[Anonymous]

Hey guys. I’m a long time reader but this is my first post to the site. I know that there are some accountants out there who have gone through the situation I’m about to describe.

I am graduating college in late May 2010 and I have landed a position with an accounting firm to start in mid January 2011. I am taking a small vacation in June but will need a job from late June to early January before I start CPA firm work. I sat for FAR early May and will sit for AUD late May. I plan on sitting for BEC and REG in July and August. My question is how I should go about finding a position in my time in between graduation and my CPA job. If anyone out there has gone through this I would appreciate some feedback on the following questions:

-Should I tell possible in between employers about already having a future CPA position?

-Should I go for an entry level job w/o much responsibility as to not disappoint someone when I leave, or should I put my own interests before them and get the best position I can?

-Any answers regarding the correct ethical decision here

Some info that might also help: I’m graduating in with a double major in accounting and finance w/ about 158 hours. Thanks in advance for any help on this issue.

[financeguy]

Well I certainly would hold no guarantee's to a job starting Jan 2011. Hope for the best, expect the worst. Being a finance major I hope you are paying attention to world economics, things like the Euro possibly becoming toast, among the dozens of other major problems.

6 months from now things could get very bad here. I personally would try and find a job now, with the consideration that your planned job may not go through. I would not tell the employers about your future position.

Just to give you a bit of perspective of how bad the economy is doing: April federal deficit was over $80 Billion. The BIGGEST April budget deficit in the history of this country. Normally April runs a surplus because April is the month that everyone pays their taxes due. Didn't happen this year. Year over year, income taxes in April were down over 20%. Oh yeah, also, last year the April budget deficit was just over $20 Billion…remember, April a year ago, when the S&P had just hit 666 the month before and people were freaking out about a collapse…yeah, now this year w/ the so called recovery, the deficit is 4x bigger.

Find a job now, however you can, and take it. If I had to take a bet w/ anyone, which I would, I would bet there are no companies hiring in Jan 2011.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, thanks for the reply. I understand the national deficit and the current unemployment rate/tax cuts that ultimately play a roll in govt. revenue. I realize that a guaranteed position in these times (unemployment rate) might be anything but that, but public accounting is what I ultimately want to do. Assuming that the position is still available (which i do), do you think that it would be fair to take a good position without mentioning the fact that I could leave in a little over six months.

[financeguy]

Absolutely I think it is fair. Its all business. How many businesses here in America think about the impact of employee's and their families when they make cuts, outsource jobs, etc?

Take a look at public accounting and how they pull out young college grads and work them to the bone until they are making minimum wage or less per hour. Meanwhile, the firm charges unbelievable hourly rates for its work, and a few guys at the top become rich.

You gotta put food on your table. If that means working for someone for 6 months and then quitting, so be it. Its business. You may even end up really loving that job and decide to stay there, who knows.

Lastly, life isn't fair. You do what you have to do. Now that doesn't mean you have to put your employer in a bad position, but you got to look out for yourself first because there is no firm out there that is going to look out for you before they look out for themselves.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[NJCPA2B]

President Obama has already saved the economy! Busch left the economy in shambles and the market around 6,500 points and Obama and his administration has added over 4,000 points to the market…the market will be over 11,000 points before year-end…..Jobs always trails Wall Street…..things look real rosey and there will be plenty of jobs next year……..

BEC=77, FAR=78, REG=73,74,80, AUD=70,69, 84 DONE!

[Anonymous]

Thanks again for the posts, but I'm not really looking to talk politics here. Has anybody else out here been through this situation? Really just wanting some advice on how to approach a job market where I am only available for six months.

[PursuitCPA]

2 million college graduates are unemployed, not sure when the heck the media is going to cover this dire situation.

You have a job. Just study until you start working. Trust me you dont want to study while working.

CPA EXAM - Passed

[FARbehind]

NJCPA2B I hope you were trying to be sarcastic….

drive_is_my_asset concentrate on passing the cpa exams. this should be your first priority. with a degree and a cpa license you'll find a job, i am confident. pursuitcpa is right, studying for the cpa exam while working full time is not easy at all. i wish I had done this back in college… make it your goal to be done with the cpa exams before your job starts in 2011.

