First, in either job, you need to find out if you have CPA's working that will sign off on your experience. Why do all this work just to fall short in that area?
I have been faced with this same decision. I had a couple higher paying offers on the table with better pay/benefits. However, I was afraid I'd be stuck doing A/P or A/R in an office all day long day in, day out. For some people this is a good choice and they are comfortable doing this. Nothing wrong with it.
There were a lot of factors to put into perspective. For me mostly it was the decision of where could I learn the most and become the most versatile/marketable in the long run? I also work in a small 12 person firm with 6 CPA's. In the year that I've been here I have learned more from them and have been faced with challenges that I probably would not in some kind of corporate accounting environment.
Think about it like this: you're struggling now but would you rather have the “fast nickel or the slow dime?” In a small firm you will encounter so many different situations, will be noticed more, possibly promoted, possibly become a partner in 5 years or hang your own shingle and get your own clients and charge them $150 – $200 an hour for your services. The hours during tax season will be hell as you may be the only one doing a majority of the work in the beginning i.e. marketing, bookkeeping, tax prep, meeting with clients, etc. But the long term payoff of those 4 months allows you flex time and the ability to make your own schedule. You will not have that kind of freedom or pay in a corporate environment. Unless of course you are fortunate enough to beat out the competition for a Controller or CFO position.
Where do you want to be in 5 years? In an office bean counting and dealing with inner office politics and drama or doing your own thing? In either case, define your expectations, set your goals and move forward. I'm also in serious financial crap because of where I chose to be but I figured sacrifices now will lead to big payoffs later due to the knowledge I'm obtaining. Also, there's always part time weekend or 2 evenings during the week where you can do some simple work i.e. wait tables, wash dishes, do anything to get you through this time in your life as it's only temporary. You can still study during the daytime on weekends and work in the evenings as well as study the weeknights you are not working. You never know, you could meet possible clients in the process.
That's just my $.02 – Good luck in your decision.
"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill
"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan
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