[arsenal227]

Hi All,

A short background about me; I graduated with a BBA in Accounting back in 2014 and have worked as an Auditor in State government ever since. I am a CPA and my current title is Senior Auditor.

I have been looking for a new role, preferably in industry or small-mid sized CPA firms, for approximately 5 months. I have worked with countless recruiters and made the final round of interviews with one company. My concern is that my government background is making it difficult to land jobs in industry/CPA firms.

I have begun studying for the CIA exam and plan to enroll in an MBA program in Fall 2020. My hope is that as an MBA student, I will have a fresh chance at recruitment. Coupling an MBA with a CPA and CIA, perhaps my marketability will improve as well.

Does anyone have suggestions for finding a new role in the meantime? Am I being impatient given that I started my search 5 months ago?

P.S. – I am not married to the idea of working as an auditor. I would be interested in transitioning to an accountant role, however, I would need to take a steep pay cut from a Senior Auditor to a Staff Accountant and selling myself as a capable accountant without any experience might be a challenge.

[Anthony]

Where are you located? How many interviews have you gone through in that time span?

Honestly, small and maybe regional cpa firms aren't too much of a reach. If you know someone maybe they can refer you in.

[James]

Agree with above^ There are a shortage of public accountants in Houston. Someone with your experience would probably fit well with the big firms or midsize. Also not sure your exact role but internal audit may be a good fit. I'd say not giving up. There's peak times when firms hire. Normally after deadlines once the turnover begins.

[freecloud]

OMG I want to have a job like you. You want to have my job. To me, working at government job sounds like to have a good work/life balance. But you want to work at CPA Firm, which I have been working for many years and cant wait to find another transition position with the private industry. You will feel regret after getting out of with stable and good work/life balance government job. How about our jobs exchange? lols

[sexisillycpa]

I was in your exact position what seems like a life time ago now. I graduated in 2009, at the peak on the Great Recession, and the only job I could get (after 6 months of working at a call center) was as a state sales and use tax auditor. After 2 years of wasting away from boredom and not even getting calls for interviews, I started networking my ass off, and it paid off! Someone I would see at professional events fairly often dropped my name to their friend who was a manager at a company that happened to have a staff accountant opening. Sadly enough, once you've been on a job for a while, people don't trust that you'll be able to learn something different, so it helps having knowing people in your field who can vouch for your work ethic and personality. I can't stress enough the importance having a professional network! Also, up-selling your ability to learn, your familiarity with ERP systems, thoroughness/ attention to detail and all that jazz. It's possible, my friend. Just hang in there!

[Author]

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