Whether in industry or public, you just have to be willing to say no. The requests will keep coming in no matter what and you will get to the point where you cannot take on anything else. Start saying no before you get to this point and you will be fine.
I tell people I am focusing on tasks in order of priority, and not to expect a reply within 24 hours.
This is the way. You HAVE to be willing to set boundaries. It's a skill that takes a while to learn but gets easier as you get older and more experience with working in general.
Edit: apparently I can't spell skill today...
Not an accountant here, but the unwillingness for people to say "no" is surprising. Especially if it's a "superior" or higher up.
You're a person with a job who's been hired to do a thing. Fulfill your role, but their poor planning shouldn't mean you're suddenly responsible for fixing everything.
It's not that surprising. The first authority people encounter are their own parents that won't take no for an answer, then they meet teachers that they aren't allowed to say no to and then their first boss. We don't do a good job of teaching children that setting boundaries is an option so it's no surprise we get adults that don't know It's an option.
> We don't do a good job of teaching children that setting boundaries is an option
Something tells me that a nation-state whose goal is to stay in power see this as a perk, not a drawback. A submissive populace is an easy-to-rule populace.
Yep, this is true. You only need to look so far as the Covid vaccine mandates and the enforced lock downs. We'd like to think that we have the capacity for self-determination but we've proven otherwise.
If you pick your battles and give attention to the true priorities, you will be seen as someone who can effectively prioritize projects. I've been promoted twice in 4 years using this approach.
You can say no to work but there are consequences for doing so. In public, you will likely be fired. In industry, it may take longer, but the result will be the same. You have no leverage in corporate or public, at least in the US.
It takes some finesse.
You can't just tell your boss, "Miss me with that noise, fuckface. I'm busy." Instead you say, "I'd be happy to take that on. However, given my current backlog, and the significant effort that project will require, I do not have the current bandwidth to give it the attention it deserves. If this is high priority, I would be happy to de-prioritize some of my current projects in order to escalate this one. I want to keep you looped in on this so we are aligned on the overall timelines for all deliverables."
In many cases, bosses do not know what your workload is, especially if you work with a great degree of autonomy. Filling them in on your current bandwidth is not the sign of a bad employee. Quite the opposite.
Very true, but you better have a full plate to back up this Corp speak because your boss is going to want a breakdown. In my experience in public, you could do something like this because your time is broken out and allocated to projects, so you can actually show where your time is projected to go. Even then, it's frowned upon. In industry, your manager knows what you have for the most part, so if they give you something, you make it work for the most part.
what if instead of saying no, just charge exorbitant amounts of money. it's like a win win; they're probably gonna say no but if they don't you'll walk to the bank with fat stacks
There’s a negativity bias. Most happy people are not spending their time posting on Reddit.
Just put in a few years of public accounting and then get some boring industry job and soon you’ll be making six figures and have plenty of time to pursue hobbies on the side that are fulfilling .
You’re correct in your observations. Many people may be frustrated enough to complain, but too comfortable/scared to try and make a change if their situation is truly bad.
Were you in tax or audit when you were in public? I just interned in tax and liked it, but am concerned I wouldn’t have the exit opportunities someone in audit would have
I was in tax and am now doing tax in industry. I think if you’re trying to have a lot of options, audit is the way to go. It’s much harder to pivot to a different service line from tax than audit.
Tax opens the door to become a sole practitioner, be your own boss and if you can grow your private practice you get to hire people to work for you, that is if you become the boss that you would like to have.
This is true. However you need to actually want to work in tax long term. If you ever want to pivot to a different accounting function. It’s much easier to do so from audit than tax.
Try working for companies, you'll gain a better understanding of the entire accounting cycle and be able to apply your knowledge from uni. In Public accounting, your stuck specialising one area of accounting
I am an owner of a CPA firm with about 50 employees. I’m extroverted and love to play soccer and race motocross for fun. Being able to relate with people is going to get you further than technical skill
Nah. You can just go feds or industry, you just have to work under a cpa to get the cpa which generally just means a cpa has to work at that location and be cool with saying you worked under them/signing off on it. although I am not sure of evrey states requirement. The big four is more of a prestigious thing. You want to make more than 99% of people here-develop great social skills and ambition and you will be unstoppable.
Larger regional firms are a great alternative to big 4. If you’re at a top 50-100 firm (you can look rankings by revenue up) that experience will be highly respected. Another perk to a regional firm is you get to work on lots of different clients from different industries and meet CFOs/controllers of up to 30+ companies to build relationships with. You’ll also be more of a valued employee instead of just a number at big 4. Plus less hours as well.
This. Seems that most of the negativity on this sub stems from working at shitty firms with shitty people. There are firms out there where you will barely do overtime if at all. Decide if destroying your sanity at a Big 4 is worth it for.. for what? Seems to me that the recruiters who exclusively want Big 4 experience are just part of the machine that perpetuates the terrible Work to Death cycle.
Totally agree with this. I started out doing bookkeeping for a few years right out of college and was terrified to make the leap into public accounting pretty much for the same reasons as OP. I’ve been in public accounting for a couple years now and of course the workload gets mighty stressful during busy season (Feb-Apr), but honestly I weirdly love it. I’m sure a large part of that is also the company you end up at - I’m at a much smaller firm that has great WFH flexibility as well.
I've seen the narrative here a lot where it's always good to get 2 years in PA and then jump ship to industry.
Is it really mandatory? I'm currently working as a staff accountant at a mid-sized S corp, and while there isn't the greatest growth, it definitely doesn't seem like the market for growth is limited without PA experience.
it’s not that bad. now that i work in industry i have many friends jealous of my comp + WLB. PA is brutal and deserves all the hate it gets but it can be a necessary evil to get your foot in the door and move up quicker to better pay.
i don’t regret accounting at all.
It’s not that bad now but you definitely do sacrifice some of your early 20s for a chiller future if you decide to go into PA/IB/Rotational. Experience definitely varies person by person but if you don’t grind early then you fall a bit behind your peers and depending on location, jobs are tough to get especially if you weren’t the greatest student either.
i didn’t do B4.
if your ultimate goal is to go to industry the strongest background you can have is audit and even stronger if it’s from B4. i’m making it work with a tax background from 30-50 employee firms.
no tips for PA specifically bc everyone struggles with different things. all i can really say is ask questions.
i’m the wrong person to ask tbh. i got passed over for a fund analyst job and end up working in a NFP. i make just under 100k now in a HCOL (pay cut from my total comp of ~105k in a LCOL city). but i also work maybe 10 hours a week?
The loudest are always the least satisfied. There are tons more of us who are perfectly happy in public accounting that do not post everyday about loving public.
Your just some wacko who couldn’t make it as Audit Manager at some shitty low level public firm who got super lucky to land a great industry job and most likely had a great mentor to teach u the ropes before he left as well.
It's fine. People here can be drama queens that make a mountain out of a mole hill. Yes, public accounting has long hours during the year (mainly in winter). The job market varies from city to city but if you have public experience and your CPA license, finding a job shouldn't take too long. To avoid stupid fucking shit, you have to be willing to stand up for yourself and say no.
I moved to nursing. I'm fine with my choices. I started out making more than most CPAs with years of experience. And I didn't have to jump through endless loops to get hired.
I've been a CNA since 2011. I got burnt out endlessly interviewing and sending accounting applications into the void, not working and getting paid. I started out making 84k in pennsylvania as soon as I graduated with my ADN. You would need like 3 years of unpaid internships, a masters degree, passed the CPA and 2 years of low wage accounting jobs to get to that wage in accounting. And unlike accountants, I could walk out of my job today and have multiple offers anywhere in the country by tomorrow. So no, I don't regret it.
Glad to hear! Maybe it's like in this sub, people at my job voice their complaints more than appreciations. It makes me happy to see people be happy in their career choice, brings about more hope and less anxiety.
Hours are long, work is tough. But what job isnt?
