[RookieCPA]

Hi Everyone,

I have always been a constant observer of the forum ever since beginning of my CPA journey earlier this year. Now I am looking for some different opinions and advice on my career moving forward.

I graduated college this past May (2014) and had always believed that Big 4 accounting was for me. I grew up in Philadelphia, so accounting and banking has always been on my radar. Throughout college I had an internship in corporate and really couldn’t see myself going to the same client every single day for the rest of my life. Maybe that is a pessimistic way of looking at it, but I was looking for a more challenging career path from the get go. I participated in a program with a Big 4 firm that same summer and was offered a job a year prior to my graduation. At the time this was exciting since I believed it was the opportunity I really was interested in. I should mention that there is a lot of pressure from east coast colleges to push their clients into Big 4 or IB careers.

I started with the firm in August as an auditor. So, yes, I’ve only been with the firm for about 5 months at this point. When starting I immediately realized that my personality didn’t mesh with the firms personality as much as I believed during recruiting and accounting club events. I am a very easy going person so this typically wouldn’t be an issue. As my actual career got started (after training and such) I was put on a year-end. This was a great opportunity to learn and get tested early and often in my opinion. The long hours have never been a problem for me. After this engagement finished I rolled off and onto another client.

Ever since getting on this “other” client I’ve had a very had time relating to the team, especially the senior on the engagement. I’ve tried to work things out with him on multiple occasions, but he doesn’t have time or is not interested. The relationship has gotten to the point where he doesn’t have time to help me learn and I’m struggling to complete work papers correctly and in a timely fashion. As a first year this is inhibiting my learning experience. As this has escalated I’ve become very dissatisfied with my career and simply don’t enjoy work at all. I would ask to get on another engagement but 1.) I don’t want to limit my career by complaining early on, 2.) The engagement is understaffed and there would be limited availability to alter my schedule, & 3.) My goal is not to get the senior in trouble, simply to move on. This same client also entails a lot of travel on the east coast and that has really changed my style of life as well. Trust me, traveling with people you don’t like makes it horrible. I would talk to the manager but he gets along with the senior well on a personal level. Outside managers also wouldn’t be of help since this same individual is well like within the firm, it would come as a surprise to many that he was causing an issue.

At this point I am at a complete loss. The Big 4 has not been what I anticipated. I understood going in there would be long hours, stressful situations, people you don’t get a long with, and travel. What really bothers me is the firm’s personality is so different than what I expected. I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about these problems and it has escalated to a point where I am simply unhappy in everything I do. I have so many interests outside of work and I feel like those have been forced away from me, making matters worse. The last thing I want to do is make a move that will limit my career in the long run, but I feel like a regional firm or corporate accounting may be for me.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any suggestions?

[flattax]

This is an unfortunate situation. I would look into the possibility of talking with your senior directly and explaining to him how you feel and position the fact that you want to learn and be of value to the audit and the team. You might seek help internall from some kind of mentor you should have (all the big four should have something like this).

For the semi-long run (2-3 years), I would stay with the firm and do what you can to smooth out the working situation so that it's more tolerable than it is now. Big 4 opportunities don't come that easy, and more doors will open if you rough it out for a mere 2 years. Once that time frame is up, look into transferring as an experienced hire or consider exit opportunities into corporate accounting.

I worked on a job with a senior that came from a different big 4 and he had run into the same problem you had at his first big 4–the culture just wasn't what he initially thought it was. The work situation got somewhat toxic, but he stayed, worked as a senior for a year, then transfered to a different big 4 and he loves it. The people, the firm, the culture fit with him much better over here.

I know some will say that if you aren't enojying what you're doing or if it's much worse than that (e.g. you HATE it), then you should back out. But what was all that education and recruiting for, then? A staff accountant job somewhere? I'd say stick it out–you owe it to yourself to create opportunities for you. 5 different seniors will senior you 5 different ways. Don't let one bad apple ruin the orchard.

AUD - 89 May 2014
BEC - 89 July 2014
FAR - 86 August 2014
REG - 69 November 2014, 82 Jan 2015

[Anonymous]

If I were a betting man, I'd say that your Senior has had enough of public- not you.

I'd bet five bucks against one that he's long gone after this busy season.

[Anonymous]

what happen between the senior and you that started the conflict? just curious

[Leach2587]

@RookieCPA Coming from a former BIG 4 Senior I feel your pain. When I started I didn't know what the heck I was doing at all. All they would tell me is to look at last year and do what we did last year. That makes you feel like you are just pushing papers. Then on top of that, I was working late every night and had NO IDEA why. My staff one year I was at work til 3:00 AM calling a French company and speaking to a guy who spoke no English trying to track down a confirm. I worked in public 3 years and it was the longest quickest 3 years of my life. I think you should stick with it. At this point you don't even know what you want to do yet so staying in public isn't going to hurt anything. It will end up helping you in the long run.

