[omalloy]

I have just passed the final section of the exam, but before I dive into job search I want to get a road-map (if such thing even exists).

I have two young kids, that I want to pick up from school everyday, and I want to build a career. While both are equally important to me, I understand that my kids will only be little for few more years. My question is what kind of job in this few years would benefit my future career the most.

Please share your experience balancing career and family.

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BEC 70, 80
AUD 81

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[CPA2B_NJ]

Congratulations on the big milestone!

I have a 2-yr toddler, so spending time with him and my husband is very important to me. I'm not able to pick him up personally, but I have family members who watch him until I get home.

I work for a public company in industry, and I find that quarterly overtime requirements are still there, but not as demanding as public big 4. I'm still able to get home by 6pm, and spend an extra quality 2-3 family time. Off-quarter months I'm able to get home before 5pm.

I find that's reasonable given the amount of work demanded at the level I want to be in my career. I don't see hours varing too much, unless I take a pay cut to work as a bookkeeper for a private smaller firm. Maybe it's just the location of where I work.

I hope you're able to find a good and flexible pay to balance family and career!

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AUD - 72, 80
REG - 70, 85

To God be the glory! Forever, amen!

NJ License

[jschrei2]

Congratulations! I have so much respect for people that pass the CPA exam and have kids, families, and other commitments. Right now I just have myself to take care of and it's still hard!

FAR- 88
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AUD- 93
BEC-86

[Mamabear]

Congrats on your pass! I hope you can find a good job that allows you to do that. I am an accounting manager in industry with 3 little kids. My parents keep the little ones amd pick up my kindergartener every day until I get off work. I imagine that you may be able to swing a flexible schedule if you go to work for a smaller company that allows nontraditional hours. I hope it works out for you!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
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AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[omalloy]

Thank you everyone! Asking a question and getting detailed answer is so much more easier than reading through pages of articles.

FAR 65, 70, 78
REG 64, 76
BEC 70, 80
AUD 81

Ethics 96

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[mkrohmer]

I work for The NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. Federal and State jobs pay aren't great but the hours are phenomenal. I work 8-4 monday through friday and they allow you to start your day anytime from 7:30-9am. I assume other states have similar policies. Like I said, the pay isn't great but you have a great pension and healthcare plan. With NYS you start with 13 vacation days, 12 sick and 5 personal days in addition to all the federal holidays off. It's not the best if your trying to climb the corporate ladder and receive promotions but the life-work balance couldn't be better. If you want to spend a lot of time with your kids I would definitely consider a federal or state job

BEC - 83 (1/23/15)
FAR - 80 (4/3/15)
REG - 88 (5/14/15)
AUD - 81 (7/3/15)

[omalloy]

@mkrohmer thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for.

FAR 65, 70, 78
REG 64, 76
BEC 70, 80
AUD 81

Ethics 96

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[gennatay]

This is part of the reason why I wanted to get into government accounting. The hours are usually 8-430 and employees would receive most federal holidays off, the same days as school aged kids.

[Anonymous]

I work in industry doing a job share with another mom. Right now, this is working for my family and I (I have three littles – 6, 5, and 2). I'm really lucky and my dad watches my youngest on the days I work. My company is actually pretty large (for my area), but they seem to be willing to be flexible. It never hurts to ask when you are looking.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! I have my first one due in June and I'm already struggling with this so I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses. I will say that I don't think there's necessarily a “career path” that will be more flexible than another. Of course, having your CPA license would allow you to stay at home and do taxes on the side or something similar, so it's definitely advantageous in that regard. In my experience, it's more about the company and department you work for.

I work for a medium sized publicly traded company as an internal auditor. Because we don't have daily/monthly/quarterly/yearly deadlines, my department is incredibly flexible. We have two employees who work from home, I work from home quite frequently, and so do my two managers, and other coworkers. I have been so nervous about my plans for maternity leave and trying to figure out what I'm going to do after leave is up and how to balance a career and a child but I've been reassured over and over again that my department is flexible and will help me do whatever is best for me. My plan is to work from home (with help from a nanny as needed) and that way I can ideally have the best of both worlds. Not every department in my company is as flexible as this though.

[Anonymous]

Also, plenty of companies will allow you to do a reduced work schedule, where you only work 4 days a week.

[Author]

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