Partner lashed out at me – need advice!

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  • #192332

    Hello current and future CPAs,

    Today I had the displeasure of being yelled at by one of the Partners at my audit firm and I’m clearly upset 🙁

    A little background about me: I recently graduated from college with a Masters Degree (magna cum laude) and a CPA license. I always wanted to work for the Big 4 but it never happened as I was late in recruiting so all my top choices of audit firms were taken; I had to settle for a small audit firm. The small firm forced me to do a 4 month internship (with lower pay than being a permanent staff) before they took me on full-time; I had no other offers so I had to take it. Even though I enjoy the coworkers and the audit work, I have always been on the fence about leaving the firm for a larger firm. The main reason I am on the fence is due to lower pay(short-term and long-term), no benefits/401k matching, having to perform receptionist duties and having to clean the office.

    Today I was doing my job when the phone rang. I was in charge of answering and transferring phone calls. So I transferred the call to a manager but accidentally dropped the call. The partner was pissed at me and passively aggressively told me she was upset. A second phone call came in from a telemarketer came in. I blindly transferred the call to the Partner(I’m suppose to ask before transferring) and my Partner slammed the phone when she figured out it was a telemarketer. She then proceeded to yell out loud angrily “YOU BETTER BE GOOD AT ACCOUNTING BECAUSE YOU CLEARLY SUCK AT THIS”. She said it in a very mean tone(not as a joke). The whole office heard that and I was embarrassed and in tears. I have really grown to hate her since she micro manages everyone and clearly shows favoritism towards other employees (females).

    So what should I do about this? That situation really made me want to quit, so I think I am going to start looking for another job and while I keep working at the small firm. I was already on the fence about the job due to being underpaid during my internship and having to perform receptionist duties. Additionally, I feel under-appreciated, I am a very qualified individual with great credentials that small firms rarely get to hire(since they typically get hired by big 4/national firms). I would appreciate any advice, Thank You!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 26 total)
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  • #648906
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yikes! Hate that happened, I am not sure what I would do, but I like to think I would talk to her about it. Is there an HR department or person you could go to? It doesn't sound like that place is a good fit for you and you are surely under utilized, I would make it a priority to look while you suffer through that place.

    A lot of accountants/partners get so nasty during busy season. It always makes me wonder if they were surprised at how busy/tired and overworked they would be, hello! you signed up for this insanity!

    #648907
    win2bet
    Participant

    I would say definitely start looking for a new job asap, that kind of stuff is just too stressful to be a part of. Just don't burn any bridges, work there for now & hopefully you can get an interview somewhere & leave asap

    ,

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    #648908

    Under-utilized is my thoughts exactly.

    I also got screwed over because they promised me over-time pay with an average of 55 hours of week. In that scenario, I would have made similar money to being a full time staff, but they limited me to 40 hour weeks, so I am making very little money.

    Also before I signed, they never told me about having to perform receptionist duties and having to clean up the office.

    So I can't help but be mad at them for that. The partner lashing out at me was the last straw and I want to find a new place to work!

    #648909
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I am sorry to hear that. The meanest thing to see in any workplace. What was she thinking? Was she like hallucinating you were all in a reality TV show to act like that and she was wanting to catch the attention of everyone? That's so outrageously unprofessional of her! A closed door reprimand should be the most acceptable and appropriate response to that.

    I experienced the same mistakes you had taking and transferring phone calls when I was new at the same small office setting like that. Yes, I made a few mistakes with phone etiquettes in the beginning and I was so apologetic and my bosses had every right to not like me for those silly and yet curable mistakes. But they were nothing like that.

    She definitely owes you an apology! No one has the right to treat you like that, neither your spouse, nor your in-laws!!!

    I consider myself calm and little kind at heart. And I just cannot lash out back impromptu as well. I would be speechless too at that moment. But if it would have happened to me today. I would return to work the following day just to turn in my two-week notice.

    #648910
    mla1169
    Participant

    The partner was wrong to lash out at you, and if working for somebody who is easily set off is something you won't tolerate it's time to look for a new job.

    That said in any small company usually the crap work falls on the newbie. I will say I don't mind doing those types of tasks if that's what my employer wants to pay me to do. Even with all of my “credentials”, what needs to be done needs to be done and I'll roll up my sleeves and do filing, clean the break room and answer the phones and give every single task the same careful attention I give my budgets and financial reports.

    If you don't have the luxury of a full time receptionist or an in house cleaning crew, it just happens.

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    #648911
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Busy season is no reason to treat someone like this. Once you find another job, I suggest you include this paragraph in your resignation letter:

    Dear ___________,

    As much as I have enjoyed the challenging working environment at this firm, I feel it is time for me to move on with my career. I have accepted a position with _____________. I will miss my co-workers and the relationship with the clients assigned to me. I will not, however, miss Partner X for one second. I certainly hope that she is talented at bringing clients into the firm because as a supervisor and human being SHE SUCKS AT IT.

    Sincerely,

    #648912
    StephAV
    Member

    I would start looking and try not to take it too personally. Oh well, you suck at answering phones? Who cares! My husband sucks at loading the dishwasher. I let him know too. Maybe you can let the partner know she is welcome to answer phones during your shift if she is so bothered. How'd that be for some passive aggressiveness?

    Sounds like this is just not a good fit. I'd move on ASAP.

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    #648913
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Don't worry. I had a partner yell in my face too because I didn't know how to perform an audit even though they hired me knowing I had NO experience at all! He literally put papers in front of me an told me to audit something and I had no idea where to start, resulting in his face super close to mine and full on yelling. I'm not working there anymore thank God and heard the guy went out of business.

    #648914
    acamp
    Participant

    Start applying to every experienced hire position you can find at all the larger firms. They may or may not bring you in as “experienced” depending on the work you currently do. But even if they bring you in as a “1st year” it can be a blessing as the expectations for experienced hires creates a pretty steep learning curve.

    While I am not above doing menial tasks when necessary; being berated at all is crappy, being being an auditor who is berated for their lack of secretary skills is absurd.

    Other firms like people who are currently employed; so thank your current for keeping you employed which should help you land a new job!

    Also, be sure to check the ‘how qualified' and ‘how great your GPA' is at the door when you get interviews at other firms; while I think its your attempt to point out that you're above the tasks you're doing (which I agree with) it also comes across a bit arrogant.

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    #648915
    mkpaige1908
    Member

    I haven't read any of the responses above but based on what you originally posted you need to get the hell out of dodge. I would start looking at other firms and corporations ASAP. You went to school, got multiple degrees and a CPA license so that you wouldn't have to take that type of bull crap from anyone. Respect is due to a dog as the old saying goes.

    I'm sure that with your skills and credentials you can find something much better. I'm not sure how old you are but I can tell you from experience that you will run across A-holes in every job but you just have to decide how much is worth taking. It sounds to me like you're being abused which is not appropriate.

    Good luck and don't let those meanies get you down!

    #648916
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Go rent the movie “Whiplash” (it just won an Oscar). Your situation won't seem so bad 🙂

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    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #648917
    ijustwant76
    Member

    Good accounting folks are in high demand these days. You should have no problem finding something, especially with a Masters AND a freaking CPA. You DO NOT have to put up with that.

    #648918
    ridiqls
    Member

    man i would've quit on the spot and then posted about how im jobless haha

    perhaps..

    maybe i had to be there but it would've been real tempting to just walk out

    #648919
    ridiqls
    Member

    dub dub

    #648920
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    Look for another job…you aren't a secretary. This reminds me of one of my old positions where the CEO/owner would throw a fit if he called and didn't recognize his voice or ask “How may I help you?”

    NEW YORK- DONE

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