[Anonymous]

I have been working as a Staff Accountant in a small corporation for about 2.5 years. It is a very great company, but I feel stuck because there is not room for promotions. A year ago, I decided I wanted to become a CPA because I needed the challenge and because is something I always wanted. I was lucky to have my job paid for my course and my exams.
What career path is more valuable in the long run, Audit or Senior Accountant? Here are my thoughts about each:

1. Find a job as an Auditor once I become a CPA (if I pass REG that is). The only thing I don’t like about working on Public companies is the amount of hours, but that might be compensated with a valuable experience to use in the future. Also, I am 31 years old and usually all the junior auditors are on their early 20s, so maybe I won’t fit on that culture.

2. Try to land a Senior Staff Accountant in a different corporation where there is more room for growth and where a CPA is a desirable designation.

3. Become an Internal Auditor for a big corporation. Maybe … but not sure about this one.

If anyone can give me some advice I will greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the company. But from just based on the information, I would go for the public accounting position.

You will gain a lot of experience as an auditor and see/learn things you normally would not working for a private company. You will learn about financials and disclosures from an external perspective rather than from an internal/managerial perspective.

Also, employers generally like to see a mixture of both public and private accounting experience. If you put in a few years in each, that would definitely make you more marketable in the long run.

[jjjgolf47]

OP. I am in nearly the exact same situation as you. I would prefer to stay in private for reasons you explained above (long hours and a different “culture” in public). That said, I know many private companies like employees who have worked in public for a few years and most CPA's I have talked to recommend 3-5 years in public. For me, it will most likely come down to whether or not my current company offer me a path to a controller position. Because you like your company now(sometimes those are hard to find) maybe have a sit down with the higher up and discuss your future plans. A lot of companies find roles for people they like even though one might not be available at the time. Also, I would assume you CFO or Controller or whomever works above you is aware of the fact that you will soon be a CPA an plan to further your career. They know you aren't obtaining your CPA to stay in a Staff Accountant role forever, so sitting down to hear their perspective should help too.

[SeattleCPA]

You guys should know that the hours and the travel don't have to be as anywhere near as bad in smaller CPA firms.

Also, if your commute is short (because you're working in a smaller town or in a firm located in the suburbs where you live), that makes a big difference.

In our three CPA firm (but growing!) we work hard during tax season doing lots of interesting corporate work for successful entrepreneurs running interesting multistate and international ventures. But we don't work a lot of overtime… and in the off season, the workload is very family friendly.

Surely you can find similar opportunities in your area.

[Zyx]

I have a very similar background. I worked as a staff accountant for 2.5yrs then I got a job at a regional cpa firm. I like it a lot so far. The fact that everyone is a go getter. Everyone does their job. I like working with these forks. My previous experience in industry really helps me understand audit procedures. I think whatever you decide, it will be better for you in the future.

REG: 77 x2
BEC: 81 x3
FAR: 68 retake 10/1
AUD: 8/27

[Anonymous]

Thank You all for the feedback.
Here at this job it might be easier to move to a different departent as a Project Manager Associate then to move upwards as an accountant. I don't dislike the idea, but going through all this hard work for my CPA to end up not using it to my advantahe is something I can't bear.

I am going to look into smaller cpa firms close to my area. You guys gave me a different perspective about it.

Thanks for your help!!

[Want2BeCPAsoBad]

I did similar transition, but for different reasons. I worked as a staff accountant from ages 21-23, but then moved to operations since there was more room for promotions. from 23-28 y/o I did OPS, then had my kids and switched back to accounting working remotely. Now I'm 33, and actually took a pay cut (considering my previous salary in OPS as full time employee) but now work in public accounting. The decade difference between other staff an myself is not a big deal, I work in an amazing firm, managers are my age LOL, which allows me to feel more comfortable with them than other staff. At the same time being in your early 30s you still have a lot in common with those in their 20s, so there are good conversations around coffee and lunch.

My original plan was to suck up the loss in wages in return for my CPA license and to go back to industry. But now having worked at this firm for 6 months I really like the firm and plan to stay and hopefully move up the ladder as others have done. I truly see myself as manager in 5 years and hopefully get to senior manager or principal after my Masters. I honestly feel that my experience in public accounting has been me tools that I would have never been able to obtain in industry. Good luck!

[Missy]

It also depends on where you want to end up and who will be competing with you for that job. If you're ultimately applying for a senior position in a F500 company they may not say you have to have big 4 experience but if you've worked for a small firm and are competing against big 4 alumni it's harder. On the other hand if you've got experience specific to a particular industry (like you know DoD contracts) and are applying to a govt contract you'll be viewed more favorably than the person with audit experience.

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

[Alex]

I am in a similar situation. I have been in private for 5 years and am in my late 20s. Getting a CPA to help me move into a senior position. Eventually I would like to move into a controller position but keep hearing that having public experience is needed. I do have experience as a staff accountant at a F500 company and I don't really want to start over at the bottom and take a pay cut or put off a promotion for a few years if I can end up in the same position eventually.

Two of my old bosses had public experience but at the F500 i worked for, most of the controllers did not have any public experience or CPA licenses. If I can get into a senior position at a company where I can be promoted within that would be ideal but I am afraid not having public experience will hurt me down the road.

[Vanessachy]

As the first question, I can give you my experience. I am 34 and started as experienced audit staff at my current firm last year in Nov. I had two years of public accounting experience and was newly licensed last October. My current firm has about 450 employees in total, and a lot of young kids are in their 20's. They like to drink on Saturdays after work during busy season and I was never into it. I def have more common with the managers but we are not the same level. All seniors are younger than me which I don't care, but they probably like to work with younger kids. It is hard to cut in and I admit it; however, it may worth it to try for the experience. All of your plans seem to be good plans, depends on how you utilize your expieience.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[Author]

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