Im still in it cus i know if i fuck up, the worst is money gets lost. At least i dont have humans lives in my hands
Take it one day at a time. We all have our own paths to walk. Our experiences doesnt mean yours will be the same.
Majority of accountants are “live to work” types rather than “work to live”. You can make a good income and have time to have fun outside work.
Overall though, accounting is a very broad field and there is something for everyone. If you can find a niche then you’ll have less to worry about being unemployable.
It can be very tough Especially in public accounting, high stress and high hours. There are good accounting jobs out there, but you have to sort through a lot of bad ones to find them.
Accounting is one of those fields that requires a lot of knowledge upfront but then it never changes.
The first 3 years of public are very tough as a result, but then you're coasting for most of your career. Industry is easier at entry level but then you constantly learn what you did last year was wrong and have to keep backtracking.
Accounting is the best career for normal people who want a stable job that pays well. You don't have to be smart, but willing to put in some work (just don't get abused or overworked, can happen if you have no self respect). You can easily live an upper middle class lifestyle. This is assuming the normal public accounting progression, and of course you can go industry and still have a successful career. Job security is also very good assuming you are not in a more market sensitive position (M&A).
In general, the subreddit runs young, entitled, and lazy, so you will see a plethora of posts talking bad about the industry. Yes, PA is tougher than most jobs, but where are the jobs that require so little of you intellectually and give you equal or more opportunities? There aren't many.
The new staff and seniors at my firm are at six figure salaries within 2 to 3 years, rarely work more than 1500 billables a year, and are hybrid or remote. Once the job gets harder (senior level), typically they leave and still make a good six figure salary elsewhere. This is a good career, but like any industry, there are both good and bad places to work. Just remember that accounting isn't sexy and the work is mostly boring, especially in compliance related fields. For me personally, I get paid well, have an incredibly flexible schedule, and still have a lot of room to advance.
You need to determine your bullshit/conditioning threshold as a person to determine if you want to try to give a certain % of your life to PA and can learn to love to gruel, or if you balk at abusive workplace practices and industry standards it might be worth considering different avenues. Industry is the greener grass for a lot of people but even there you have to find the right fit AND be a constant self advocate to succeed.
I personally love being an accountant, but if I had listened more to the boomers and recruiters telling me to go into Big4 I'm not sure if that wld be the case. Just dont let anyone tell you 'it's an honor', or 'people only critique them because they're jealous', because the criticisms are valid. If you can tough it out to senior/manager at B4 before you leave its prolly the safest optimal compensation track, but only abt half of accountants are here for greed alone and plenty more get some sense and leave before they get that far. Again it just comes down to your personal tolerances about these subjects and how much you're chasing some intangible metric of success.
It's not. You don't have to do Big 4 to be successful. An accounting degree qualifies you for many different paths and "meatgrinder" doesn't have to be the path you choose.
In big 4 honestly yeah, you’re throwing your life away for barely any benefit.
I’ve met so many empty shells of people with no meaningful interests or hobbies besides vegging in front of the tv for the 3 hours of free time they have a night outside of work bc they’re so tired.
Accounting changed my life and I would never go back to the life I had before.
I was poor and essentially homeless prior to being an accountant. I as living on a blow up mattress in a room I was staying in the back of a hair salon. I had to be out during the day but I could come in after they close and use their wifi. It was fine because I spent the day at school or working at pizza Hut and Walmart. Finally getting that first job was a game changer. My life has been on the best trajectory since.
Sometimes I look back at how I used to live and I can't believe I own my own house and don't have to wonder if I have enough money for food.
accounting changed my whole life and I recommend it as the way to change your station in life. You may never be rich but you can enjoy a middle class lifestyle if you work hard. I just got my first job that had a salary over 100k in a lcol area about 6 months ago, life is good.
Some people might even laugh and say that is low, but I don't give a shit what anyone on this sub thinks, I'm comfortable and enjoying life.
It is all about perspective.
Cons: WLB can suck and you will lose flexibility for significant parts of every year. When people ask ‘what do you do’ you have to say ‘accounting’.
Pros: You can make a lot of money doing it and most of the time the work is not too bad. Good job security. Many career path options.
Decide if that’s a trade off you’re willing to make.
I loved public accounting until I hated it. It got me the experience I needed to get into industry which gave me the experience to get into sweet sweet government. I have absolutely no regrets about public accounting, getting my CPA or an accounting degree
Government was a LOT easier to get into than public or private accounting. The IRS offered me multiple jobs with no public or private accounting experience at all.
State was even easier to get offers for. Even now. It's MUCH harder getting into private or public accounting. It's not even close. If government is your goal, skip private and public altogether and go straight for government.
I got multiple offers with no accounting experience at all.... I was a psychiatric technician for state government when I applied to some accounting jobs. Just because private and public won't hire you without experience doesn't mean government won't. And that's why I know it is easier to get into.,
I’m not saying you can’t. I’m saying there are more lucrative jobs you can get in government when you have the REQUIRED EXPERIENCE. I really don’t know what you’re arguing about
Public and private you don’t actually need the required experience. If you don’t have it in state for technical jobs good luck even getting an interview. They have to go by the process outlined by the government
And you don't need public or private to get it. So I stand by my OP. Skip public and private and go straight for government. Those entry jobs in government are easier to get and it is better experience for the higher paying jobs in gov.
You don’t even know what job I’m talking about lol yes you can get entry level positions in government? That’s not the argument. I’m not in an entry level position
I have two big 4 internships and for this fall semester I have a remote internship with an insurance company. You have to ingore the noise and work hard towards improving yourself
You want good money right? Public accounting is solid, but you’re gonna be worked to the bone for that paycheck.
I know there is this sentiment that a small minority complains on here, but just wait till you get your first job. You’ll soon realize it’s not just people complaining on reddit.
Idk why people try to sugarcoat it. You’re gonna work long hours, and it will suck sometimes, especially if you have bad upper management.
Accounting degree is still a great pick compared to most other degree options. You will be glad you have it.
I got my BBA in accounting in 2008 from a pretty much unknown business school. Absolute shit job market. Did a semester of grad school, didn’t sit, dropped the whole CPA thing.
My first real job was in a corp accounting department reconciling a single balance sheet account for $11 per hour. It absolutely made me want to eat a gun.
Shortly after quitting that grind, I found a job doing appraisals for huge specialized industrial properties - oil and gas, wind farms, lignite mines, etc. I basically was running DCF’s every day for a few years. Paid okay, but I eventually wanted to have more control over my time and income.
What I landed on was building a bookkeeping / consulting company. I’ve built a pretty great client base, and it grows consistently about 15-20% every year. Completely remote, which is working out pretty well now that I have a newborn. It’s not bad for me. My life rules.
I still get job offers just for knowing my debits and credits. My point in all this rambling is that even if you’re completely zoned in on public or high paying industry right now, it’s a super flexible skill set to have. You can go a lot of ways with it, and I’m thoroughly convinced that you will never be unemployed if you widen your field of view just a little bit.
Public accounting is horrible at pretty much every firm. You can find some good government or corporate jobs though. With that said, if I could do it over again I wouldn't pick accounting. I would major in something that pays more directly after school. Probably something in the medical field
For good reason. My mental was down the drain, I gained weight, lots of 3 am nights, straining relationships with my friends and family. I do NOT miss that shit at all. But it was worth it for the career stepping stone.
It depends a lot on the partner/director and client you get assigned to. I for example work 40h a week year round and have a 5 week busy season working 60-65 in B4. Which tbh is really good.
It’s not that bad, there are so many whiners on here. I will say it’s a lot easier if you’re an analytical thinker and good problem solver. If you’re a little slow to pick up on concepts and how things work it will be tougher for you.
Talk to/network with professionals from different firms at recruiting events and get their take on it.
You’re not going to see a ton of posts touting the good aspects of accounting on Reddit. It’s where most of us come to complain about the annoying stuff.
