 8 months there I landed this one. So I don't think youre blackballed, I think you just need to stack the odds more in your favor. I was applying to 8 jobs a day,most of which I was under or overqualified for just to keep getting resumes out and polish my cover letter (see what generated interest and what didn't). So while it seems like I moved on quickly I think I got out 10x as many resumes as most job searchers do and that is what worked.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[kcrc]

Kettlepot (nice name),

I got a MSA which is technically closer to a MAcc. I gave some thought into going back for the MBA, but if I've already invested this much in education, I don't see how getting more will help. It hasn't been a good ROI, NPV, IRR or payback.

[kcrc]

mla11692,

I feel like I'm in a black hole (career-wise) where I am overqualified for most of the staff-senior positions and under-qualified for the management positions. They either want someone with five years experience or fifteen, but never ten.

You're lucky you found a job in months and not (even slightly) longer. I had to take a couple temp jobs that employers still ask me about even though they were pretty basic. I also finished my Masters while unemployed.

[acamp]

Keep on hammering. Start applying to all supervisor/management rolls within and outside your company (there are lots of healthcare organizations).

Funny, I was working part time in health care doing admin type work while completing my masters and could NOT get a job internally in either of my educational fields (finance or accounting). I left to Big4, and then heard from my former manager that they were NOW interested in me for a finance position LOL.

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