[tcano0013]

Wondering to see if anyone feels the same…

I am 24 years old and since i graduated college in 2014, I’ve been working in public accounting. I started at a small firm and worked there for 2 years and have recently moved to a larger firm (20-25 employees). I have been studying for the exam for the past year now and have 2 exams (REG and BEC) passed.

Lately more than ever, i have felt that i am in the wrong field. Shortly after i began my professional career, i realized most of what i learned in college did not translate into real world accounting (dealing with clients, talking to the IRS, etc.).

I majored in both finance and accounting. I guess the point of this post is to see if anyone has gone through any similar feelings. Has anyone ever left public accounting to seek green pastures, and if so, what was your experience?

My fear is that if i ever decide to leave accounting and find out i want to return, will i have trouble finding a job?

Hopefully this is just a rut i got myself in from being rundown from tax season/studying (I just took AUD on 5/8), but I would like to hear if anyone has felt/done anything similar to what i described.

Thank you fellow ninjas! Appreciate any and all responses

[Anonymous]

No one “likes” public accounting. They might become acclimated to it or enjoy the learning and experience, but no one truly likes being overworked and underpaid.

You have to look at it from a different angle. Your goal is to become a director or partner or to eventually start your own business one day. Public accounting is simply a stepping stone. It is boot camp for the higher level positions.

[Tscape16]

I'd like to echo what BrickellCPA pointed out. Nobody LOVES public accounting (except for people that don't have lives anyway), they are just driven to get to that final step (Partner/Director), which keeps them going. When I work those long hours during busy season, I want to quit daily. Now that the fog has lifted, I can say I'm truly enjoying my work and know why I am here, which is to gain experience, learn new audit methodologies, and build that resume or work my way up the chain (haven't decided yet). If you've already decided you want out, I'm sure with a few year's experience you could find something in industry easily.

AUD - 92
BEC - 86
FAR - 90
REG - 82

Licensed CPA since 2015.

FAR - 90 ✔
BEC - 86 ✔
REG - 82 ✔
AUD - 92 ✔
ETHICS - Passed

*Licensed CPA

[Trele6]

Maybe you should transition to industry instead of public. It is a very different lifestyle and balance of time.

B - 80 Jun16
A - 74 Aug16, 77 Oct16
R - 87 Nov15
F - 79 Apr16
Ethics - 98 Nov16
Licensed in New Mexico Dec16

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[M123]

24 years old, one the way to being a CPA and have 3 years experience already. That is not shabby by any standard.

Since I'm more experienced in my career – I always tell new graduates – travel while you can. If you have any inclination – that's a great way to increase your perspective. You may even learn something awesome like someplace you may want to live or meet the love of your life. Who knows.

Maybe you take some time off for yourself as a reward for passing the CPA.

But as far as public – I think many people love it. It's a necessary industry for society. As I say frequently – if I had half the knowledge of a CPA when I graduated college my whole destiny would have been diff. You have that advantage.

After considering traveling, then I'd also suggest considering punching different clocks – you're doing tax – try a different flavor of tax, try assurance, do some rotations. At your stage this is not only acceptable but expected. Maybe you'll find an industry or specialty you love. But when all that is said and done when you want to go into a “boring” industry role, you'll be so ready that nothing could stop you.

AUD - 77
BEC - 81
FAR - 77
REG - 81

REG - 1. Becker only - fail (forgot to study depr - oops); 2. Becker only - Pass
FAR - 1. Becker only - fail; 2. added Ninja Notes and MCQ - Pass
AUD - 1. Becker videos; Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass
BEC - 1. Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass

[Substantive Testing]

What was your motivation to start a job at public accounting? My 2 cents is, stick to your job until you are very sick of it and 100% sure that you are never going to look back. I am 26 with CPA and 3 years of experience in public accounting, and I have thought millions of times to switch out but was never 100% sure, so I am still doing it.

AUD - 75
BEC - 75
FAR - 81
REG - 78

 

CPA ex-auditor

 

[Small4]

public accounting is never “fun”….unless you are Ben Affleck from The Accountant or something like that….the point being, the tough times do happen but it does pay off especially once you can legitimately state that you have a few years in public accounting to move forward. “Greener pastures” is a very common term to use to assume that there are far better jobs out there. Although it does exist, usually those who truly find happier work settings are those who truly value the things you get out of working outside of public accounting (i.e. flexibility, less demanding, less travel) and not comparing the actual job itself. Private industry can get “boring” sometimes. As the person above stated, you are only 24 and already have 2yrs of experience plus about to get a CPA soon. So in my opinion, you should research on what you ultimately want to do work wise (i.e. stay in tax? do you like audit more or general corporate accounting? How do you value free time now or how you value it when you are in your late to mid 30s)….