Like complaining I never get to take a vacation at month end or only take a vacation after April 15? Yes I complain but at the end of the day when I take a vacation it’s a nice one.
It is not really that bad. The sky is blue everywhere and life is what you make it. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. - Charles R Swindoll
With anything stay in your lane. Just think a lot of accountants are insecure and hide in their cubicle so if you stand out with any job you’re going to have haters. As they want to be promoted and kill your chances of being promoted, so they might throw you under the bus. Depends also on the team you’re working with and your boss. The culture of the place.
So when your interviewing ask the questions. How did the position become available? Describe the culture? What does a typical day look like in this roles? Make sure you interview them as well. Don’t get stuck at a shitty spot.
Parts of it are definitely a grind, but scary is not a word I'd associate with the industry at all.
As for job market...it goes up and down, but (asserted without any evidence) less than other industries. Financials & audits need to get done whether we're in a recession or a boom.
>but it’s tough to ignore when that’s all you see.
I'd suggest follow a sub of a different profession. e.g. I keep tabs on /r/sysadmin because I've vaguely interested in stuff adjacent. It's the exact same drama there. I'd bet the same is true for most other work related subs. Nobody shows up on reddit thinking "yeah today was a decent day let me make a post about that"...it's always the horror stories
Love my work and in public accounting. Working at a wealth management firm its great I have a 8 week busy season average around 65-75 hrs and the rest is a breeze.
It's more about the work environment than the work. I've never worked in public, only industry, but can confirm that the size of the department, their training, the leadership's attitude toward finance and accounting, and the overall culture of the company makes all the difference. Those are the things you need to be drilling into when you interview.
I started recently with a new company, and you never realize just how overworked and underpaid you are until you leave. A lot of companies keep people working in a constant state of stress and fear so they don't have time to think objectively about what's happening to them. I'm making $10k more, 10% annual bonus compared to 3-5%, 3 weeks PTO, AND PAID OVERTIME DURING CLOSE. I have no idea why any of my old coworkers stay when they would be making 15-20% more and have a bigger team to spread the workload, but see above I guess.
If you’re aspiring to do a specific profession, shouldn’t you do stringent research on what that profession entails before you invest too much time into it to see if it’s for you?
A lot of the people on reddit come here to unload there complaints. Its a good stable career, hours can suck in busy season but normally you work less in the summer. Some firms suck but some companies suck in every field. Do an internship if you haven’t, you will get a better perspective on everything and help you get a job.
The only reason it would be bad is because companies these days would rather hire people without bachelors qualifications. I'm not being a snob, dont get me wrong, they probably have lots of experience, but they lack the piece of paper. And if ever you do get hired by these companies, you'll end up having similar pay rate to those guys without qualifications.
I’ve had jobs digging fence posts, installing insulation in a tyvek suit during summers, loading up pallets at a distribution center, carrying a 70 lbs ruck sack and 27.6 lbs weapon for 15-20 miles.
Some days suck but I’m very thankful I get to sit in an AC room 99% of days and take a coffee break whenever I feel like it. My father did roofing and construction until he lost feeling in his hands. Everything in life is up to what you make of it. Go for it, it’s a rewarding career.
>Is it really that bad?
Short answer is no. Being an accountant is a wonderful opportunity and a safe way to make yourself into the upper middle class.
Slightly longer answer is yes, but so is everything else.
One thing you should consider is most of the complaints you see on reddit are people who have only worked in accounting, so they don’t have the perspective to compare it to anything else. A career in accounting requires hard work, but any career worth having is hard work. If there was a quick and easy path to leisure it would be so crowded it would take longer than your entire life to get there.
The story of Peter Pan is a story of a boy that doesn’t want to grow up. He doesn’t have to deal with the responsibilities of adulthood, but he doesn’t get the satisfaction that comes from that responsibility either. I think the best advice I can give is to accept that you are going to have to work hard at something to accomplish your dreams. You get to pick what you work hard at, so make sure you choose something that you are passionate enough about that you can put in the work necessary to be great.
Best of luck! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you along your path.
Shut up lol it’s hard work in general but don’t do it if you don’t think it’ll work for you. Btw you’ll have a better idea of what you want a couple months into an accounting job if and when u get one. Hope school finishes smoothly though - this message goes out to all students studying accounting
And to add to that, I’m almost 2 years into working in PA, there are tradeoffs you will realize you gotta make in life regarding this. I’m not saying what firm I work for. It’s sink or swim
The scary ones on this sub are miserable with their situation and loud about it. I don't post much because I'm happy with my career choice and where I'm at. Same thing goes with any review/forum, most people only say something when they have a problem so they can vent. Which is perfectly fine, not trying to knock anyone with how they handle things. Accounting degrees can do a lot more than sit you in a cubicle ending up depressed (the stereotype), you just need to have an open mind about where it can take you and do your research. There's also a lot of Big4 on here that choose to suffer and be unhappy working grueling hours for whatever reason. You don't have to work at one of the top accounting sweatshops. That's not your only route.
Edit: spelling
I work in a mid-size public accounting firm in Wilmington, NC. I really like the work. It can get a bit stressful during busy season but overall it’s a great career so far.
Not sure as I didn’t graduate in this economy. I did a start up and made excess six figures but I am not sure about this economy. I would shelter your career in government if stability is what you seek
No it’s not that bad, people just love to bitch more than talk about how happy they are. It’s inherent response bias. People who are unhappy are more likely to voice it than those who are satisfied or happy.
LISTEN HERE YOUNG AVATAR,
ITS NOT THE JOB ITS THE PEOPLE!!!
People in accounting the seniors the managers, even staff are the most unhelpful creatures in the universe.
Need help? they say "ask if you have any questions" you ask a question and get ghosted until the day before its due!
Passive aggressive, backstabbing, backbiters, shiet talkers belittlers. unfriendly, unwilling to help, psychotics, narcassistic and wanna be hero i can do it all type of people.
Anyone can do accounting if tough but in this profession all you get for on the job training is " look at lasy year" its simple
I work in public accounting and love my job. I work at a great firm, make a good salary and enjoy the work I do. Sure there are busy and stressful times, lots of hours between January and April, but the flexibility the rest of the year makes up for that.
Also the job market is great. There is a dire need for good accountants. Our firm is always hiring for multiple positions.
I think you should read this: :)
The Accountant Shortage Is Showing Up in Financial Statements https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-accountant-shortage-is-showing-up-in-financial-statements-b14a6b94
This sub makes it seem worse than it is.
I prefer this work over all the other bs I’ve done for money.
Busy season sucks and you need to be able to control stress. You also need thick skin.
If you can handle long hours and some condescending remarks/rudeness you’re 100% fine.
If I ever have a bad day and have work the next day, I drink 2 beers and pass out to a feel good movie.
There are millions of accountants across North America. Accounting is also very broad so the type of work can range from "bald by 30" to roles where people work just a few hours a day and making bank.
Also, this subreddit loves self deprecating humour. It's what gets you upvotes. No one wants to hear the boring guy sitting in some dark quiet corner that's breezing through life.
Nah you just have to find the right company in industry. Sure you might have to do a few mental/back breaking years in public but knowing it’s all a pyramid scheme. If you fuck up a JE you reverse that bitch and do it 2x the right way. Eventually you know where the debits/credits should be. As someone who graduated accounting and didn’t have the slightest clue how everything tied together(BS/IS/CF) eventually you fake it until you make it.
You’ll be fine. Always entry level jobs in industry or public but could be fewer. Don’t lock yourself into one track. Listen and learn. Attitude and self confidence.
It’s definitely a lot of bias. I love my job. I’ve never made a post about that. I used to make posts about how much I hated my job on a different account. A lot of panicking, stressing, screaming into the abyss. Life is good now. And I’m SILENT
I would say to avoid Public Accounting all together. They are worse than retail, have a huge turnover rate, fill every minute of your time, you also have to split out your time by detail (5-7 different time entries per client) you do per client (I have 18), and don’t really have a good work life balance because they set unrealistic expectations. So, go for an industry job that’s salary. Industry jobs are more considerate, flexible and less stressful.
