[Surf CPA]

I received an offer to work at a company (private sector) but it would mean I would leave my current firm during busy season. I am struggling with this decision because I don’t want to leave on a bad note from my current firm. Any thoughts?

Aud - 83
Far - 84
Bec - 83
Reg - 79

[megasaurus]

I currently work in public (Tax, big 4), I'm in my 3rd year and I have never seen anyone (audit or tax) leave during busy season that didn't burn the bridge. We (meaning my work peers and I) all know that to keep a good recommendation the acceptable times of the year to leave are April-June and Oct. – Dec. For me, no opportunity would be great enough to risk compromising the network I've worked hard to build. But that's just me, and what I've seen done at my firm.

Is there anyway you could postpone your start date? Everyone I know who has left said that industry or the other firm they jumped to knew that they would have to finish out their current engagements before starting since the people doing the hiring are usually from a firm. But that could just be an area specific thing to where I live and the industries my firm serves.

Congrats on the new job! That's so exciting!

[fuzyfro89]

To be honest, look out for yourself. If it's possible, give more than 2 weeks notice, but don't give up an opportunity that you want just because it would inconvenience your manager(s).

If firms really cared about people leaving during busy season, they would offer retention bonuses in January that have to be paid back if you leave before April. As of now, I have heard of exactly zero firms that do this. So they need to live with people leaving even if it's not “convenient” for them. That said, if you have to choose between irritating your (soon to be) previous employer by leaving during busy season, or your future employer by making them wait an unreasonable amount of time for you to start, stack your chips and make a play. You may get laid off from your new job, you may hate it and want to return, or you may love it and not look back. You'll never known 100%, so make a choice understanding the pros/cons, and live with whatever the consequences are.

Good luck on your move!

[fuzyfro89]

To be honest, look out for yourself. If it's possible, give more than 2 weeks notice, but don't give up an opportunity that you want just because it would inconvenience your manager(s).

If firms really cared about people leaving during busy season, they would offer retention bonuses in January that have to be paid back if you leave before April. As of now, I have heard of exactly zero firms that do this. So they need to live with people leaving even if it's not “convenient” for them. That said, if you have to choose between irritating your (soon to be) previous employer by leaving during busy season, or your future employer by making them wait an unreasonable amount of time for you to start, stack your chips and make a play. You may get laid off from your new job, you may hate it and want to return, or you may love it and not look back. You'll never known 100%, so make a choice understanding the pros/cons, and live with whatever the consequences are.

Good luck on your move!

[acamp]

Leaving in the middle of busy season isn't just burning a bridge, but peeing on it once its smoldering. lol

Once you enter busy season you have a lot of people who depend on you and while sometimes a replacement can be found, its tough as generally nobody is unassigned during busy season. Further, onboarding a new person is a pain in the ass, so likely it will result in someone else on the team having to do more work.

Sure you are free to leave, its not prison, and the firm has no retention bonus, etc, but “the firm” has no feelings, we all know this >=) the people you work with though will be the ones taking the hit.

I might see if you can come up with a mutually beneficial time to take off, talk with the manager, tell them you have an offer and work on an exit strategy. Manage perceptions, you might be able to have a nice chat, make everyone feel like you are working with them and still leave in two weeks.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

Leaving in the middle of busy season isn't just burning a bridge, but peeing on it once its smoldering. lol

Once you enter busy season you have a lot of people who depend on you and while sometimes a replacement can be found, its tough as generally nobody is unassigned during busy season. Further, onboarding a new person is a pain in the ass, so likely it will result in someone else on the team having to do more work.

Sure you are free to leave, its not prison, and the firm has no retention bonus, etc, but “the firm” has no feelings, we all know this >=) the people you work with though will be the ones taking the hit.

