[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?

[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..

[Anonymous]

Hahaha good luck man! Keep me/the forum updated on your progress!

[Anonymous]

Hahaha good luck man! Keep me/the forum updated on your progress!

[UCMCPA]

You may take a small pay cut up front, but 5 years from now, if you're a manager making 100k how is that going to compare to 5 more years at your current job?

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

You may take a small pay cut up front, but 5 years from now, if you're a manager making 100k how is that going to compare to 5 more years at your current job?

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Anonymous]

@al603 Hahah.. Thanks man. I will. Hmm. It would be great if we could add other members as friends on here.. But we can't huh? Also, there's no PM is there? I can't send messages to other users? But anyway, I'll have to update my resume a bit at a time, and apply a bit at a time through my friends at all of the big4, since that'll probably be the only way for a recruiter to even take a look at my resume..

@UCMPA Thanks! You're totally right.. 5 years from now.. I'll probably be too old to take the shit from auditing managers… might as well do it now.. and 5 years from now.. I'll be bossing those young ones around…

[Anonymous]

@al603 Hahah.. Thanks man. I will. Hmm. It would be great if we could add other members as friends on here.. But we can't huh? Also, there's no PM is there? I can't send messages to other users? But anyway, I'll have to update my resume a bit at a time, and apply a bit at a time through my friends at all of the big4, since that'll probably be the only way for a recruiter to even take a look at my resume..

@UCMPA Thanks! You're totally right.. 5 years from now.. I'll probably be too old to take the shit from auditing managers… might as well do it now.. and 5 years from now.. I'll be bossing those young ones around…

[ZSRizvi]

Now I'm curious about where in SF you are curious dude since I was working there just a few months ago in A/P. I whole-heartedly agree with you man.

Death.To.Filing.

And to the people who treat you like crap because you're “only an A/P person.”

…okay well not death on them but, you get my drift.

They actually got upset because I asked them if I could take on more accounting responsibilities.

Anyway, I left my A/P job to pursue studying full-time; I got a job as an auditor at a regional firm. But before that I did try the Big 4 and they told me to get some auditing experience before I apply to them.

So…I would say to get a job at a regional audit firm, get experience, and then maybe a year or two later go for the Big 4.

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[ZSRizvi]

Now I'm curious about where in SF you are curious dude since I was working there just a few months ago in A/P. I whole-heartedly agree with you man.

Death.To.Filing.

And to the people who treat you like crap because you're “only an A/P person.”

…okay well not death on them but, you get my drift.

They actually got upset because I asked them if I could take on more accounting responsibilities.

Anyway, I left my A/P job to pursue studying full-time; I got a job as an auditor at a regional firm. But before that I did try the Big 4 and they told me to get some auditing experience before I apply to them.

So…I would say to get a job at a regional audit firm, get experience, and then maybe a year or two later go for the Big 4.

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[Mel]

I'm kinda in the same situation as you except i have no desire to be an auditor, but i told myself i would get my CPA license and then leave because my job is paying for most of it. So i say stay until you get your CPA, if you can knock it out in a year or less, and then leave. Find something more fulfilling and with more growth.

[Mel]

I'm kinda in the same situation as you except i have no desire to be an auditor, but i told myself i would get my CPA license and then leave because my job is paying for most of it. So i say stay until you get your CPA, if you can knock it out in a year or less, and then leave. Find something more fulfilling and with more growth.

[Anonymous]

@ZSRizvi I'm working in the financial district of SF.. I was thinking about doing that too.. getting some audit experience at regional firm.. But I feel like… I'm getting older, and I should just shoot straight for one of the big 4 (well of course I would send my resume anywhere, but I would definitely dedicate a big portion of my effort towards deloittte). I want to aim for the highest possible.. I mean.. what it really all is.. is Networking.. and these firms always hold networking events.

@Mel4CPA : that's exactly what I'm thinking as well… stay here until I pass all 4 parts because I'm getting everything paid for.. But then at the same time, I'm thinking, during this period I can gain a lot more experience if I just join right now right now.. I mean.. the upper boss at my place is getting 150k or so.. with NO Cpa.. but did years of auditing… So that makes me think… (and taking my age as a factor).. I should probably apply now, I might lose a few hundred or thousand for the reimbursements for exams and study material, but I'm gaining experience during this time, which I can never take back.. Also, I'm still young, might as well do the 2 or more years of hard work, and by the that time I can move somewhere else..

[Anonymous]

@ZSRizvi I'm working in the financial district of SF.. I was thinking about doing that too.. getting some audit experience at regional firm.. But I feel like… I'm getting older, and I should just shoot straight for one of the big 4 (well of course I would send my resume anywhere, but I would definitely dedicate a big portion of my effort towards deloittte). I want to aim for the highest possible.. I mean.. what it really all is.. is Networking.. and these firms always hold networking events.

@Mel4CPA : that's exactly what I'm thinking as well… stay here until I pass all 4 parts because I'm getting everything paid for.. But then at the same time, I'm thinking, during this period I can gain a lot more experience if I just join right now right now.. I mean.. the upper boss at my place is getting 150k or so.. with NO Cpa.. but did years of auditing… So that makes me think… (and taking my age as a factor).. I should probably apply now, I might lose a few hundred or thousand for the reimbursements for exams and study material, but I'm gaining experience during this time, which I can never take back.. Also, I'm still young, might as well do the 2 or more years of hard work, and by the that time I can move somewhere else..

[Anonymous]

Ok.. so just found out I didn't pass audit AGAIN… really frustrated…

Rethinking about what i'm doing.. based on my fail rate… if I get into a big 4.. I probably will have to take a pay cut, spend a lot of money on material and retaking exams (based on my fail rate…. ahhh I must be stupid, how did I fail it??? ahhhhhhhh)…

Anyway, I'm getting everything paid for, and it would cover retakes since it fits into the category “work related education”.. so considering that I fail so much (3 times)… should I just stay where I'm at??? and pass first??

Ahh, feel miserable studying…

[Anonymous]

Ok.. so just found out I didn't pass audit AGAIN… really frustrated…

Rethinking about what i'm doing.. based on my fail rate… if I get into a big 4.. I probably will have to take a pay cut, spend a lot of money on material and retaking exams (based on my fail rate…. ahhh I must be stupid, how did I fail it??? ahhhhhhhh)…

Anyway, I'm getting everything paid for, and it would cover retakes since it fits into the category “work related education”.. so considering that I fail so much (3 times)… should I just stay where I'm at??? and pass first??

Ahh, feel miserable studying…

[Author]

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