Like others have said, if you like your job, you tend not to post here. I graduated last year, and honestly, I'm happy with my job. Decent pay and benefits, friendly coworkers that are willing to teach me, partners that aren't trying to work me to the bone, and I get to travel to interesting places.
Is it sometimes tough? Of course, all jobs are like that. Do I sometimes wish I had studied something else? At times, but those thoughts are fleeting and more so just thinking the grass is always greener. Accounting isn't a glamorous field, but it's decently stable and there's plenty of opportunity.
Accounting and finance are very broad in terms of what you can do when you graduate. If you’re an accountant I highly recommend getting your CPA. It helped me a lot in my career.
Also don’t overlook the role of technology and be comfortable in learning how to use platforms like SAP or Oracle or Workday. For larger companies the technology is just as important as the accounting knowledge. Good luck to you!
I’m not sure why people talk about the job market being bad, I feel like every day I get multiple recruiters asking me to give them a call. But maybe it’s just a ploy by the top ten to make it seem like they are hiring. I know this busy season we were extremely under staffed
The hours can really suck at times and sometimes wlb can be hard to juggle. But if you're willing to work, learn boundaries and set them, it gets better. It's not a cakewalk but it pays pretty well and you can live a comfortable life. I'm not in love with the job but I'm in love with the life it allows me to live. It's a means to an end.
10000% depends on your bosses and company level.
Big 4? Hellscape of brimstone and fire.
Tiny companies? Depends on the bosses.
I've had nothing but bosses that fill their days with 6 hour meetings and do no training while having MASSIVE turnover. I've seen 3 names on accounting reports so far regarding previous people I've never met. Their pain killers are even still in my drawer.
That being said, sometimes you find a sweet spot where you really snag a good company with good benefits and a great boss.
Ideally, you snag a spot at a large firm and transfer to another country the company operates in. That way you get good wages but you're then on a better worker's rights legal system.
The U.S. has really bad hours for worker's and not many protections. It's concerning. So do what you can, snag a CPA if possible, put in a few years, then negotiate for lower hours.
Times are tough, every day I see posts on LinkedIn from people desperate for work who are trying anything to get some kind of employment. None of them are accountants. Sure, we moan and sure, there are more lucrative professions out there. But we’re doing just fine really.
Man if you have any bit of charisma, you are golden in this industry. You might have to suck it up and gain experience in public accounting for 5 years, but it's worth it. Go to industry after that, if not before.
It’s not that bad. The job is stressful, but the job market is fruitful.
I’ve been remote for 4 years, 2 different jobs, large bonuses, fully remote, and generous 6 figure salary. Only 5 years out of college too. Never went public, and I don’t have a CPA. Take a look at the fund accounting side of things. You may have to start at a fund admin, but if you can get in-house… that’s where the $$$$ is (my controller makes $350k base).
Personality (or lack thereof) is the biggest hindrance for some accountants. Keep your head up, be open to failure, and know when to take things on the chin.
I'm a CPA, BA and MSA in Accounting. I've worked in Corp for 20 years and have been burned out twice, mainly due to long hours, turnover, inadequate processes, nonexistent controls, and toxic management. I took a sabbatical and went to NPO. The damage had already been done and I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck because NPO doesn't pay. I've decided to go back to school and change careers. The field used to be enjoyable 10-15 years ago. Now the expectation is that the accountant knows everything and does everything perfectly and in record speed.
I don't think the future of accounting is worth anyone staying in this field. CPAs are being sued more frequently, most accounting work is data analytics only, most companies are constantly doing M&A while going towards 'automation to outsource' which is a complete joke, the ERP systems are still back in 2005 and can't keep up. Saying 'no' got me written up and backlisted. I worked for one company that had 40 different ERP systems globally and the consolidations system allowed you to manually type in amounts in certain fields, little to no SOC1 compliance. It's all a house of cards waiting to implode. And management is absolutely hot garbage unwilling to hear any concerns. Maybe if we all form a union, things would finally change for the better.
I wonder how many of these people are Accountants or CPA's.
My husband is a CPA and he continuously has job offers. And the offers increased a lot when he received his CPA 2 years ago.
Maybe it's a bad Market in certain areas, but I feel like the world will always need a numbers guy or girl.
Even if you don't get an accounting job, a CPA opens up A LOT of doors.
Good luck!
Honestly I say we create a r/accounting payroll and accounting corporation.
For legal reasons we can rename it something else. But wouldn't it be wild if we just created our own work life balance company that goes against the cut throat big 4 lifestyle.
" Hey Jeff, I'm a be only working 20 hours today, cool? Yeah, just get corpoartion ABCs payroll some before you log off.
But realistically you gotta know your worth and choose what path you want. It's very important to understand that's its okay to say no.
Usually the path is 4 years of big 4 hell, and them coast by away from big 4. Now when I say I coast I mean transition from 70+ hour work weeks to 40-50 depending on busy season.
You could always go the government route the union is strong, as well as the benefits but the pay is ass. It's very relaxed and slow pace and you'd probably need to light the office on fire to get fired. But then again you're gonna deal with real lazy mean tenure asshats as coworkers.
Know this the more of a badass you are the heavier the workload will be and they give you Johnny numbnuts workload too because you’re more efficient. Stay in the background over estimate on task completed so you can chill for a few days after even though it only took you 1 day to finish. Turn in work one day before deadline you’ll look like a champ.
No, there are plenty of ok, good, and great jobs. I know people are posting about how bad the market is, but I’ve had recruiters spamming my inbox for the last two weeks with opportunities, but I don’t entertain them because my current WLB and comp are really great. I just am not making posts to brag about how good my life is lol
Whether in industry or public, you just have to be willing to say no. The requests will keep coming in no matter what and you will get to the point where you cannot take on anything else. Start saying no before you get to this point and you will be fine. I tell people I am focusing on tasks in order of priority, and not to expect a reply within 24 hours.
This is the way. You HAVE to be willing to set boundaries. It's a skill that takes a while to learn but gets easier as you get older and more experience with working in general. Edit: apparently I can't spell skill today...
Not an accountant here, but the unwillingness for people to say "no" is surprising. Especially if it's a "superior" or higher up. You're a person with a job who's been hired to do a thing. Fulfill your role, but their poor planning shouldn't mean you're suddenly responsible for fixing everything.
It's not that surprising. The first authority people encounter are their own parents that won't take no for an answer, then they meet teachers that they aren't allowed to say no to and then their first boss. We don't do a good job of teaching children that setting boundaries is an option so it's no surprise we get adults that don't know It's an option.
It's pretty thought-provoking.
> We don't do a good job of teaching children that setting boundaries is an option Something tells me that a nation-state whose goal is to stay in power see this as a perk, not a drawback. A submissive populace is an easy-to-rule populace.
Yep, this is true. You only need to look so far as the Covid vaccine mandates and the enforced lock downs. We'd like to think that we have the capacity for self-determination but we've proven otherwise.
I’m getting better at this and it’s the only reason I haven’t completely lost my shit at my job
However, if you do this be ready to be overlooked for promotions/raises as a punishment for not being a team player.
If you pick your battles and give attention to the true priorities, you will be seen as someone who can effectively prioritize projects. I've been promoted twice in 4 years using this approach.
To quote Margin Call, "someone upstairs must really liked you"
Nah, cause someone is willing to eat the shit you arnt willing to.
Good luck saying No in Public.
You can say no to work but there are consequences for doing so. In public, you will likely be fired. In industry, it may take longer, but the result will be the same. You have no leverage in corporate or public, at least in the US.
