[WantCPA30]

I need advice! I been at big 4 for about 6 yrs and been at a “manager” position for 2 yrs now and the reason I don’t have the title is because of the CPA. I was currently planning on taking time off to concentrate on exams and try to pass once and for all but an opportunity came by for a senior position with more money than I’m getting paid now and way better quality of life (actual work/life balance). I’m just debating my decision because if I stay and pass the exam by Jan I will get the title as soon as I pass but if I dont pass the exams by Jan then I will have to wait for the next promotion round at the end of next yr. I’m just debating because of manager title and of course going back to being senior. Just trying to weigh out all my options and going back and forth with a decision.

Any Advice? HELP!

[Amay]

Why do you really want a manager title at a big 4? What will you get in the future if you stay vs. if you go? You say you want to stay in the tax field, so it's not like audit people that will benefit from jumping straight into a Controller position or similar high-paying position in the future, right? I may not understand the benefits of a tax person transitioning from a big 4, but I think you just need to evaluate where you see yourself in 3-5 years. Is the plan to make it to manager and look for a higher-paying position elsewhere? Do you think that if you stay and make it to manager, and then make the switch, you will be getting paid significantly more than the 20K increase you would be getting now if you switch?

I left the Big 4 as a “Senior” to a smaller firm, but just like you, they had not given me the title due to CPA. I realized if I had not gotten my CPA in the first 2 years at big 4, I was not going to get it while still working there. The longer you stay the more responsibilities, the harder it gets to make time to study. Not to mention the job is sometimes comparable to slavery when the hours are so grueling and you have no say as to when you can clock out!

To make my decision I just set my priorities straight and honestly asked myself if I wanted those “promised benefits” of leaving as a manager and if it was even worth all the stress. My answer? Family was #1 to me and there was no point in wasting my life away being miserable (and having no time for my family) in a firm that just saw me as a number. Besides, I never pictured myself working in private, so public accounting was gonna be it for a while. 2 years later, I am working in an even smaller firm with awesome work life balance and I plan on staying here for the long-run, until I start my own company of course 😉

So ask yourself the same questions and decide what is best for you. Best of luck!

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[megasaurus]

OP – I would probably leave. I'm in a similar situation, tax senior at a big 4 firm. And I have not finished the exam. I can pass them all, but it doesn't seem like I'm able to do that in the 18mth window coupled with multiple busy seasons and being a mom of 2. I'm pretty disheartened at the moment from losing exam credit. Regardless, I don't think that moving to a small firm for more money and better work-life balance and then getting your CPA is going to hurt you long term. Someone at my firm did exactly what you're thinking of doing. She was a senior for 5yrs because she didn't have her license, got raises every year, acted as manager on all engagements but left because she knew she would never get a chance to pass the exams in that environment. She is much happier now. Truth be told, I'm considering doing the same thing in a couple months.

[WantCPA30]

@acamp – haha yes that has crossed my mind too but I think in the future I will be able to explain my situation while at the Big 4 with all the hrs, responsibility and not being able to pass all exams. But I agree with what you are saying and some will start to wonder why I didnt get it done all the years I been working.

@Sir Study Alot – don't worry there is a lot of opportunity in tax and the money is not bad either. But I am currently in Real Estate and the reason it's hard to go into private is because I don't have much experience in corps and provision work. You will definitely find something!

@Amay – Thank you for the advice! I agree it's very hard to continue staying at Big4 without being able to get the CPA exams done because of all the responsibilities. I evaluated my life and I think leaving will be the best option at the moment will give me more time to study and get exams done asap, more money, less hours and opportunity to learn things I haven't done (such as individuals, estates/trusts, etc). Good Luck with everything and I'm sure you set your mind to it you will have your own company 🙂 Something I want to do as well and if I'm given a better work/life balance after CPA I can start exploring things to do with my extra time.

@megasaurus thats my fear not enough time with busy season to pass..I was approved time off for exams for oct/nov window but what if i dont pass the exams so little time for all exams then i will be stuck like I been…working as manager, working tons of hrs, making less money than other managers since I don't have the real title and not being able to take more time off for exams. Right now I'm really really inclined to leave because I think its the best thing for me as your colleague did. Good Luck and maybe this is what we need smaller firm with less hours in order for us to conquer the exams!

[Author]

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