[Anonymous]

It’s probably a no brainer question, especially after reading “CPA_terminator”‘s post… but just wanted some opinions for my own situation…

Here’s some insight: I’m getting paid about $60k annually.. I have good benefits (medical, gym, eye, life ins. 401k match..); I’m currently studying for the CPA exam, and even that (exam fees, etc,) plus study materials are being paid for…

The reason WHY I would even consider leaving this public company? B/C I’m working in A/P, paying invoices, and filing papers. I HATE filing, if I could murder anything, I would murder the word FILING. Anyway…I’m a firm believer in achieving goals. If I put everything I got into it, being persistent, I know I can get into a big4 firm.

But should I leave now? (in the middle of studying for my cpa exams), or should I leave later? or should I even leave at all?

I mean, if I leave now and join one of the big4… I’m probably going to lose a big chunk of good benefits, take a pay cut, and probably only get my study materials and exam fees paid for one time only (correct me if I’m wrong). I think about this, b/c I’ve failed some parts, and although not hoping to fail again, but I might, those reimbursement would come in handy… Also, on top of that, I’ll be tossed around as if I was at Mcdonalds, and considering that, how much time would it take away from my studying?

Also on the pay, I would probably even take a pay cut, b/c I heard they start the auditors at around 50-55k. I’m in San Francisco btw. I’m in my late 20s. I feel like I am going backwards if I do this.. what do you think? Any opinions are welcome. Speak your mind, let me know what u honestly think… should I even put myself up against this stress level. My classmates who all got in to the big4, are all trying to leave now, they did their 2-3 years, and are dreading that they will leave when the first opportunity arises.

What I like about big 4, I can gain a lot more experience b/c I wont’ just be dealing with the AP ledger lines.. but I feel like I’m kind of going backwards… maybe I can stay at my company now? But how long would it take me to climb the corporate ladder?

[mla1169]

Somebody is paying 60k for A/P? Wow.

Move forward with thr process and see what kind of offer you get. Too hard to evaluate so many unknowns.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Somebody is paying 60k for A/P? Wow.

Move forward with thr process and see what kind of offer you get. Too hard to evaluate so many unknowns.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jennknee]

If you get big four can I have your job? I'm in SF too and I actually love filing!

Anyway, is there anyway to move up in your own company? Is there anything you dislike about your job besides filing? Is the culture OK? If you are feeling unchallenged, do you think you can ask for more responsibility?

AUD - 7/5/13 - 93
FAR - 8/24/13 - 91
BEC - 11/30/13 - 92
REG - 2/24/14 - 91! DONE!

CPAreviewforFREE, Wiley Test Bank, Becker, and NINJA FLASHCARDS. <3
Candidate from California

[jennknee]

If you get big four can I have your job? I'm in SF too and I actually love filing!

Anyway, is there anyway to move up in your own company? Is there anything you dislike about your job besides filing? Is the culture OK? If you are feeling unchallenged, do you think you can ask for more responsibility?

AUD - 7/5/13 - 93
FAR - 8/24/13 - 91
BEC - 11/30/13 - 92
REG - 2/24/14 - 91! DONE!

CPAreviewforFREE, Wiley Test Bank, Becker, and NINJA FLASHCARDS. <3
Candidate from California

[Anonymous]

@mla1169 when you live in an expensive city… salary becomes higher.. I'm more of ap accountant.. but not really… I do some work during month end closing.. but not enough, and don't know enough to truly consider myself an accountant. So yeah.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169 when you live in an expensive city… salary becomes higher.. I'm more of ap accountant.. but not really… I do some work during month end closing.. but not enough, and don't know enough to truly consider myself an accountant. So yeah.

[Anonymous]

A little bit of background before I answer your question. I was in your shoes about 3 months ago. I had been a Financial Analyst at Apple for a year after graduation, but then decided to pursue public accounting and will be starting as an Assurance Services Staff member in just a few weeks.

