[Lost1]

Greetings all,

I have been working for a F500 company over a year, doing non-CPA work while hoping to move up to an accountant role. I struggled at first but I feel like I have been doing good, taking on big ticket projects and getting trained on new stuff – I’m pretty hopeful that I might get a promotion by early next year (but at the same time.. who knows..I might be stuck at my current position for another year)

I recently had an interview with a small 20-25 people public firm for a tax staff accountant position and it seems like I might get an offer (they said i’m their top candidate so far..). I have always wanted to work in public accounting but I’m afraid of brutal working hours. I heard small firms are more likely to lay off their employees after busy season. so job security is another concern. Not to mention, i will have to take a pay/benefit cut. On the other side, i know that tax experience will open more doors for me (my own practice..corp. tax position..etc) it seems like people generally tend to agree that public experience is more valuable than industry experience, especially at entry level.

Any advice for me? are you a tax accountant looking to move to corporation? how do you like being a tax accountant?

Thanks

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[Lost1]

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[Anonymous]

If they're hiring you in the non-busy-season, I wouldn't be as worried about being laid off when the busy season passes, since they're apparently needing someone for the off-season, too. As for crazy hours, that seems to vary some firm-to-firm – some work 40-50+ in off-season, and unknown ridiculous hours during busy-season. I work in a public accounting firm of 2 (no, I didn't miss the next digit – two people), and through tax season, we kill ourselves (and hope to have a part-time assistant), but through non-tax-season, we're only open 4 days a week, so never hit 40 hours. I average about 34 hours. So, for me, the crazy hours during tax season are worth it for the easy hours during most of the rest of the year. But…personally, I wouldn't be interested in working 50 hours 9 months a year and 80+ for 3 months a year. All of that to say, you'd probably have to talk to ask the hiring manager etc what the expected hours are. They should have a pretty good idea how much people really work, and that will help you know what you're really signing up for!

[Author]

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