[onmywhey]

Hey Everyone!

Congratulations to everyone that got an offer and good luck to those that are still trying. Now… I want to discuss remaining positive about public accounting.

If one has ever read the reviews on glassdoor most of the reviews will be along the line of “you will work so many hours, you will forget you are human” or “there is no work/life balance, they will work you into a dust because they know most of the people are leaving.”

If you go to urban dictionary Deloitte means: “the last form of slavery in the United States.” Now, I want to be happy which I am grateful to get an offer, but how does one remain positive and become excited about a career in accounting?!

[Gabe]

I work for a “mid size” regional firm and absolutely love it. I travel a bit, have awesome co-workers and the most I've worked in a week is…60 hrs (I think…). Also, they really do have a great work/life balance.

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[Gabe]

I work for a “mid size” regional firm and absolutely love it. I travel a bit, have awesome co-workers and the most I've worked in a week is…60 hrs (I think…). Also, they really do have a great work/life balance.

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[Anonymous]

You are doing it to get a name on your résumé and fulfill a work experience requirement. How do you get excited? Start planning your exit strategy on day one, take every day a day at a time and look to the future and your plans after.

[Anonymous]

You are doing it to get a name on your résumé and fulfill a work experience requirement. How do you get excited? Start planning your exit strategy on day one, take every day a day at a time and look to the future and your plans after.

[tough_kitty]

Great work/life balance working 60 hrs per week!?!?!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Great work/life balance working 60 hrs per week!?!?!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I guess you stay positive knowing that you'll get to learn a lot and you get paid for it! And yes, look at it as a temporary assignment. 2 yrs of hard work can translate into a huge raise and a better job in the future. And who knows, you might actually enjoy it.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I guess you stay positive knowing that you'll get to learn a lot and you get paid for it! And yes, look at it as a temporary assignment. 2 yrs of hard work can translate into a huge raise and a better job in the future. And who knows, you might actually enjoy it.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[wowurrcool]

A managing partner from one of the Deloitte offices was a guest speaker during one of my grad school classes. One of his quotes still cracks me up to this day:

“Work life balance? You work 12 hours a day, you're off work 12 hours a day. How much more balanced can you get?”

FAR - 87 (7/19/13)
BEC - 82 (8/29/13)
REG - 86 (10/18/13)
AUD - 91 (12/06/13)

Becker. Licensed VA CPA 12/31/13

[wowurrcool]

A managing partner from one of the Deloitte offices was a guest speaker during one of my grad school classes. One of his quotes still cracks me up to this day:

“Work life balance? You work 12 hours a day, you're off work 12 hours a day. How much more balanced can you get?”

FAR - 87 (7/19/13)
BEC - 82 (8/29/13)
REG - 86 (10/18/13)
AUD - 91 (12/06/13)

Becker. Licensed VA CPA 12/31/13

[vanadium3]

oh ha ha. if only we are robots.

CPA

[vanadium3]

oh ha ha. if only we are robots.

CPA

[acamp]

You'll learn an exceptional amount in a very short time, keep in mind that YOU can quit at anytime, and while you may feel like an indentured servant at times, you are free to leave. I say this, because so many people stick around with a bad attitudes which makes tough work worse. I like to look at what I'm doing, often. Why am I here? Whats the goal? Browse job ads and see where I'd land if I left now, where I might land if I waited x more years, etc. Its all about perspective, if you don't remind yourself of why you're there, it can easily beat you up. Not from that, but the work gets more interesting the longer you're there, and the skills you develop are unparalleled. Show me any job where after two years you are directly supervising people, so now we're not just talking audit experience but supervisor experience, managing people and reviewing work.

So while you're there, learn as much as possible and do it with a great (or pretty good) attitude. Yes the hours suck at times, yes you'll randomly get put on something that takes over you life unexpectedly (mine was a Summer IPO, oh hi there more hours than busy season), but try to keep perspective and don't be the doom and gloom perpetual complainer. 🙂

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

You'll learn an exceptional amount in a very short time, keep in mind that YOU can quit at anytime, and while you may feel like an indentured servant at times, you are free to leave. I say this, because so many people stick around with a bad attitudes which makes tough work worse. I like to look at what I'm doing, often. Why am I here? Whats the goal? Browse job ads and see where I'd land if I left now, where I might land if I waited x more years, etc. Its all about perspective, if you don't remind yourself of why you're there, it can easily beat you up. Not from that, but the work gets more interesting the longer you're there, and the skills you develop are unparalleled. Show me any job where after two years you are directly supervising people, so now we're not just talking audit experience but supervisor experience, managing people and reviewing work.

So while you're there, learn as much as possible and do it with a great (or pretty good) attitude. Yes the hours suck at times, yes you'll randomly get put on something that takes over you life unexpectedly (mine was a Summer IPO, oh hi there more hours than busy season), but try to keep perspective and don't be the doom and gloom perpetual complainer. 🙂

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

Everyone has good points here. I have not worked in public accounting, but I can say that jobs in industry may surprise you with long hours. Everything looks rosy in the interview, then they will stick you with ridiculous hours.

At my last job with a public company, no one left before the CFO and he liked to stay until 9 or 10 at night. The key is to remain positive and think about where you want to go in your career. As acamp said, you can leave at any time, but think about where you want to go and evaluate the alternatives. Also, the more demanding jobs usually come with higher rewards/opportunities.

[Author]

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