This was my thought process, and I hope it gives you the benefit of someone else who made the decision to go from industry into public accounting. In the short run, yes, you will be giving up a higher salary and most importantly (to me, anyway) work life balance. Additionally, you will likely spend almost twice as many hours working than you do now, but I firmly believe that in the long run, it will be worth it. The experience you will gain is so valuable and will make you that much more attractive after you've spent a few years at a Big 4. Furthermore, from my understanding, it is a lot harder to move up the corporate ladder these days starting from the bottom. Compare that with the Big 4 where there is a direct, almost concrete, promotion schedule provided you work hard and become technically sound. While you may not make partner, achieving manager or even senior manager is not out of reach in around 10 years. Even if you decide not to go for senior manager or partner and you choose to exit the firm at a manager level, you will almost assuredly get offers to be a manager in industry. Either way, there is a very clear path to management going the Big 4 route. Of course, it's not all roses, as I'm sure I will hate myself and regret my decision multiple times in the coming year, but I do think it was the right move.

If you read none of the above, I would just say that if you keep a long term outlook, it will pay off. If you can weather the storm that is Big 4 public accounting, it will definitely pay off. You just need to decide what you want from your career, look at the pros and cons then make a decision.

Good luck! Sorry if my post is all over the place; I'm stressing about my score to come tomorrow morning haha! Feel free to message me if you want to take this private

[Anonymous]

A little bit of background before I answer your question. I was in your shoes about 3 months ago. I had been a Financial Analyst at Apple for a year after graduation, but then decided to pursue public accounting and will be starting as an Assurance Services Staff member in just a few weeks.

This was my thought process, and I hope it gives you the benefit of someone else who made the decision to go from industry into public accounting. In the short run, yes, you will be giving up a higher salary and most importantly (to me, anyway) work life balance. Additionally, you will likely spend almost twice as many hours working than you do now, but I firmly believe that in the long run, it will be worth it. The experience you will gain is so valuable and will make you that much more attractive after you've spent a few years at a Big 4. Furthermore, from my understanding, it is a lot harder to move up the corporate ladder these days starting from the bottom. Compare that with the Big 4 where there is a direct, almost concrete, promotion schedule provided you work hard and become technically sound. While you may not make partner, achieving manager or even senior manager is not out of reach in around 10 years. Even if you decide not to go for senior manager or partner and you choose to exit the firm at a manager level, you will almost assuredly get offers to be a manager in industry. Either way, there is a very clear path to management going the Big 4 route. Of course, it's not all roses, as I'm sure I will hate myself and regret my decision multiple times in the coming year, but I do think it was the right move.

If you read none of the above, I would just say that if you keep a long term outlook, it will pay off. If you can weather the storm that is Big 4 public accounting, it will definitely pay off. You just need to decide what you want from your career, look at the pros and cons then make a decision.

Good luck! Sorry if my post is all over the place; I'm stressing about my score to come tomorrow morning haha! Feel free to message me if you want to take this private

[Anonymous]

Re: Jennknee

“””If you get big four can I have your job? I'm in SF too and I actually love filing!

Anyway, is there anyway to move up in your own company? Is there anything you dislike about your job besides filing? Is the culture OK? If you are feeling unchallenged, do you think you can ask for more responsibility”””

@Jennknee Sure you can have it… hahah.. we throw a lot of parties too. every quarter end, and there's a lot of company happy hours as well.. But back to the question. There would be growth for me.. but that's only if the company expands more, and/or someone else leaves, or gets promoted to handle something else. So, its' basically a “waiting for opportunity” type of situation. So, who knows, how long that can take…

Culture is Ok. just b/c I'm more into having fun, and doing crazy things, while the rest of the team is a bit more “quiet”. I like to be open and say shit from my mind, but the team isn't as big on that.. and that's another reason why i was thinking i might fit better with the younger gen at a big 4; but that's just me, I like to have fun at work and play pranks.

what I dislike? I dislike pulling files for the auditors, and having to FILE them back, I also don't like Ap and paying invoices very much..

I do ask for more work, so I'm getting more involved during month end closing process, but I know I probably won't get the chance to be able to learn the whole financial statements, and what affects what, etc… and consolidations, etc…

[Anonymous]

Re: Jennknee

“””If you get big four can I have your job? I'm in SF too and I actually love filing!

