[l673h486]

I currently work for a big 4 accounting firm in a big city, far from home. I have 2 parts of the CPA passed so far and have been struggling to pass the final 2 parts. I’m not very happy in my current job or in this city and would like to move home, take some time off, and finish the exam. Should i quit my job?

[Anonymous]

How long have you been at the Big 4 job? In my opinion, the answer is yes. Focus on completing the exam and don't let them expire.

[l673h486]

Hi BrickellCPA,
I've only been at my job for a little less than a year now.

[Missy]

Can you afford not to work for 6months to a year after passing the exams? You may find a job back home right away or there may be a reason you moved for this job, but I'd be prepared for a challenge in finding something just to be safe.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

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

[l673h486]

Hi mla11692,
I have savings plus I wouldn't have many expenses, as I would plan on living with my parents for awhile. So money would not really be an issue.

[PubMaster]

If money is not an issue, resign and knock them out as soon as possible. Finding another job after you finish could be difficult, but you can spin it that you took time off to focus, and I think that's a good selling point.

[Son]

@l673h486, I'm frankly very surprised to hear anyone would suggest you quit your job, let alone a Big4 gig, and study. This same topic has been discussed multiple times, and the overwhelming majority agrees it hurts your perspectives more than it helps. Further, the market is tough, and finding a new job might be difficult.

As a hiring manager I would likely hold such a decision against you. If you can't pass the exams while working (and most of your peers at Big4s will do exactly that) it would make me think you have a thing or two to learn about prioritizing.

There are other options for you though. You can transfer to an office closer to your family (which is always easier than finding a new job), and you can also stick with your Big4 for about a year and then start searching.

Take all this with a grain of salt, just thought I'd offer a different perspective since so far everyone seemed to be in favor of this move.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Bluetoothray]

I too work at Big4 and have career plans that do not include the big 4 in 5 years, foreign service being one of them. That said I intend on staying in the big4 until I feel like I've received a comfortable amount of experience and exposure. Busy season is tough and I know that public accounting isn't for me long term, that said I think you have to consider what “jumping” points from public accounting are wise. I think less than 1 year is unwise unless you're accepting a super stellar position making a ridiculous amount of money with fast potential for growth. I think less than 2 years means you don't get the title of senior, which is basically the title of assistant manager. I think I'll stay until I'm through with my first year as senior, so I have a comfortable amount of experience, but I also haven't sunk too many years of my life in a career that I don't intend on having till I die.

AUD - Passed

BEC - Passed

REG - Passed

FAR - Passed

CPA - VA

[l673h486]

@Son

I managed to pass one test while working. During my down time at work I was constantly studying and studied probably ten hours every day on the weekend in order to pass AUD, and still was unable to pass. So I think it is somewhat presumptive to suggest that my priorities are not straight. Oftentimes, it is very difficult to plan because I'm never sure when I'll have time to study, and things come up at work unexpectedly. Further, I have reached out to the office in my hometown and they have communicated to me that they do not currently have any open positions at this time and probably won't until over a year from now. So it's either stick with the firm I'm at, in the city I'm in and be miserable for at least another year, or quit. I think part of the problem with this industry is the idea that everyone should be able to do it all at once. This kind of pressure has negatively affected both my life and my mental health.

[Bluetoothray]

Another good piece of advice I received is to never make career decisions during busy season. You will pass and you can work. I was working 60s and I was able to study and pass. Did I fail audit in January? Yes. Did I go on to pass Reg while in the midst of busy season 60 – 80 hours? Yes. It can be easy to make short-term decisions based on short-term pressures. This might be a longer term decision than you believe.

AUD - Passed

BEC - Passed

REG - Passed

FAR - Passed

CPA - VA

[l673h486]

@Bluetoothray

I think that's good advice, however I really would like to move back home and that doesn't seem possible with my current job. It would be different if I were closer to home or even liked where I live but I really don't.

[Son]

@l673h486, I'm saying this is how it will be perceived. And you're rarely given an opportunity to explain in detail every line in your resume to a potential employer. It will look like a gap in employment, and not everyone will look favorably at the reason you decided to quit.

I assumed you passed two sections while working full-time, but even one is good and indicates you can do this. One failure is not the end of the world, many if not most people fail one or two times. Things will slow down after busy season and you'll have more flexibility.

You'll find that the market is somewhat cruel, and if you search on this forum you'll see threads from multiple people saying how disappointed they were to learn that passing the CPA exam is not as important for finding employment as they thought. It certainly doesn't guarantee one. Big4 experience and a CPA license is a very powerful combination; less then a year of work experience and a CPA license look a lot less attractive.

My friendly advise: suck it up for as long as you can until you have another job lined up. Start searching right away if you're miserable, but don't leave work until you have accepted an offer from a different company.

p.s. Pro tip: use your parent's address on your resume when applying for jobs back home, employers sometimes look unfavorably at out-of-state applicants as they don't want to pay relocation costs.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Bluetoothray]

Very good advice @son. @l673h486, moving closer to home is important. Heck, family is more important than any dollar you might earn. That said, I like what @son said. Stick it out at least till your year mark. Also, I would develop a reason for why you want to work in a regional or local firm as opposed to “leaving big4.” it's a different attitude and mindset. It will help you mentally to look forward to starting something new near your parents and when interviews happen. An interviewer wants to know why you want to work for them, not why you don't want to work Big4. I interviewed for both tax and audit full-time positions. Interviewers asked me why I was looking into both. I explained that some people say they hate tax and as a result want to do audit or vice versa. This is a weak argument. You need to do something because you love it, not because you hate something else. The motivation and the drive is not placed in the right thing. The same thing goes for big4 vs non big4 or Public vs private accounting. Find a career, company, group, team, and community that you're passionate about working with and for. You can do it! Try and network within your firm with people in the office near your parents. Knowing a partner or manager in that office might help you get pulled on that engagement. Another 2cents, so 6cents total.

AUD - Passed

BEC - Passed

REG - Passed

FAR - Passed

CPA - VA

[Laprincesse]

Hello, I am experiencing the hardest moment in my whole life. I had my bachelor degree in 2914 from New Jersey City University and went to Ohio (Cincinnati ) to get my MBA from Xavier which i had in August 2016. 2 months before I starting looking for job 2 months graduated but I am still unable to find. what can I do that can help land a job? I had 4 years experiences acquired in guinea (from EY and a local accounting firm) prior to come to USA. I don't mind going for an entry level position but what i have realized after some of the interviews I had is recruiters would say either I am over qualified for the position or I don't have relevant experiences. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[Missy]

I guess its a matter of deciding what's more important right now, your long term career aspirations or your immediate well being.

Yes having big 4 experience is a nice plus to your resume. But even having it isn't a guarantee, and plenty of CPA's do just fine without Big 4 on their resume. So its a matter of staying to stack the odds in your favor at the risk of being miserable the entire time or doing whats best for you right now.

I know many of the replies are from very young driven ambitious career minded professionals and they represent the majority of the participants here. Its just not everything in the world. Big 4 is a great option if you can get 1+ years experience but if you'll look around here even those with that 1+ year struggle in the job market.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

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

[Author]

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