I might see if you can come up with a mutually beneficial time to take off, talk with the manager, tell them you have an offer and work on an exit strategy. Manage perceptions, you might be able to have a nice chat, make everyone feel like you are working with them and still leave in two weeks.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[fiona87]

I'm having the same issue. Work for a small firm, we're being sold to a larger firm (transitioning 6/1) and those of us who work here are going to be treated like new hires (vacation, retirement, all that will revert to assuming we have 0 years of service – UGH). And the location sucks. I'm looking around and have several interviews lined up already (better location, better pay, better benefits…), but what do I do if I'm offered a position and they want me to start ASAP?

Cart before the horse/chickens before they're hatched at this point, but it's been weighing heavily on my mind. I really don't want to screw over my current employers (they've been great to me), but I also need to take care of myself, my career, and my family. This new place… well, I met the owners and left the meeting with a very bad taste in my mouth about how we're going to be treated post-transition.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[fiona87]

I'm having the same issue. Work for a small firm, we're being sold to a larger firm (transitioning 6/1) and those of us who work here are going to be treated like new hires (vacation, retirement, all that will revert to assuming we have 0 years of service – UGH). And the location sucks. I'm looking around and have several interviews lined up already (better location, better pay, better benefits…), but what do I do if I'm offered a position and they want me to start ASAP?

Cart before the horse/chickens before they're hatched at this point, but it's been weighing heavily on my mind. I really don't want to screw over my current employers (they've been great to me), but I also need to take care of myself, my career, and my family. This new place… well, I met the owners and left the meeting with a very bad taste in my mouth about how we're going to be treated post-transition.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Iron_Victory]

Sometimes the way you leave a place of employment is just as important as how you start at a place of employment.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[Iron_Victory]

Sometimes the way you leave a place of employment is just as important as how you start at a place of employment.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[StephAV]

I say don't burn bridges, which it sounds like you are not intending to do. I'd tell your current firm that this is an amazing opportunity and see what you can do to help your current firm with the transition. I've been working for 8.5 years and the CPA firm I worked for at the beginning of my career is now our audit firm, but it happened after 4 years of being away and having different auditors. I didn't leave on bad terms per se, I just didn't return from maternity leave after I received an offer to work elsewhere. Also, when the controller position opened up at my current co, one of the senior managers from said firm applied. Oh and they didn't end up hiring her, they hired some other guy that also worked for said firm many years ago. Small world much?

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

I say don't burn bridges, which it sounds like you are not intending to do. I'd tell your current firm that this is an amazing opportunity and see what you can do to help your current firm with the transition. I've been working for 8.5 years and the CPA firm I worked for at the beginning of my career is now our audit firm, but it happened after 4 years of being away and having different auditors. I didn't leave on bad terms per se, I just didn't return from maternity leave after I received an offer to work elsewhere. Also, when the controller position opened up at my current co, one of the senior managers from said firm applied. Oh and they didn't end up hiring her, they hired some other guy that also worked for said firm many years ago. Small world much?

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Anonymous]

Slice and dice it any way you want to, you are screwing over your team in a gigantic way. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do it, I'm just saying, don't expect a glowing reference if you do. You are doing the equivalent of burning the entire bridge, watching it turn to ash and then pissing all over the ashes.

Now, if the opportunity is as good as you say and you don't care about using your current firm as a reference, than go for it. But I believe professional decorum would be to wait until after busy season. If you can't wait, then you just need to evaluate how great the job is vs. how much you'd like to use your current firm as a reference…ever.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Slice and dice it any way you want to, you are screwing over your team in a gigantic way. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do it, I'm just saying, don't expect a glowing reference if you do. You are doing the equivalent of burning the entire bridge, watching it turn to ash and then pissing all over the ashes.

Now, if the opportunity is as good as you say and you don't care about using your current firm as a reference, than go for it. But I believe professional decorum would be to wait until after busy season. If you can't wait, then you just need to evaluate how great the job is vs. how much you'd like to use your current firm as a reference…ever.

Good luck!

[Author]

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