Coming from a person who also left after a few years…there is definitely a plus in terms of a true work-life balance (but remember it still depends on where you land in industry bc your team can be awful or you can get lucky and have very good people to work with) BUT there are negatives too (pay not as good perhaps, corporate accounting in-house can get real mundane and repetitive since processes by old bosses whos been there 20-25 yrs dont change and you can feel “stuck”).

Good luck and i hope you find the avenue that makes you happiest for both short and long term!

AUD - 77
BEC - 75
FAR - 82
REG - 77

-Becker (do all mcq, period),
-Buy NINJA mcq (68% trend), and
-PRINT trouble topics.

-Also Used WTB mcq (68% trend).
-Do 40-50 SIMs and read answers/try to learn from solutions like its a book example.
-Lastly, when having trouble with same topic, go big picture and watch trouble lecture

BEC - 68,70,72,75 5/15
AUD - 78(expired), 77 8/15
REG - 29,58,65,77 1/16
FAR - 56,68,73 - retake October hopefully (last shot)

Been doing this since 2007 on and off...

[LonelyRonPaul]

The grass is not always necessarily greener my friend. I'm 28 and a staff accountant at a large public company (just got bought recently) and it definitely gets very boring sometimes. Same repetitive processes, same month close, same account recs over and over. It's definitely a 9-5 experience, so no long hours. Great work life balance. But I'll be damned if I'm not bored out of my skull a lot of the time due to lack of work. And this is with asking supervisors what else I can work on.

Some people are fine with that and they would probably love a job like that haha. But being in this job for a little over two years has made me realize that I don't think I can do the standard corporate finance path of staff>senior>mgr>controller. I'll be laid off within a year due to this merger and I'm taking this opportunity now to explore my options in public since I never went that route. Even if it means longer hours. I find myself needing to be constantly challenged and I'm excited to try it out. Been very interested in trying out tax and possibly turning that experience into starting my own business in the future.

AUD - 87
BEC - 80
FAR - 78
REG - 78

DONE!!!

FAR: 5/7/16

AUD: 7/16/16

BEC: 8/27/16

REG: 12/3/16, 2/11/17

FAR - 78, 5/7/16
AUD - 87, 7/16/16
BEC - 8/27/16
REG - 12/3/16

[Anonymous]

I didn't work in public, so I can't relate. However, if you are feeling dissatisfied with your current role, I would consider transitioning into industry before abandoning accounting completely. Industry typically gives you a much greater work/life balance and a bit more stability. I know some people mentioned industry can get boring. I think that can be true. However, if you work for a good company that is open to changing processes and gaining efficiencies, that can be a good way to keep yourself from getting bored while making a name for yourself.

[ellejay]

Hi Timothy – do you think it could be the firm that you are with?

I am feeling similar. I do like the work that I do in public, but when I went into this profession I was completely ignorant of the lifestyle. I didn't know about the long hours specifically, or the age issues that tend to occur if you are an older candidate at a larger firm. I have started to second guess my decision, and I've been working in public since 2013. I'm older, female, and have young kids (I'm in my 30s) so my experience is probably a bit different than yours in that respect.

A part of it might also be that I work for a very small firm for peanuts. I needed the flexibility but now I am re-evaluating. I am paid well under market rate for the work that I do and get no benefits at work. I'm trying to find better opportunities but feel that the fact I don't yet have my CPA is hurting me. It's starting to make me feel like I shouldn't have picked this profession and hopeless. The situation at my current firm is waning on me, and I feel it's starting to make me feel negative about my career.

I just wanted to let you know that in some ways you aren't alone. I've been trying to re-evaluate what I want. For me it is too late to change professions so I have to work with what I got. Changing firms or going in industry is always an option.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 63
REG - NINJA in Training

FAR - 63, rematch February 2018

[Missy]

This is why I enjoy working for a very small private company. The pay will never be as good as a huge company but bored is a word I can't say I've used in years!

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

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

[Author]

Replies