[Son]

My observation – based mostly on large Fortune 500s – is that key players in industry work quite insane hours, including late nights, weekends and sometimes holidays. This includes top management and C-suite level professionals, but also middle managers who aspire to become VPs of tax or something similar in the future.

What is your experience? Is it true at all that work-life balance in industry is better if you truly want to “make it”?

Especially interested in opinions of Big4 tax professionals and those working for Fortune 500 companies.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
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[Christopher]

I work for a company on NASDAQ with about a billion in sales. I work closely with the executive board. In order to be on that level, the job pretty much consumes your life. For most people, it's simply not worth it. Honestly, senior management/VP jobs aren't hard to come by, because so many people just can't cut it/can't make the commitment. One thing is for sure though; it's a ton of work. Not to get all Tony Robbins on you, but I'd rather use my drive and motivation towards my own life/business. I don't know how CFO's do it to be honest.

[Missy]

My experience is that often only very entry level people work 9-5 in industry. Even staff accountants are working 50+ hours during month end, more at year end. I've pretty much always felt accountants in industry work as many hours over the course of a year as those in public do, it's just not so condensed into a three month window as it is in tax. I've had jobs where we worked a full day the first Saturday of every month, now I work 50 hour weeks pretty much regardless.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

I worked as an accountant for a Fortune 5 company. mid level and up managers worked like dogs. We worked basic hours other than at close where we worked OT for a few days. That said, did they HAVE to put in facetime? I dunno – I think its a very american thing – being in office even if you dont have stuff to do just to BE THERE ya know?

[Jdn9201]

I'm a senior staff in a Corp Tax dept for a F500, and I work on average about 50 hrs per week. Our managers work 60-70 and directors work about 60. Those hours do not count the hours some work from home – it's not uncommon for me to get emails at 10pm. I like what I do and work with a great group, but I don't have any desire to advance beyond manager because of the work/life balance (lack thereof). I refuse to spend time in the office just to be seen and I do not want the pressure of a director-level position. I never worked in public by choice for the same reason. Life is too short. I get paid very well and enjoy what I do – I feel like if I worked more time that my productivity would fall and I wouldn't enjoy it anymore.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[CPA788]

^^ well said @jdn9201. I've been staff level for 4 years in industry, we went public almost 2 years ago. Month end is a grind, but over the course of the year I have a ~50 hour work week. Life IS too short – while I want to challenge myself and progress in my career, I have already determined where my line is of work/life balance. If you enjoy what you do and the people you're with, you've got it pretty dang good.

Disclaimer – haven't worked for a Big4. I have a lot of friends that do, and between their stories and seeing our auditors onsite during interim and YE, no thanks. Though that experience helps a specific career path, won't deny that. That's a different discussion.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[Son]

Thank you guys for the input – this generally confirms what I've been thinking. Seems like 9 to 5 for management in industry is no more than a fairy tale that public accountants like to tell to feel better about their prospects.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Author]

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