Anyway, is there anyway to move up in your own company? Is there anything you dislike about your job besides filing? Is the culture OK? If you are feeling unchallenged, do you think you can ask for more responsibility”””

@Jennknee Sure you can have it… hahah.. we throw a lot of parties too. every quarter end, and there's a lot of company happy hours as well.. But back to the question. There would be growth for me.. but that's only if the company expands more, and/or someone else leaves, or gets promoted to handle something else. So, its' basically a “waiting for opportunity” type of situation. So, who knows, how long that can take…

Culture is Ok. just b/c I'm more into having fun, and doing crazy things, while the rest of the team is a bit more “quiet”. I like to be open and say shit from my mind, but the team isn't as big on that.. and that's another reason why i was thinking i might fit better with the younger gen at a big 4; but that's just me, I like to have fun at work and play pranks.

what I dislike? I dislike pulling files for the auditors, and having to FILE them back, I also don't like Ap and paying invoices very much..

I do ask for more work, so I'm getting more involved during month end closing process, but I know I probably won't get the chance to be able to learn the whole financial statements, and what affects what, etc… and consolidations, etc…

[Anonymous]

@al603 LOL to your last part… I was on the the website all day today, refreshing about 100 times today? The website actually crashed because i think so much people are doing the same thing I'm doing..

But anyway, Thanks, I read everything…I've made the decision to start applying then. I have a whole bunch of friends at big4.. I'm sure I can do some kind of networking in..

Pretty sure I'll have to take a pay cut, and a lot of really good benefits, like the gym membership.

Anyway, just curious as to how were you able to get into big 4? how many parts of the exam did you pass? and big 4 tends to be a lot harder after you graduate right. Did you have a high gpa?

[Anonymous]

@al603 LOL to your last part… I was on the the website all day today, refreshing about 100 times today? The website actually crashed because i think so much people are doing the same thing I'm doing..

But anyway, Thanks, I read everything…I've made the decision to start applying then. I have a whole bunch of friends at big4.. I'm sure I can do some kind of networking in..

Pretty sure I'll have to take a pay cut, and a lot of really good benefits, like the gym membership.

Anyway, just curious as to how were you able to get into big 4? how many parts of the exam did you pass? and big 4 tends to be a lot harder after you graduate right. Did you have a high gpa?

[Anonymous]

Hahaha, I did all that even though I knew I was getting my score tomorrow…the things score releases will do to us. I had a few friends that were in EY and PwC and they introduced me to the recruiters. I actually applied at a pretty bad time (towards the middle/end of summer) and so most spots were already filled, but I got lucky and a few spots opened up. But the key is to maintain contact with them even if nothing is available at that very moment.

To answer your other questions, I had passed 2 by the time I started applying, but I've heard that they don't really care how many you've passed, just that you're eligible or will be eligible when the new CA laws go into effect. Lastly, yes, it's supposed to be harder, but my GPA was definitely nothing to gloat over haha. I was probably middle/lower end of the pack

[Anonymous]

Hahaha, I did all that even though I knew I was getting my score tomorrow…the things score releases will do to us. I had a few friends that were in EY and PwC and they introduced me to the recruiters. I actually applied at a pretty bad time (towards the middle/end of summer) and so most spots were already filled, but I got lucky and a few spots opened up. But the key is to maintain contact with them even if nothing is available at that very moment.

To answer your other questions, I had passed 2 by the time I started applying, but I've heard that they don't really care how many you've passed, just that you're eligible or will be eligible when the new CA laws go into effect. Lastly, yes, it's supposed to be harder, but my GPA was definitely nothing to gloat over haha. I was probably middle/lower end of the pack

[Anonymous]

@al603 LOL… I know right??? I knew my score was coming out tomorrow too, but for some reason I keep telling myself.. what if it gets released early??!?! b/c it shows “pending” on there.. But anyway..

Thanks so much for the info… And yes, I agree.. it's ALWAYS ALWAYS, the networking that gets you the farthest. I'll start to network and meet them, and get the heck out of filing and paying invoices..

[Author]

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