[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I just started work as a Tax accountant with a top 10 firm. They’re in the midst of busy season so they’re not giving work to the new hires. I feel so useless and feel like I should be learning/doing something!! Does anyone have advice/tips on what to do or how to make best use of my time?

[thechapman]

Enjoy it

Edit: The only reason I say enjoy it is because I am just starting as well. I'm sure here in a few months we'd pay to have days like this

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

Maybe ask for small work that involves using the software? Even though the thing you're doing might not feel “important”, you'll be getting a feel for the software.

If not that then maybe brush up on your tax knowledge? Try to find a site with lots of articles about tax so instead of looking at the tax material you were studying for as a bunch of facts to memorize, you can look at them as potential tax savings/pitfalls.

[Peach1024]

I second the “enjoy it” sentiment…January will be here before you know it. If you are itching to get started though, ask them if they have a simple 1040 that's already been done that you can play around with. (At my firm we set up “dummy” clients for the new hires to practice on, but if you have a simple 1040 and access to the workpapers that would be fine too. Usually in tax softwares there is a way to save a new version of the return so you don't risk changing anything in the original version, which might help you out here if you do this.) Look at the workpapers and trace how they were plugged into the tax software. Trace what lines they're flowing to on page 1. Understand the carryovers and why the rental loss is being disallowed, or why the K-1 loss is being disallowed due to a basis limitation. (If you don't understand basis limitations completely, that's another area of knowledge you can start digging into while at work!) If you have the option to save a second version of the return as mentioned above, do that, empty out all the inputs in the software, and start from scratch as if you were preparing the return yourself.

Things like this will show initiative and help you get a head start on the madness around the corner, but if you'd rather just surf the internet or do mundane tasks until after 10/15 I don't think anyone is going to bat an eye. If it were me though I'd probably find SOMETHING to learn.

AUD - 88
REG - 76
BEC - 88
FAR - scheduled for 10/20/14

[fuzyfro89]

Continue asking a few people for things you can assist with, but don't be disappointed if they don't give you too much. During busy times, it's difficult to give work to new hires because it takes time to explain, have them do it slowly, then review it, and make edits if there are any mistakes or necessary changes (not the new hire's fault). It's really faster to do it yourself rather than walk someone through it if it's relatively basic.

If there's more to be done, you'll get pulled onto a client.

Just don't get annoying about it. Ask a few people each day how you can help. If they give you something, do it, return it to them, and make any edits/updates as requested, and then say thanks and “let me know if you need anything else. I can be reached at desk #XXX or extension ;LASDFHL”.

Then go on Facebook or read IRS updates or whatever fancies you.

Study for the CPA? Go for it! Best use of your time if not busy and in between work assignments.

[Author]

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