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[Anonymous]

I would focus on passing the exams first, and then enjoying your time off. If you do try to get a job for that in-between period, I would certainly make it very clear to your interviewer that you have another job lined up for January and have an intention to leave at that point. I would not burn any bridges – you never know who knows who. Now since any potential employer will be aware that you will be leaving in a few months, this will likely limit the types of job you could land, and you probably won't get anything that you would desire full-time if your January 2011 job offer does get rescinded for some reason. Therefore, I strongly suggest you just enjoy your time off. It is your last major break for you until retirement.

[abacus]

Studying for the exam and enjoying the time off would be ideal, but I imagine you have some expenses.

You might try an internship (not necessarily public accounting but anything in business) through your career placement office at your university. This would allow you to gain some experience while remaining ethical.

BEC 81
AUD 76
FAR 70, 76
REG 58, 78! DONE!

"I am not my intentions. I am my actions."

[Anonymous]

It is always a good idea, too, to communicate to your future employer that you are available to start earlier if needed. An opportunity may arise (a new client, specific engagement, etc) that may have a need in the fall/winter and they could have you start earlier.

[IL Davey]

@ Drive is my asset. I went through the same situation that you described. I graduated with a BIG 4 offer in hand but had 9 months or so before I started. For a while I struggled on how to approach the situation. I ended up accepting a full time job at a really great company for the in between time. In my interviews they asked me what my plans were and I talked about passing the CPA and gaining a lot of accounting experience. I did NOT say I am planning to work here for 9 months then leave for a BETTER job. That's a BAD idea.

People quit or get fired every day so you shouldn't feel bad for the employer that you will be working for in the mean time. Just work hard, like you are going to be there long term and when the time comes to start your “real” job give 2 weeks notice. There is always the option that you get a really great job and decide not to leave. That is ethical as well. If your job offer makes you wait 6 months before you start I am sure they have people lined up to work there and they will be fine as a company.

I hope this helps.

done!

[Zakath]

Your #1 concern should be passing all 4 parts of the CPA before starting in Janauary '11, because you'll be jumping straight into busy season and studying will be the last thing you want to do for the forseeable future. It sounds like you're well on track already, but I spent my 9 months working for a small CPA firm and just chillin over the summer which was a big mistake.

[NJCPA2B]

IL Davey, what you say should be the rule!……Employers don't hesitate to fire you when they want to! Everybody should realize that there is no such thing as work loyalty….you have to make the best carreer moves for yourself and don't worry about the company you are leaving….

drive_is_my_asset, you should take a “temporary job” and you shouldn't discuss your private goals with them if they hire you…use them before they use you..!

BEC=77, FAR=78, REG=73,74,80, AUD=70,69, 84 DONE!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice. My CPA firm is paying for Becker right now and I am definitely planning on working there in the future. None the less, I will keep my options open from now until then. I will plan on looking for an entry level position not requiring as much responsibility so I can finish my CPA tests by August and retake any of them the last window of the year if I need to. If I can find such a position, entry level banking for example, the break up will not be as difficult to make. If a more lucrative position becomes available to me I will have to ultimately make the decision of informing my employer or not ahead of time about my CPA firm position. IL Davey, thanks for the real world advice you have gone through in the past.

[skimcpa]

Honestly, if you have an agreement signed and whatnot with the firm you are signed up to work for, I wouldn't worry about it… I know with my firm we have not retracted a single offer made to a college graduate yet. We're pretty big too…

Also I know that the big 4 has seen some considerable turnover during busy season alone…in my opinion, it looks like the accounting industry may be falling back into their older ways in regards to high/quick turnover.

I would focus on studying, if I were you, and get a job serving at a restaurant or bartending or something fun. key word is fun..because once you start working, you'll likely not stop until you're in your 60s or 70s!

[Author]

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