I would encourage you to take a step back and look at the overall audit and the purpose of it. That helped me wrap head around the assignments I was given. The next step is and most important is BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CLIENT. I was able to build a good relationship with my client and that worked wonders. I could ask the client the same question re worded 12 times and they wouldn't get upset. If you can build that relationship you will be fine. Next thing is to find someone to vent to. Usually somebody at your level or one beyond. I think anybody beyond one level higher than you is too far removed from what you are doing. Also, figure out what your end goal is. Where do you want to end up in your career? That's the question you need to ask yourself that is going to determine how long you need to stay. Forums like this are good to. Come here and vent your frustrations and it will make you feel better. And don't worry about that senior. I've seen them come and go. Do the best work you think you can and you will get comments on how to fix it. Just learn from your review comments. You will never submit the perfect work so just do what you can.

[Anonymous]

Hang in there! I was in a similar situation as you this time last year except my first client was horrible (poor senior and manager leadership, and other staff who didn't care). However, my next two clients were great (great team, good working paper areas). Unfortunately, I opted to switch to another client rather return to my busy season client last year (big mistake, neither here nor there). But what I've taken from my experience is that you need to take things one billable hour at a time, then one day at a time, then one client at a time and so on.

As far as your senior, he's probably on his way out after busy season (most seniors usually dip then) and is just padding his resume and doing what he can to make it through. Audit is by no means a glorious career or job, and what you're experiencing happens on every team, in every office, in every state. But you need to just take things in stride and give it your best.

Try and stick it out 2 years and then leave if you still are unhappy! Also, if you don't like you situation at work, speak up to your counselor and HR contact. Unless you say something, people will not know that you are unhappy and struggling. Don't worry about HR thinking you complain, trust me, everyone in my office complains to HR. Just frame it the right way saying that client does not fit your interest and you want to move into a different industry. No one can ever knock you for owning your career and scheduling yourself. Remember that most people stay in public accounting on average of 2-4 years and that your time here is what you make of it!

Hang tight I was in your spot last year and I am still alive today! I still despise Public but I realize the name on the resume is invaluable and very helpful when you leave. Fake it til you make it my man!

[tomq04]

Knowing nothing about this i'm just speaking out, don't you get put on a different audit team with a different senior on a regular basis? You liked the 1st go around, why are you afraid of the 3rd?

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Mayo]

OP, I had a slightly similar situation. Had a senior who had no time to train me and corrected my work without explaining what I was doing wrong. Like someone mentioned, it sounds like it's the senior's issue not yours. However, I was fortunate that the senior moved on to another client before long.

At the end of the day, it's also an issue of “fit”. If your learning style doesn't fit in with the team's, then maybe it's time to move on. It's never easy to change teams, so I'll give you the best advice I know of even though I haven't gone though it myself.

1. Ask peers you trust about their experience. Don't complain or spill your guts. Just throw out questions on how they receive feedback from their seniors. At the very least it gives you a baseline to understand if your inexperience is coloring your opinion of your Senior.

2. Do you trust anyone in the firm? Ex firm alumni outside the firm (e.g. I have a few ex bosses from a previous internship I can always rely on)? If yes, then ask heir honest opinion. Biggest key is that you TRUST them to not blab about your situation. Those people are always hard to find.

3. To be honest it's likely you have to finish you current busy season with this team. “crap” happens. I'd advice you to gather some info first…then bring up the issue with your mentor/counselor. Ask them if what you are experience is normal. If they're good they'll push to move you somewhere else.

Is it a possibility that it will get out that you wanted to try a different team? Sure, absolutely. At the very least your team will be informed why you wanted to leave.

It's possible that you can BS everyone by telling them you want to change industries. However, your best bet for a change is telling the truth (aka you feel like you're not getting the training you need).

Just keep in mind two things:

A) You might end up with another crappy senior by chance. If so, another request for change might be met with eyerolls at a minimum or a rep for being flaky and demanding.

B.) even if A isn't true…you still have limited options to change. Once you take steps to change teams expect to stay there for a while. You can only request changes a limited amount of times before people assume there's an issue with you.

Personally, if I was you I'd wait until after busy season….float the idea to your mentor, If you trust them, tell them what's up. If you two haven't “clicked” yet then find some excuse to go to another team (e.g new industry..public vs private client, etc.).

Mayo, BBA, Macc

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