[audit333]

I’m a third year associate(2 busy seasons) in assurance practice at pwc in a big city(trying to be discrete..). I started with the firm last year and passed cpa exams. I was thinking about making it to senior this winter or next summer and leave for a fund accounting roll in PE/HF. However, I’m thinking about leaving this year due to level of stress recently. I’m very stressed out about dealing with work/expectations as third year and working with certain people, despite it’s not a busy season. I was rated 2 and getting a little over 70k with few grand bonus. Realistically speaking, if I were to take a fund accounting roll this year, what can I expect to make (base/bonus)? would it be a lot more beneficial to stay until senior and leave?
I feel like this is the appropriate place to ask/share my concerns.

[DDylan]

Investment/fund accountant here, working in a fairly large PE in TX

If I were you, I would stay in public. Depending on the company/culture, fund accountant could get very busy—50 to 60 hours per week in audit season and month/quarter close.

In addition, the work itself is really tedious, boring, repetitive and meaningless.

I’ve stayed with this PE for almost two years, and have hated it every day, every minute.

You say you have been stressed out. Not a problem, just make a move to other big four..or probably other service line such as transaction service.

Okay enough rant. I would stay in public. Period.

If you were to leave big 4 and join PE/HF, you probably will be hired as an accountant, maybe senior accountant. Regarding salary, as the market is so hot, your salary will probably be 75K + 8 to 10% bonus depending on city and company

[audit333]

thanks for your input. At the moment, I don't have plans in continuing public accounting. The latest I would stay is next summer, which I then will be a senior for certain. I am fine with doing repetitive task as long as salary is right. To be honest,what I'm most curious about is $. I wish to hit 100k in a year or two (including bonus if impossible). I hear fund account bonus can be quite big as long as funds perform well. By next year I will be at 80k+ if I stay with the firm. It's just that I don't want to leave this year for something like 80-85k. Can somebody provide a realistic range for a large city? (la/nyc/chicago..etc)

[DDylan]

Okay, as I do not live in these large cities, I cannot comment on salary. But for bonus, I do not think it would be that big even tho funds perform well. The PE I work for is fairly large (top five private equity in real estate), but as far as I know, for staff level (accountants and senior accounts), everyone gets 10%.

[Author]

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