[kudawudashuda]

So here’s the backstory, after not having a real job for a while and studying for my CPA, I recently landed an auditing job for a local CPA firm based in San Diego that specialized in governmental audits for schools.

The situation was unique because the LA office was not really an office and I was able to work at home at times and traveled to sites as necessary. I felt as if I got along with everyone, but after driving down to San Diego (from LA) on Friday for our firm’s training day, that’s when the trouble started. There was a secret meeting going on between the higher-ups and they decided I was not a fit for the firm. I drove again back to San Diego on Sunday to stay at the hotel for the night, only to arrive Monday morning to work with the news that I have been let go.

I was told although I have great technical skills, they felt my personality was not a fit for the firm, thus they decided to me let go. I was in utter shock because I felt like I formed a camaraderie with the people I have been working with for the past 2 months, and for them to do this me was so sudden and harsh. Throughout my stay at this firm, I never received any complaints about my personality or had any evaluations about my performance during my probationary period, which was 30 days when I started. Since the type of employment I had was an “at will employment” they can technically fire me without cause for anything they feel like.

Afterwards, I drove back home that morning, saddened and heartbroken. I felt like someone cheated on me with another person and in the end told me they did not love me anymore and that it was all my fault for ruining the relationship. Upon further inquiry with my coworkers and supervisors I found out that since my personality was the main issue (not my performance) they believed I would have never been able to be promoted to a senior, and thus it was not necessary to have me in the firm anymore. My director who hired me felt i had a “quirky” personality, but there were also complaints from the seniors auditors (from San Diego) that they didn’t like working with me and that they felt I was annoying.

Looking back, I feel like my coworkers thought I was annoying because I asked a lot of questions. I was a new hire and had received zero training from the people I worked with. Whenever I did work based on what one senior would tell me to do, another director or senior would say I’m doing it wrong and that I had to do it their way instead. Also I felt my personality did not fit with the firm because I did not play golf, participate in some of the coworker’s fantasy football league, or look or act like them (don’t want to bring up the racist issue, but 90% of the people were white).

Do you think I will be successful in my next auditing career? I wasn’t expecting this type of behavior in a smaller firm, and if I ever work for a mid-tier or big4, should I expect more nasty people? Thank you for taking time to read this.

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[How many letters do you need]

I agree with fuzzy. It's in the past…unless you plan to bring a lawsuit it really doesn't matter. Move on and move up.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[kudawudashuda]

@MLA – All of of the sites where I was assigned to were located in LA. Usually an auditor in charge (from SD) would make his way up to LA to help our 4 man team. I'm not sure if those SD folks felt like I was thrown at them, but definitely I can sense a vibe where nobody wants to help me, except for my fellow cowokers from LA.

@LongShot – I was hired by the director from LA who was perfectly fine with my personality and work. The president, and possibly partners and principals were particularly not fond with me (despite not having much contact with them since I was in LA 99% of the time). I'm guessing the auditors in charge from San Diego were not happy working with me, so they probably told their higher-ups.

@san4596 – Most people are not racist, but they use their social status to treat others differently whether they outwardly show it or keep it to themselves.

@How many letters – Moving on is tough, but I have made significant progress in the past few days.

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[How many letters do you need]

Btw..I'm not belittling it, so don't think that. It's terrible…it's just your efforts are always better spent looking forward which looks like exactly what you are doing. So go get a better gig…I know you can..

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[ymmit]

I have worked at a small firm and currently a big firm. The small firm was much more judgemental and you are under the microscope a whole lot more in terms of having the “correct” personality. If your are the partner of a 20 person firm why would you want someone who you don't like and think will present a poor image of the firm to clients? I don't blame someone for doing that, nothing against OP.

The big firm is more relaxed and diverse. If 10,000 people work at your firm who cares if you have quirky people if they do good work.

Licensed CPA!