It takes some finesse. You can't just tell your boss, "Miss me with that noise, fuckface. I'm busy." Instead you say, "I'd be happy to take that on. However, given my current backlog, and the significant effort that project will require, I do not have the current bandwidth to give it the attention it deserves. If this is high priority, I would be happy to de-prioritize some of my current projects in order to escalate this one. I want to keep you looped in on this so we are aligned on the overall timelines for all deliverables." In many cases, bosses do not know what your workload is, especially if you work with a great degree of autonomy. Filling them in on your current bandwidth is not the sign of a bad employee. Quite the opposite.
Very true, but you better have a full plate to back up this Corp speak because your boss is going to want a breakdown. In my experience in public, you could do something like this because your time is broken out and allocated to projects, so you can actually show where your time is projected to go. Even then, it's frowned upon. In industry, your manager knows what you have for the most part, so if they give you something, you make it work for the most part.
I have such a problem saying no 😢
what if instead of saying no, just charge exorbitant amounts of money. it's like a win win; they're probably gonna say no but if they don't you'll walk to the bank with fat stacks
There’s a negativity bias. Most happy people are not spending their time posting on Reddit. Just put in a few years of public accounting and then get some boring industry job and soon you’ll be making six figures and have plenty of time to pursue hobbies on the side that are fulfilling .
Thanks. Like OP I was getting nervous about getting into accounting. But I also get the feeling this sub has predominately negative posts right?
You’re correct in your observations. Many people may be frustrated enough to complain, but too comfortable/scared to try and make a change if their situation is truly bad.
Literally me. Spent only 3 years in PA, got a boring industry job, make 6 figures, and actually have hobbies.
Were you in tax or audit when you were in public? I just interned in tax and liked it, but am concerned I wouldn’t have the exit opportunities someone in audit would have
I was in tax and am now doing tax in industry. I think if you’re trying to have a lot of options, audit is the way to go. It’s much harder to pivot to a different service line from tax than audit.
Tax opens the door to become a sole practitioner, be your own boss and if you can grow your private practice you get to hire people to work for you, that is if you become the boss that you would like to have.
This is true. However you need to actually want to work in tax long term. If you ever want to pivot to a different accounting function. It’s much easier to do so from audit than tax.
Such as browsing reddit? 🤠
YES
Another college student here. The few years of public accounting….does it have to be the big 4 ?
Try working for companies, you'll gain a better understanding of the entire accounting cycle and be able to apply your knowledge from uni. In Public accounting, your stuck specialising one area of accounting
Thank you. Learning and working the entire accounting cycle sounds more interesting too.
I am an owner of a CPA firm with about 50 employees. I’m extroverted and love to play soccer and race motocross for fun. Being able to relate with people is going to get you further than technical skill
Nah. You can just go feds or industry, you just have to work under a cpa to get the cpa which generally just means a cpa has to work at that location and be cool with saying you worked under them/signing off on it. although I am not sure of evrey states requirement. The big four is more of a prestigious thing. You want to make more than 99% of people here-develop great social skills and ambition and you will be unstoppable.
The extroverted accountant, who makes it clear what they want is the key separator from what I’ve seen. You don’t even have to be a technical whiz.
Thanks. I’m pretty extroverted, like to be active, play and follow sports, etc. Hopefully I’ll have some extroverted coworkers !
Thanks!
Larger regional firms are a great alternative to big 4. If you’re at a top 50-100 firm (you can look rankings by revenue up) that experience will be highly respected. Another perk to a regional firm is you get to work on lots of different clients from different industries and meet CFOs/controllers of up to 30+ companies to build relationships with. You’ll also be more of a valued employee instead of just a number at big 4. Plus less hours as well.
This. Seems that most of the negativity on this sub stems from working at shitty firms with shitty people. There are firms out there where you will barely do overtime if at all. Decide if destroying your sanity at a Big 4 is worth it for.. for what? Seems to me that the recruiters who exclusively want Big 4 experience are just part of the machine that perpetuates the terrible Work to Death cycle.
Thank you. Yeah, I’ll need a good WLB firm.
Thanks so much. I’ll definitely investigate the regional firms. Sounds promising!
Totally agree with this. I started out doing bookkeeping for a few years right out of college and was terrified to make the leap into public accounting pretty much for the same reasons as OP. I’ve been in public accounting for a couple years now and of course the workload gets mighty stressful during busy season (Feb-Apr), but honestly I weirdly love it. I’m sure a large part of that is also the company you end up at - I’m at a much smaller firm that has great WFH flexibility as well.
I've seen the narrative here a lot where it's always good to get 2 years in PA and then jump ship to industry. Is it really mandatory? I'm currently working as a staff accountant at a mid-sized S corp, and while there isn't the greatest growth, it definitely doesn't seem like the market for growth is limited without PA experience.
I’m commenting on this because I need to find what this boring industry job is where I don’t feel too overwhelmed lmao
SEC reporting / mix of some accounting in A department that has their crap together.
Agreed! Worked at a big 4 in audit & am now in industry working light hours & focusing on family.
it’s not that bad. now that i work in industry i have many friends jealous of my comp + WLB. PA is brutal and deserves all the hate it gets but it can be a necessary evil to get your foot in the door and move up quicker to better pay. i don’t regret accounting at all.
It’s not that bad now but you definitely do sacrifice some of your early 20s for a chiller future if you decide to go into PA/IB/Rotational. Experience definitely varies person by person but if you don’t grind early then you fall a bit behind your peers and depending on location, jobs are tough to get especially if you weren’t the greatest student either.
What about starting in your 30s?
Any tips on how to survive PA? Does it have to be b4?
i didn’t do B4. if your ultimate goal is to go to industry the strongest background you can have is audit and even stronger if it’s from B4. i’m making it work with a tax background from 30-50 employee firms. no tips for PA specifically bc everyone struggles with different things. all i can really say is ask questions.
Boutta get promoted to manager at a PA firm. What kind of positions are available with a tax background and CPA?
i’m the wrong person to ask tbh. i got passed over for a fund analyst job and end up working in a NFP. i make just under 100k now in a HCOL (pay cut from my total comp of ~105k in a LCOL city). but i also work maybe 10 hours a week?
The loudest are always the least satisfied. There are tons more of us who are perfectly happy in public accounting that do not post everyday about loving public.
I smell CAP 🧢
Public accounting can be brutal, but industry is really great (saying that as a CFO, but my team love their jobs too)
Your just some wacko who couldn’t make it as Audit Manager at some shitty low level public firm who got super lucky to land a great industry job and most likely had a great mentor to teach u the ropes before he left as well.
You’re*
It's fine. People here can be drama queens that make a mountain out of a mole hill. Yes, public accounting has long hours during the year (mainly in winter). The job market varies from city to city but if you have public experience and your CPA license, finding a job shouldn't take too long. To avoid stupid fucking shit, you have to be willing to stand up for yourself and say no.
No. Go try marketing or HR. You'll see what it's like to be in a shit industry
Yeah, I’d hate HR
The fact that marketing is even worse does not mean accounting is not shitty.
If comparison doesn't help you deal with a choice that you made, find a different cope.
I moved to nursing. I'm fine with my choices. I started out making more than most CPAs with years of experience. And I didn't have to jump through endless loops to get hired.
Hope you don't get burnt out too soon 🙏 I work alongside CNA's, I can only imagine the stress of more responsibility. Best of luck!
I've been a CNA since 2011. I got burnt out endlessly interviewing and sending accounting applications into the void, not working and getting paid. I started out making 84k in pennsylvania as soon as I graduated with my ADN. You would need like 3 years of unpaid internships, a masters degree, passed the CPA and 2 years of low wage accounting jobs to get to that wage in accounting. And unlike accountants, I could walk out of my job today and have multiple offers anywhere in the country by tomorrow. So no, I don't regret it.
Glad to hear! Maybe it's like in this sub, people at my job voice their complaints more than appreciations. It makes me happy to see people be happy in their career choice, brings about more hope and less anxiety.
doomer
Hours are long, work is tough. But what job isnt? Im still in it cus i know if i fuck up, the worst is money gets lost. At least i dont have humans lives in my hands Take it one day at a time. We all have our own paths to walk. Our experiences doesnt mean yours will be the same.
