[HighMileageDude]

Just wondering. I’ve read stories of this going on especially at the senior to staff levels

[Anonymous]

I can speak only from limited experience as I have completed an internship but won't start full time until after my MAcc. From what I saw on my teams there was very, very little verbal abuse. I don't know if I ever remember hearing verbal abuse between the seniors and the staff or the staff to the interns. That's not to say things don't get intense and stressful close to deadlines; but even during these times the discomfort usually came from an overall feeling of the team (i.e. high stress, conflicting personalities) as opposed to one individual verbally assaulting an inferior on the team.

[Mrs 300]

I worked for a Big 4 firm for 5 years. Now I work for a large public accounting firm (probably #10 or #11). I don't know if I'd call is verbal abuse as much as the passive-aggressive BS that goes on. My experience was a pretty good one. But I worked hard to stay away from the abusers. It's hard to do, but I was able to get into the right group.

I found that the Seniors felt threatened by the new staff. That was very common. They will make sly comments and throw you under the bus whenever they get a chance. I had a Senior tell me that she knew I didn't get in until after 8:00 because she felt my car when she got in and it was still warm. I laughed and said, “Thank God I'm not punching a clock!”

I felt that way about Seniors until I became a Senior. 🙂 I was a nice Senior.

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Anonymous]

@ Mrs 300

Did the Big Four firm you worked for not have a CPA requirement before being promoted to senior? I want to say the firm I was with does not promote staff until they have passed their CPA. Just curious…

[IwannaBaCPA]

Big 4 doesn't promote to manager unless

you have your CPA. Seniors (and there are plenty)

don't have to have it.

I've never ever experienced verbal abuse at my firm!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

@ IwannaBaCPA

ahhhh…thanks for the info!

[jeff]

Feeling your car for warmth has a Dwight Schrute-esque vibe to it.

[whatkey]

Some people can be very passive aggressive. The worst are those seniors that have been there for 8 years and haven't been promoted because they can't pass the CPA exam. Manager level to senior level is generally OK, but there is no more passive aggressiveness..it's all pretty much said straight to your face. Partner to manager can be extreme verbal abuse from what I've seen.

Using Becker, Ninja Notes, and CpaReviewForFree

FAR - 87 (2/17)
REG - 89 (4/21)
AUD - 89 (5/31)
BEC - 89 (7/11)

[Mrs 300]

Believe it or not, I'm a tax manager. I became an EA when it came time to get promoted to manager. They said I was ready but that I needed to pass the CPA exam in 2 months. At that time, I had a 2 year old and a 2 month old, so I knew I couldn't do it. I needed a credential to get promoted to manager, so I chose EA. EA is pretty good for tax. I really can't complain about Big 4. They were so good to me there.

But now I want to become a CPA for my own personal satisfaction.

The auditors at my firm (and my former Big 4 firm) cannot get promoted to Senior until they pass the exam. But for tax it's different – you only need to pass the CPA or become an EA when it's time to get promoted to manager.

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Mrs 300]

Jeff, now that I think of it, she was totally like Dwight! Not 1/2 as awesome though……

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Author]

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