[How many letters do you need]

Ymmit: I agree if it's legimiate. Could also be a heavy dose of office politics though. Seems like the opinion of the seniors are largely at play here and that can range from anything such as racism to fear of competition to legitimate concern. I just find it very hard to believe that it was related to client relations. More than likely it was simply “you are not one of us” and more than likely not racism on the partner level because if that were the case they never would have hired OP to begin with.

Still…it's unfortunate when somebody's first experience in their field is one like this. He/she got the shit end of the stick and it isn't fair….but it is what it is

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Lisa_Jane]

Honestly they did you a favor because they sound awful. You will find the right place to work so don't be discouraged. I've had similiar experiences so don't let it hurt your confidence.

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[sandy]

If you are minority women, you better work very hard. They wait for you to make mistakes, so that they can point fingers. Nepotism, race and everything else exist very much in work place. Most of the time, HR always sides with the management and don't bother to listen to employees complaint.

Employee’s gang up together to push the new person out if they happen to get the work done on time! Most of them stereotype about people from other countries without bothering to know about them.

[GSU-CPA]

Just look at it as “everything happens for a reason”.

Before i got my job right now “WHICH I LOVE” i worked at another place for 3 days before having to quit because the trainer was a complete ahole.

I was super dissapointed in my self because in my 26 years of life i never had to quit anything especially not after 3 days. However that motivated me and i started applying for jobs like crazy i think i sent out 200 applications in 3-4 days and within a week i had a perfect job with great people. I have been at my current job for a year and i love it, the management is awesome and even the CEO is very nice.

Initially i was going to try to get into big 4 but this place has been so great that i am strongly considering staying even after i pass my CPA exam.

The main point i am trying to make is that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON… i wouldn't be surprised if the next job you find is more pay and better fit for you.

Good luck!

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[Anonymous]

I agree with GSU_CPA

I interned at place between my junior and senior years, got the full time job offer and moved 1200 miles to take the offer after graduation. Upon arriving in the new city, I promptly bought a home and then got fired 5 months after I started because I didn't fit with their corporate culture.

Anyway, within 3 months I had a new job which I love and I've been working there for 18 months now. Everything happens for a reason. Best part was that since the first job fired me and I didn't have to quit I got to keep the $5000 relocation money, $1000 signing bonus, and $3000 tuition reimbursement that they paid me while I was there.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read everything…but wanted to say, don't be discouraged that you didn't “make it” at a small firm and think a bigger firm will be worse. In my experience, it's the opposite with situations like this. It seems like bigger firms, corporations, etc., play more by the rules. You won't get something as awesomely sweet (say like a boss who lets you off at noon every Friday but pays you till 5pm), but you won't get something as awfully horrid either (like getting fired for no known reason at all). So, if you're coming from something super awesome, the big firm might seem lame, but if you're coming from something super lame, then the big firm will seem great! So, try to look for the next gig with your head held high knowing it just gets better from here. 🙂 I worked in a super-small accounting firm last year, then switched to a decent-size private company, and planned to work part-time in an even smaller accounting firm through tax season. Both small accounting firms ended up being the not-so-good type of small company (different stories with each; ended in bad results with both); the larger company has been a breath of fresh air and just about made me swear off of small mom-and-pop employers altogether! My boss at my current job is amazing, but even if she wasn't, the organizational structure of a bigger company is such that if there was an issue, it could – and would – be addressed appropriately, instead of random firing for ambiguous reasons.

So, best of luck in the future, I think that a next step up will be positive for you!

[zoctoman]

I feel your pain. I had a similar experience. I started a new tax job in january. I had no training just like you and everyone seemed annoyed when i asked them a question. I never received any complaints about my performance. right after the deadline i took a vacation. when i came back i was fired on the spot and told that i would be better in the private sector. it felt terrible at the time but i realized that i am way better off. apparently these “at will” firings happen all the time. as a matter of fact i found out my firm has done this many times in recent years!

Audit(11/5/13) - 89
Reg(5/16/14) - 86
FAR(7/18/14) - 82
BEC(11/14) - 85

[Anonymous]

I know this is kind of late but I just want to say I wish you best of luck, and don't let this one bad experience get to you.

[Author]

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