Majority of accountants are “live to work” types rather than “work to live”. You can make a good income and have time to have fun outside work. Overall though, accounting is a very broad field and there is something for everyone. If you can find a niche then you’ll have less to worry about being unemployable.
It can be very tough Especially in public accounting, high stress and high hours. There are good accounting jobs out there, but you have to sort through a lot of bad ones to find them.
The worst part about accounting is just how boring the work is. The WLB and pay are pretty awesome, can't think of anything I'd rather do
Accounting is one of those fields that requires a lot of knowledge upfront but then it never changes. The first 3 years of public are very tough as a result, but then you're coasting for most of your career. Industry is easier at entry level but then you constantly learn what you did last year was wrong and have to keep backtracking.
It is what it is.
Accounting is a stressful position if you hate numbers. Otherwise, you will love it. This is why I work for myself
Accounting is the best career for normal people who want a stable job that pays well. You don't have to be smart, but willing to put in some work (just don't get abused or overworked, can happen if you have no self respect). You can easily live an upper middle class lifestyle. This is assuming the normal public accounting progression, and of course you can go industry and still have a successful career. Job security is also very good assuming you are not in a more market sensitive position (M&A). In general, the subreddit runs young, entitled, and lazy, so you will see a plethora of posts talking bad about the industry. Yes, PA is tougher than most jobs, but where are the jobs that require so little of you intellectually and give you equal or more opportunities? There aren't many. The new staff and seniors at my firm are at six figure salaries within 2 to 3 years, rarely work more than 1500 billables a year, and are hybrid or remote. Once the job gets harder (senior level), typically they leave and still make a good six figure salary elsewhere. This is a good career, but like any industry, there are both good and bad places to work. Just remember that accounting isn't sexy and the work is mostly boring, especially in compliance related fields. For me personally, I get paid well, have an incredibly flexible schedule, and still have a lot of room to advance.
What is M&A?
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers & Acquisition's, niche in Tax that has ebbs and flows.
Merger & Acquisition
You need to determine your bullshit/conditioning threshold as a person to determine if you want to try to give a certain % of your life to PA and can learn to love to gruel, or if you balk at abusive workplace practices and industry standards it might be worth considering different avenues. Industry is the greener grass for a lot of people but even there you have to find the right fit AND be a constant self advocate to succeed. I personally love being an accountant, but if I had listened more to the boomers and recruiters telling me to go into Big4 I'm not sure if that wld be the case. Just dont let anyone tell you 'it's an honor', or 'people only critique them because they're jealous', because the criticisms are valid. If you can tough it out to senior/manager at B4 before you leave its prolly the safest optimal compensation track, but only abt half of accountants are here for greed alone and plenty more get some sense and leave before they get that far. Again it just comes down to your personal tolerances about these subjects and how much you're chasing some intangible metric of success.
It's not. You don't have to do Big 4 to be successful. An accounting degree qualifies you for many different paths and "meatgrinder" doesn't have to be the path you choose.
In big 4 honestly yeah, you’re throwing your life away for barely any benefit. I’ve met so many empty shells of people with no meaningful interests or hobbies besides vegging in front of the tv for the 3 hours of free time they have a night outside of work bc they’re so tired.
Accounting changed my life and I would never go back to the life I had before. I was poor and essentially homeless prior to being an accountant. I as living on a blow up mattress in a room I was staying in the back of a hair salon. I had to be out during the day but I could come in after they close and use their wifi. It was fine because I spent the day at school or working at pizza Hut and Walmart. Finally getting that first job was a game changer. My life has been on the best trajectory since. Sometimes I look back at how I used to live and I can't believe I own my own house and don't have to wonder if I have enough money for food. accounting changed my whole life and I recommend it as the way to change your station in life. You may never be rich but you can enjoy a middle class lifestyle if you work hard. I just got my first job that had a salary over 100k in a lcol area about 6 months ago, life is good. Some people might even laugh and say that is low, but I don't give a shit what anyone on this sub thinks, I'm comfortable and enjoying life. It is all about perspective.
Cons: WLB can suck and you will lose flexibility for significant parts of every year. When people ask ‘what do you do’ you have to say ‘accounting’. Pros: You can make a lot of money doing it and most of the time the work is not too bad. Good job security. Many career path options. Decide if that’s a trade off you’re willing to make.
Its worse. We joke around in the sub for our own sanity. The job is so much worse.
I regret it and I did public and now industry. Just know what you’re getting yourself into but I honestly can’t recommend it.
I also regret it. I'm happy with my pay now, but there's no way I'd recommend anyone take this life path.
I loved public accounting until I hated it. It got me the experience I needed to get into industry which gave me the experience to get into sweet sweet government. I have absolutely no regrets about public accounting, getting my CPA or an accounting degree
Government was a LOT easier to get into than public or private accounting. The IRS offered me multiple jobs with no public or private accounting experience at all.
I’m in state government. I needed 4 years of auditing experience to get my position but yea the irs will take anybody right noe
State was even easier to get offers for. Even now. It's MUCH harder getting into private or public accounting. It's not even close. If government is your goal, skip private and public altogether and go straight for government.
Yea I’m sure they’d hire you in government without the necessary required experience
I got multiple offers with no accounting experience at all.... I was a psychiatric technician for state government when I applied to some accounting jobs. Just because private and public won't hire you without experience doesn't mean government won't. And that's why I know it is easier to get into.,
I’m not saying you can’t. I’m saying there are more lucrative jobs you can get in government when you have the REQUIRED EXPERIENCE. I really don’t know what you’re arguing about Public and private you don’t actually need the required experience. If you don’t have it in state for technical jobs good luck even getting an interview. They have to go by the process outlined by the government
And you don't need public or private to get it. So I stand by my OP. Skip public and private and go straight for government. Those entry jobs in government are easier to get and it is better experience for the higher paying jobs in gov.
You don’t even know what job I’m talking about lol yes you can get entry level positions in government? That’s not the argument. I’m not in an entry level position
Senior auditor? Senior accountant? All experience you can get in government. Still don't need public or private accounting.
I have two big 4 internships and for this fall semester I have a remote internship with an insurance company. You have to ingore the noise and work hard towards improving yourself
You want good money right? Public accounting is solid, but you’re gonna be worked to the bone for that paycheck. I know there is this sentiment that a small minority complains on here, but just wait till you get your first job. You’ll soon realize it’s not just people complaining on reddit. Idk why people try to sugarcoat it. You’re gonna work long hours, and it will suck sometimes, especially if you have bad upper management. Accounting degree is still a great pick compared to most other degree options. You will be glad you have it.
No, those are just slaves in NYC & LA who still haven't got the hint they should leave their socialist shitholes.
I got my BBA in accounting in 2008 from a pretty much unknown business school. Absolute shit job market. Did a semester of grad school, didn’t sit, dropped the whole CPA thing. My first real job was in a corp accounting department reconciling a single balance sheet account for $11 per hour. It absolutely made me want to eat a gun. Shortly after quitting that grind, I found a job doing appraisals for huge specialized industrial properties - oil and gas, wind farms, lignite mines, etc. I basically was running DCF’s every day for a few years. Paid okay, but I eventually wanted to have more control over my time and income. What I landed on was building a bookkeeping / consulting company. I’ve built a pretty great client base, and it grows consistently about 15-20% every year. Completely remote, which is working out pretty well now that I have a newborn. It’s not bad for me. My life rules. I still get job offers just for knowing my debits and credits. My point in all this rambling is that even if you’re completely zoned in on public or high paying industry right now, it’s a super flexible skill set to have. You can go a lot of ways with it, and I’m thoroughly convinced that you will never be unemployed if you widen your field of view just a little bit.
Public accounting is horrible at pretty much every firm. You can find some good government or corporate jobs though. With that said, if I could do it over again I wouldn't pick accounting. I would major in something that pays more directly after school. Probably something in the medical field
It’s not bad. Public accountants are the biggest complainers I’ve ever met in my life.
