[hasy]

Desperate need for a pep talk.

I am entering my ninth week in public accounting at a small firm with less than 100 employees. I chose my mentor today and he was my manager who gave me my first feedback meeting today, since I asked. He tells me that he keeps hearing my senior give me the review notes and it’s getting to the point that I may be repeating the same mistakes. I am truly trying to cope with two different seniors and both of them have such different ways that they do things.

I consistently worry that I am not up to progress and he finally told me today that I am a little behind because one of my seniors, who is only ONE year senior than me, solo-ed her own ERISA audit at the end of August last year. In terms of the entire ERISA audit, I know I can do all the work. But I lack the confidence to say that the work is done well.

I requested another feedback meeting from my other manager on Friday. I know I’m probably in for the same news. BEC exam is on the 28th. Even my manager suggested that I reschedule it so I can focus more at work. At the moment, I question whether I’m even cut out for public accounting. What are some things I should do?

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[JohnWayneIsGod]

Don't think too much and take their feedback constructively. Perhaps you are making mistakes, so you need to work on learning from those errors. If your manager says that it is best to delay BEC to focus on work, then I'd do just that. As for confidence, you need to get that back, but it will take time. Just focus on work and at getting better, and eventually your confidence will return. And once that happens, then you can worry about the CPA Exam.

FAR - 80

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

-John Wayne

[hasy]

I'm probably going to postpone the exam. I've asked others as well and many agree that studying for any CPA exam within 30 days is quite short.

Maybe I'm too sensitive. Have any of you had this issue? How did you work through it?

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[JohnWayneIsGod]

I have had only one job, and it was with a publicly traded company that moved fast. And it was during a turbulent time with the accounting department. (Different person quitting every month, even top-level managers left during year-end close.) Add that my direct supervisor appeared to dislike me from day one since she had no say in me coming on-board, and it was NEARLY enough to completely destroy my confidence with accounting entirely. So absolutely, I have a good idea of how you feel. It sucks.

Just remember this: You came this far, so you've been doing something right. Just because you hit some growing pains doesn't mean that you aren't cut out for certain things. It simply means that you are still learning. Just take a deep breath, keep your head up, and try to get better while believing that you can get better. More importantly, have a plan about how to get better. And keep talking to your mentor while taking his/her advice.

FAR - 80

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

-John Wayne

[fuzyfro89]

– Goal

– Method

Your mentor has given you the goal. Work to incorporate feedback (in the form of review notes) into your work going forward. The method? Everyone has something different. Sticky notes. List on a piece of paper. Write on the back of your hand. Whatever helps you remember to review your own work for certain things before handing it off to the senior/manager. Add to that list as you get work back, and you'll start to see very quickly where you are missing things.

Feedback is not meant to hurt your feelings. It's meant to give you something to work toward.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Perhaps establish a checklist for things to do before passing your work off to your manager for review.

Mistakes are all right… part of the learning process. Offer solutions. Establish controls to ensure mistake does not recur. Don't repeat the same mistakes.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[priceboozerhouse]

Making mistakes is just fine, and expected. It's when you start making the same mistakes a bunch without learning from them that people start to get a little salty. When someone gives you something to work on that's not some little one off type of deal, write it down. Things like making sure things tie before you send it to review, spell check etc, will go a long way.

[Author]

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