[1skibum]

Hi all! I’ve been in public accounting for almost three years now at a ~20th ranked firm based on revenues and should be making senior in a few months. I still do not have my CPA license. About a year ago the idea of public accounting being a life-long plan for me decided to fade and I kind of decided I was staying in just to set myself up to leave. Then last busy season came around and it wasn’t the best. I generally am good/thrive in a stressful environment, but it seemed like I was getting dominated every single day. I made it through busy season still being a high performer and getting great reviews. This summer arrived and all has been well. I’ve been busier than my past two summers, but could yet take my vacation. I took a week off around July 4th and since then it’s been back to feeling like I’m getting dominated most days. I’ve only been in the office 2 days this month and it’s feeling like busy season, just not working 70-80 hours a week.

Given all of this, I’m getting the itch to leave. Staying until I make senior is not an option unless I somehow make it through another busy season. I do have a good potential exit opportunity to a large company locally (non client) where I could get a $10-15k raise. I question if I don’t like accounting in general though, so I keep wondering if I should leave accounting all together and find a different path. Alternatively I was going to transfer offices to a different city to see if maybe it’s just my office. What do you think I should do?

[Recked]

Your exit is usually a one way door. I'd think this over pretty long and hard.
I would at least get the CPA, and have your current employer sign off. 10-15k raise right now seems great, but at what cost.

Don't be a quitter. Get licensed and then look for an employer with better work/life balance.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

[1skibum]

Thanks! But now I’d be working for a few CPAs just not in public. They would still be qualified people to sign off, correct? The fact of the matter is I can leave and work a normal job for more money while also having a ton of free time during winter when it will even easier to study

[Recked]

Check your state's experience requirement, but that sounds like a good deal.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

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