[Anonymous]

I just started in public accounting at a Big 4 in September, and I despise it more than I thought ever possible. When it first started I instantly didn’t like it but I brushed it off and said it was just because it was new. But no. My team is terrible as in they are just not interesting people or even that nice, the work is tedious and boring, we were originally only getting 20 minute lunches until the other staff 1 and I said something when asked what we disliked about the engagement, there is little to no guidance on EVERYTHING and the hours are just stupid. I just hate it. I mean I knew the hours would suck but now that I’m a week and a half into busy season they truly suck, and I just don’t get why I’m putting myself through this, or why anyone does. It’s stupid. And for what, some tick marks?! I wanted to stay until I made senior at the minimum, now I don’t even want to stay until the end of this week. I know l know, this experience will do wonders for me eventually, but I just don’t care. Why do I want to suffer now?? Can someone, anyone, say a little something positive? I knew I wasn’t going to like this job all that much, I just didn’t want hate it, and I certainly didn’t want to hate it this much. Thanks for listening to me vent! It’s been a really bad day.

[Anonymous]

@ISP I wouldn't say that it's “hard” to get a job in tax leaving public accounting…the opportunities are certainly more limited than they are for the auditors as the skill set for auditing is more general and not specialized…thus making it more applicable for more jobs. Auditors tend to leave for a wide variety of roles, internal audit positions, accounting manager roles, senior accountant roles, CFO/Director roles, all depending on what level they leave the firm at, however, most of these positions are not available to those on the tax side of the firm. My friend who started at the same time as me in my firm left as a senior, went to a public company to work as a senior in their tax department doing state returns for them…then she eventually left there and is now an accounting professor at a small college. You could work for the IRS, you could work for a not for profit, you could work for a public company in their tax department, all depending on what sort of specialization you choose after starting…but yes, the opportunities are certainly more limited you likely will not go be an internal audit director, or accounting manager having only done tax…but I don't think that makes it hard to get a job…your public accounting experience is still valued just as much as it would be on the audit side…it's just valued in a smaller population of job openings…hope that helps!

[mgnyc]

Having a big firm on your resume opens many doors, stick it out.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[mgnyc]

Having a big firm on your resume opens many doors, stick it out.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't stick it out, I'd go to internal auditing or the state. Big 4 I've realized isn't all it's cut out to be. Everyone I work with is from big 4 and they are all jealous of me because we all have the same job only I never worked Big 4

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't stick it out, I'd go to internal auditing or the state. Big 4 I've realized isn't all it's cut out to be. Everyone I work with is from big 4 and they are all jealous of me because we all have the same job only I never worked Big 4

[mystical guy]

@Almostthereee, it's funny that one (wo)man's meat is another (wo)man's poison… as they say. I've been trying hard to get into public accounting. I got a contract job, in IT, in a Fortune 500 instead, and that's now over. And why did I take a job in IT? Well, to show the Big Four that I'm ‘hire-able'..It seems to me as people like my former classmate dump Big Four/Public Accounting, there seems to be other desperate people trying to get in, willing to work 100 hours a week, why? LOL.

In my humble opinion, go back to the basics. Why did you decide to major in Accounting? Take the CPA? Was it for prestige or is there something you actually love about all this? From my personal opinion I always knew I wanted to go into Audit, as young as 10. Haven't made it there yet but I potentially have an interview with EY. I'm willing to put in the effort and time since it's my dream, but I know I don't wanna work for someone forever.. This, for me, is a path to getting the experience to have my own Accounting firm some day, or another business. It's up to you to decide what you REALLY want!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

@Almostthereee, it's funny that one (wo)man's meat is another (wo)man's poison… as they say. I've been trying hard to get into public accounting. I got a contract job, in IT, in a Fortune 500 instead, and that's now over. And why did I take a job in IT? Well, to show the Big Four that I'm ‘hire-able'..It seems to me as people like my former classmate dump Big Four/Public Accounting, there seems to be other desperate people trying to get in, willing to work 100 hours a week, why? LOL.

In my humble opinion, go back to the basics. Why did you decide to major in Accounting? Take the CPA? Was it for prestige or is there something you actually love about all this? From my personal opinion I always knew I wanted to go into Audit, as young as 10. Haven't made it there yet but I potentially have an interview with EY. I'm willing to put in the effort and time since it's my dream, but I know I don't wanna work for someone forever.. This, for me, is a path to getting the experience to have my own Accounting firm some day, or another business. It's up to you to decide what you REALLY want!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Anonymous]

All i remember from my close to 4 years at a big four was misery hah. I have a door to door 2 hours 1 way commute and I would work until 12 to 1am during busy season and also from Aug to Nov. I just remembered getting home at 8pm ( got off work at 6pm), and ate dinner and studied for cpa. Even during busy season,I would stay up until 3am and studied for the test. Its tough but looking back, I am glad I stayed until I was a senior, the resume factor made my post big four job search so much easier.

[Anonymous]

All i remember from my close to 4 years at a big four was misery hah. I have a door to door 2 hours 1 way commute and I would work until 12 to 1am during busy season and also from Aug to Nov. I just remembered getting home at 8pm ( got off work at 6pm), and ate dinner and studied for cpa. Even during busy season,I would stay up until 3am and studied for the test. Its tough but looking back, I am glad I stayed until I was a senior, the resume factor made my post big four job search so much easier.

[NewGirl27]

I could have wrote this post myself. I work at a rather small firm, but halfway I to the busy season I ask myself every day how does anyone honestly enjoy this line of work?!?

I'm thinking about turning to alcohol 😉

[NewGirl27]

I could have wrote this post myself. I work at a rather small firm, but halfway I to the busy season I ask myself every day how does anyone honestly enjoy this line of work?!?

I'm thinking about turning to alcohol 😉

[Author]

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