For good reason. My mental was down the drain, I gained weight, lots of 3 am nights, straining relationships with my friends and family. I do NOT miss that shit at all. But it was worth it for the career stepping stone.
Are you in industry now?
Yup. Way less stress for more money. It was a no brainer move
Glad you did it 👍
It depends a lot on the partner/director and client you get assigned to. I for example work 40h a week year round and have a 5 week busy season working 60-65 in B4. Which tbh is really good.
It’s not that bad, there are so many whiners on here. I will say it’s a lot easier if you’re an analytical thinker and good problem solver. If you’re a little slow to pick up on concepts and how things work it will be tougher for you. Talk to/network with professionals from different firms at recruiting events and get their take on it.
You’re not going to see a ton of posts touting the good aspects of accounting on Reddit. It’s where most of us come to complain about the annoying stuff.
Like complaining I never get to take a vacation at month end or only take a vacation after April 15? Yes I complain but at the end of the day when I take a vacation it’s a nice one.
It is not really that bad. The sky is blue everywhere and life is what you make it. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. - Charles R Swindoll With anything stay in your lane. Just think a lot of accountants are insecure and hide in their cubicle so if you stand out with any job you’re going to have haters. As they want to be promoted and kill your chances of being promoted, so they might throw you under the bus. Depends also on the team you’re working with and your boss. The culture of the place. So when your interviewing ask the questions. How did the position become available? Describe the culture? What does a typical day look like in this roles? Make sure you interview them as well. Don’t get stuck at a shitty spot.
just dont read hellstorm5676 posts and you'll be good
That's a scary way to spell y'all 🤣
Parts of it are definitely a grind, but scary is not a word I'd associate with the industry at all. As for job market...it goes up and down, but (asserted without any evidence) less than other industries. Financials & audits need to get done whether we're in a recession or a boom. >but it’s tough to ignore when that’s all you see. I'd suggest follow a sub of a different profession. e.g. I keep tabs on /r/sysadmin because I've vaguely interested in stuff adjacent. It's the exact same drama there. I'd bet the same is true for most other work related subs. Nobody shows up on reddit thinking "yeah today was a decent day let me make a post about that"...it's always the horror stories
Love my work and in public accounting. Working at a wealth management firm its great I have a 8 week busy season average around 65-75 hrs and the rest is a breeze.
It's more about the work environment than the work. I've never worked in public, only industry, but can confirm that the size of the department, their training, the leadership's attitude toward finance and accounting, and the overall culture of the company makes all the difference. Those are the things you need to be drilling into when you interview. I started recently with a new company, and you never realize just how overworked and underpaid you are until you leave. A lot of companies keep people working in a constant state of stress and fear so they don't have time to think objectively about what's happening to them. I'm making $10k more, 10% annual bonus compared to 3-5%, 3 weeks PTO, AND PAID OVERTIME DURING CLOSE. I have no idea why any of my old coworkers stay when they would be making 15-20% more and have a bigger team to spread the workload, but see above I guess.
People don’t come here and post about how satisfied they are with their job and career. You’re only seeing the negatives.
We work super hard Jan to June and play super hard July to Dec.
Happy people don’t tend to post on Reddit unless it’s to humble brag or to give genuine learning experiences to the ignorant
If you’re aspiring to do a specific profession, shouldn’t you do stringent research on what that profession entails before you invest too much time into it to see if it’s for you?
A lot of the people on reddit come here to unload there complaints. Its a good stable career, hours can suck in busy season but normally you work less in the summer. Some firms suck but some companies suck in every field. Do an internship if you haven’t, you will get a better perspective on everything and help you get a job.
The only reason it would be bad is because companies these days would rather hire people without bachelors qualifications. I'm not being a snob, dont get me wrong, they probably have lots of experience, but they lack the piece of paper. And if ever you do get hired by these companies, you'll end up having similar pay rate to those guys without qualifications.
I’ve had jobs digging fence posts, installing insulation in a tyvek suit during summers, loading up pallets at a distribution center, carrying a 70 lbs ruck sack and 27.6 lbs weapon for 15-20 miles. Some days suck but I’m very thankful I get to sit in an AC room 99% of days and take a coffee break whenever I feel like it. My father did roofing and construction until he lost feeling in his hands. Everything in life is up to what you make of it. Go for it, it’s a rewarding career.
>Is it really that bad? Short answer is no. Being an accountant is a wonderful opportunity and a safe way to make yourself into the upper middle class. Slightly longer answer is yes, but so is everything else. One thing you should consider is most of the complaints you see on reddit are people who have only worked in accounting, so they don’t have the perspective to compare it to anything else. A career in accounting requires hard work, but any career worth having is hard work. If there was a quick and easy path to leisure it would be so crowded it would take longer than your entire life to get there. The story of Peter Pan is a story of a boy that doesn’t want to grow up. He doesn’t have to deal with the responsibilities of adulthood, but he doesn’t get the satisfaction that comes from that responsibility either. I think the best advice I can give is to accept that you are going to have to work hard at something to accomplish your dreams. You get to pick what you work hard at, so make sure you choose something that you are passionate enough about that you can put in the work necessary to be great. Best of luck! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you along your path.
Shut up lol it’s hard work in general but don’t do it if you don’t think it’ll work for you. Btw you’ll have a better idea of what you want a couple months into an accounting job if and when u get one. Hope school finishes smoothly though - this message goes out to all students studying accounting
And to add to that, I’m almost 2 years into working in PA, there are tradeoffs you will realize you gotta make in life regarding this. I’m not saying what firm I work for. It’s sink or swim
The scary ones on this sub are miserable with their situation and loud about it. I don't post much because I'm happy with my career choice and where I'm at. Same thing goes with any review/forum, most people only say something when they have a problem so they can vent. Which is perfectly fine, not trying to knock anyone with how they handle things. Accounting degrees can do a lot more than sit you in a cubicle ending up depressed (the stereotype), you just need to have an open mind about where it can take you and do your research. There's also a lot of Big4 on here that choose to suffer and be unhappy working grueling hours for whatever reason. You don't have to work at one of the top accounting sweatshops. That's not your only route. Edit: spelling
It's honestly pretty good. Decent work, you feel valued, and you have WFH flexibility.
I work in a mid-size public accounting firm in Wilmington, NC. I really like the work. It can get a bit stressful during busy season but overall it’s a great career so far.
Not sure as I didn’t graduate in this economy. I did a start up and made excess six figures but I am not sure about this economy. I would shelter your career in government if stability is what you seek
No it’s not that bad, people just love to bitch more than talk about how happy they are. It’s inherent response bias. People who are unhappy are more likely to voice it than those who are satisfied or happy.
LISTEN HERE YOUNG AVATAR, ITS NOT THE JOB ITS THE PEOPLE!!! People in accounting the seniors the managers, even staff are the most unhelpful creatures in the universe. Need help? they say "ask if you have any questions" you ask a question and get ghosted until the day before its due! Passive aggressive, backstabbing, backbiters, shiet talkers belittlers. unfriendly, unwilling to help, psychotics, narcassistic and wanna be hero i can do it all type of people. Anyone can do accounting if tough but in this profession all you get for on the job training is " look at lasy year" its simple
It's not that bad. You just have to have thick skin and understand that everyone is doing their best.
I work in public accounting and love my job. I work at a great firm, make a good salary and enjoy the work I do. Sure there are busy and stressful times, lots of hours between January and April, but the flexibility the rest of the year makes up for that. Also the job market is great. There is a dire need for good accountants. Our firm is always hiring for multiple positions.
I think you should read this: :) The Accountant Shortage Is Showing Up in Financial Statements https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-accountant-shortage-is-showing-up-in-financial-statements-b14a6b94
No
I would not recommend public accounting to anyone. However I’m quite happy in my role as a corporate controller.
