[msmeyer]

I need advice guys…

I am a new mom (22 month old boy) and I am currently working for a big 4 firm in the Advisory practice (one year now–Internal Audit + Consulting)…the main issue is that I travel about 80-100% of the time. On top of that, we were just told that we need to work mandatory overtime (50hr weeks of Chargeable work– i.e. administrative work related to day-to-day operations does not count, so you can end up working 55+ hrs to make sure you have 50 hrs chargeable to a client). Even more, I have a performance manager who can’t stop making me feel uncomfortable–our relationship is very awkward. While I got the highest rating for our service line in the whole state and a 10.2% salary increase along with a $3k bonus–my manager can’t stop making me feel like crap. I have been working continuously with her since I started and she put me in her main client’s project.

Right now I was given the opportunity to participate in another project (with another manager and another client–let’s call him manager #2) that would help me grow and seek a promotion next year. In addition, I get to travel only once a month and the rest of the time work remotely (office or even from home!). My performance manager is very jealous and making my life impossible–she is bringing way too much drama for a work environment.

Soooo….Manager #2 knows that my performance manager is doing this and has done it before w. other people who ended up leaving the firm. Manager #2 has offered to take me under his wing, he said he would even help me transfer to another office (which I wanted to do) and he would almost guarantee my promotion next year.

However….here’s the twist…

A manager (manager #3) from another practice in my big 4 firm referred me to the Director of Internal Audit at a local private company and said that it would be a great opportunity. I just went to a job interview with that company and they are offering much less travel (25% or 8-9 weeks a year), a much higher salary, a flexible schedule (8 hr work days/no pressure/one day work from home). In addition, I would be gaining experience in operational internal audit, which differ from my current SOX compliance and SOC1 audits. Further, I could slow down for a few years, spend some much needed time with my son and get ready to apply for a PhD program, which is my long term goal.

No offer yet…but I’m one of maybe two or three qualified people and I was already told I was a top candidate.If I’m given the offer, I really want to accept it. However, that means leaving behind a big 4 firm and an opportunity to move to San Juan, PR.

I discussed this with manager #2 of my firm and he said he would do anything so that I wouldn’t leave. He even asked that I sit with him and the offer in my hand to see how the big 4 firm could match or improve on the offer. This firm is very needy for talented “resources” right now and I was sure it would be easy to replace me–apparently not.

Has anyone had a similar situation or could offer any advice?

BEC - 86
FAR - 76
AUD - 73, 86
REG - 61, 73, 82

DONE!!

CPA, CIA, CRMA

[ileo]

It seems that you are getting an opportunity to be in the best of both worlds. The good news is that either choice will put you at a better place.

Being how you said “much needed” time for your son, I think the important question is which of the two choices will allow more (director v/s manager#2)?

If you pick the director position, you will be learning new areas (i.e. internal audit) – would that mean that you would spend more time learning the new areas – which would take away time spent with your son (atleast initially)?

On the other hand, you get to keep familiarity with your work by taking director #2 position and get to work from home as well.

I have a friend who is a mother to kids who are now 8 and 9 and she said that kids really do not need you as much after they are 2 years old. So my advice would be to talk to a mom because even she had regrets about not being able to do certain career related things she wanted because she became a mother.

The final question here is: do you want more autonomy by being the director of an internal audit firm (i.e. be more of your own boss) or is there a more likely than not possibility that the project under manager#2 would place you working 55 hours/week pretty soon?

I hope it helps.

[mla1169]

Every mom is different. I know moms who travel a lot and are very happy, and have great families. Personally I can't stand the thought of missing one second with my kids (19 y.o. and 12 y.o.) and the thought of being able to work remotely occasionally would even make a cut in pay appealing to me 🙂

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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