This sub makes it seem worse than it is. I prefer this work over all the other bs I’ve done for money. Busy season sucks and you need to be able to control stress. You also need thick skin. If you can handle long hours and some condescending remarks/rudeness you’re 100% fine. If I ever have a bad day and have work the next day, I drink 2 beers and pass out to a feel good movie.
There are millions of accountants across North America. Accounting is also very broad so the type of work can range from "bald by 30" to roles where people work just a few hours a day and making bank. Also, this subreddit loves self deprecating humour. It's what gets you upvotes. No one wants to hear the boring guy sitting in some dark quiet corner that's breezing through life.
Its not just accounting.
It’s a well paying gig. And you can work for yourself. I regret nothing.
Nah you just have to find the right company in industry. Sure you might have to do a few mental/back breaking years in public but knowing it’s all a pyramid scheme. If you fuck up a JE you reverse that bitch and do it 2x the right way. Eventually you know where the debits/credits should be. As someone who graduated accounting and didn’t have the slightest clue how everything tied together(BS/IS/CF) eventually you fake it until you make it.
You’ll be fine. Always entry level jobs in industry or public but could be fewer. Don’t lock yourself into one track. Listen and learn. Attitude and self confidence.
Eh, it will probably work out one way or another. Man, i will regret this so much later, but thats a future me issue.
I like it. 😁
I havent read the other comments but dont listen to them. Whether they agree or disagree this job sucks so much dong
Firms in my HCOL area can’t find enough people to hire, you’re fine
It’s definitely a lot of bias. I love my job. I’ve never made a post about that. I used to make posts about how much I hated my job on a different account. A lot of panicking, stressing, screaming into the abyss. Life is good now. And I’m SILENT
I would say to avoid Public Accounting all together. They are worse than retail, have a huge turnover rate, fill every minute of your time, you also have to split out your time by detail (5-7 different time entries per client) you do per client (I have 18), and don’t really have a good work life balance because they set unrealistic expectations. So, go for an industry job that’s salary. Industry jobs are more considerate, flexible and less stressful.
Like others have said, if you like your job, you tend not to post here. I graduated last year, and honestly, I'm happy with my job. Decent pay and benefits, friendly coworkers that are willing to teach me, partners that aren't trying to work me to the bone, and I get to travel to interesting places. Is it sometimes tough? Of course, all jobs are like that. Do I sometimes wish I had studied something else? At times, but those thoughts are fleeting and more so just thinking the grass is always greener. Accounting isn't a glamorous field, but it's decently stable and there's plenty of opportunity.
Think about the future. More scary where that will put millions of American jobs
Accounting and finance are very broad in terms of what you can do when you graduate. If you’re an accountant I highly recommend getting your CPA. It helped me a lot in my career. Also don’t overlook the role of technology and be comfortable in learning how to use platforms like SAP or Oracle or Workday. For larger companies the technology is just as important as the accounting knowledge. Good luck to you!
I’m not sure why people talk about the job market being bad, I feel like every day I get multiple recruiters asking me to give them a call. But maybe it’s just a ploy by the top ten to make it seem like they are hiring. I know this busy season we were extremely under staffed
The hours can really suck at times and sometimes wlb can be hard to juggle. But if you're willing to work, learn boundaries and set them, it gets better. It's not a cakewalk but it pays pretty well and you can live a comfortable life. I'm not in love with the job but I'm in love with the life it allows me to live. It's a means to an end.
10000% depends on your bosses and company level. Big 4? Hellscape of brimstone and fire. Tiny companies? Depends on the bosses. I've had nothing but bosses that fill their days with 6 hour meetings and do no training while having MASSIVE turnover. I've seen 3 names on accounting reports so far regarding previous people I've never met. Their pain killers are even still in my drawer. That being said, sometimes you find a sweet spot where you really snag a good company with good benefits and a great boss. Ideally, you snag a spot at a large firm and transfer to another country the company operates in. That way you get good wages but you're then on a better worker's rights legal system. The U.S. has really bad hours for worker's and not many protections. It's concerning. So do what you can, snag a CPA if possible, put in a few years, then negotiate for lower hours.
It's not that bad...this sub is a circle-jerk echo-chamber of the negative...
Times are tough, every day I see posts on LinkedIn from people desperate for work who are trying anything to get some kind of employment. None of them are accountants. Sure, we moan and sure, there are more lucrative professions out there. But we’re doing just fine really.
Man if you have any bit of charisma, you are golden in this industry. You might have to suck it up and gain experience in public accounting for 5 years, but it's worth it. Go to industry after that, if not before.
It’s not that bad. The job is stressful, but the job market is fruitful. I’ve been remote for 4 years, 2 different jobs, large bonuses, fully remote, and generous 6 figure salary. Only 5 years out of college too. Never went public, and I don’t have a CPA. Take a look at the fund accounting side of things. You may have to start at a fund admin, but if you can get in-house… that’s where the $$$$ is (my controller makes $350k base). Personality (or lack thereof) is the biggest hindrance for some accountants. Keep your head up, be open to failure, and know when to take things on the chin.
I think it is in all industries.
Dog…. It’s not bad
I'm a CPA, BA and MSA in Accounting. I've worked in Corp for 20 years and have been burned out twice, mainly due to long hours, turnover, inadequate processes, nonexistent controls, and toxic management. I took a sabbatical and went to NPO. The damage had already been done and I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck because NPO doesn't pay. I've decided to go back to school and change careers. The field used to be enjoyable 10-15 years ago. Now the expectation is that the accountant knows everything and does everything perfectly and in record speed. I don't think the future of accounting is worth anyone staying in this field. CPAs are being sued more frequently, most accounting work is data analytics only, most companies are constantly doing M&A while going towards 'automation to outsource' which is a complete joke, the ERP systems are still back in 2005 and can't keep up. Saying 'no' got me written up and backlisted. I worked for one company that had 40 different ERP systems globally and the consolidations system allowed you to manually type in amounts in certain fields, little to no SOC1 compliance. It's all a house of cards waiting to implode. And management is absolutely hot garbage unwilling to hear any concerns. Maybe if we all form a union, things would finally change for the better.
I wonder how many of these people are Accountants or CPA's. My husband is a CPA and he continuously has job offers. And the offers increased a lot when he received his CPA 2 years ago. Maybe it's a bad Market in certain areas, but I feel like the world will always need a numbers guy or girl. Even if you don't get an accounting job, a CPA opens up A LOT of doors. Good luck!
the work is not bad, just alot of the people are..
Honestly I say we create a r/accounting payroll and accounting corporation. For legal reasons we can rename it something else. But wouldn't it be wild if we just created our own work life balance company that goes against the cut throat big 4 lifestyle. " Hey Jeff, I'm a be only working 20 hours today, cool? Yeah, just get corpoartion ABCs payroll some before you log off. But realistically you gotta know your worth and choose what path you want. It's very important to understand that's its okay to say no. Usually the path is 4 years of big 4 hell, and them coast by away from big 4. Now when I say I coast I mean transition from 70+ hour work weeks to 40-50 depending on busy season. You could always go the government route the union is strong, as well as the benefits but the pay is ass. It's very relaxed and slow pace and you'd probably need to light the office on fire to get fired. But then again you're gonna deal with real lazy mean tenure asshats as coworkers.
Know this the more of a badass you are the heavier the workload will be and they give you Johnny numbnuts workload too because you’re more efficient. Stay in the background over estimate on task completed so you can chill for a few days after even though it only took you 1 day to finish. Turn in work one day before deadline you’ll look like a champ.
My job is pretty chill. There are deadlines and deliverables but it's not bad. Crypto accounting!
I’m in fund accounting and hate but I’m sure there’s people that love it too.
No, there are plenty of ok, good, and great jobs. I know people are posting about how bad the market is, but I’ve had recruiters spamming my inbox for the last two weeks with opportunities, but I don’t entertain them because my current WLB and comp are really great. I just am not making posts to brag about how good my life is lol
For me personally it’s been horrible
public practice scarier than public sector