[Swatee]

Hi I am a licensed CPA but I recently lost my job because of performance issues.I was working as a Senior Accountant and in my terms I was working hard and doing well.My manager told me that I lack problem solving and analytical skills so he asked me to leave.This has happened to me the second time when I lost my jobs b because of performance reasons.At each just b my tenure was one year.Does that mean accounting is not for me, how can I help myself?.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

What are the situations they are citing as lack of problem solving and analytical skills? I would need to know specific situations to be able to weigh-in.

[Swatee]

I had issues reconciling a bank account in April and couldn't find the complete solution by myself.I had to take my manager's help in doing that .He is dwelling on that one thing and that was the only time I asked for a help.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

Well, I can sympathize as I was not fired as much as forced out. As difficult as this don't let it keep you down. Understand that positive/negative experiences aid in growth. Sounds like you worked for someone who didn't have your back, it happens. The important thing to think about now is going forward is how to improve your system. I personally have a general way that I have created to review all recons regardless of company and the process was developed from compiling and analyzing my errors. I can share the details in a latter post if you would like.

Another thing that situation taught me was how to read ppl better. I was surprized by the fact of moving into the job the mgr that hired me was promoted to Director and I was left to report to a person that had a very bad reputation for being professional in the office. I did not realize how imperative it was for me to find innovative ways to do things because my boss was literally my enemy. I would go to him with questions that were not in documented procedures only to be pushed away or be made to rush and ask 10 questions in 5 mins. I was provided little to know explaination but expectations were supposed to be known. Basically in the end I realized I was being set up to get fired, but I landed on my feet.

Spend less time thinking about the emotions of the situation and more time professionally developing the skills required to create better work products. Hope this helps

[Swatee]

My team members are very happy that I am leaving.I worked very hard to keep this job, after 3-4 months of start I stopped asking questions and worked own my own.Worked long hours and even during the weekends.My team members make mistakes too but my manager covers them while he has always been very very vocal about my mistakes.I was overloaded with work right from the beginning.

[Missy]

What tools do you use when you're having a problem, are you using excel and lookup/find functions? Also how long did it take your boss to find the issue you couldn't find.

I know it stings to lose a job but maybe you're not ready for a senior position quite yet? There's definitely a higher standard and expectations if you're a senior with a cpa than staff or a senior without their cpa.

I've been fired twice. Both times it was because my boss just didn't like me but they SAID it was a performance issue. Really doesn't matter what they say is the reason because they don't need to give a reason at all and usually only say what makes them feel better about having a difficult conversation.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Swatee]

First of all the reconciliation was a big complicated right from the beginning, something that I didn't understand truely.The variance was flowing from the last year when I first started and the reason is that the first month wasn't done correctly and the person who trained me did not review/tell me all the parts.I reviewed all the months and found missing pieces expect one piece which was right there in the month of beginning.My boss found that missing part so it was a bit silly on my part to not to go back and review that far and thinking that the person who trained me must have reviewed it.

Most of my mistakes are silly not that I don't understand it.

[Swatee]

If you were fired twice than how did you manage to become a finance manager, saw it in your signature?.

So you mean I am not ready for a Sr level role right now.This makes me nervous because I found another Senior accounting job.

[Missy]

I was hired for a finance manager role because I've got 26 solid years of professional experience and two small blips on the screen that mean nothing in the big picture. I've got fabulous professional references from every other job I've ever had, all of which would take me back if there was an opening that they and I agreed were a good fit. One of the jobs I was fired from was a small family company that was angry I included their bonuses on their W-2's and said I was overstepped my authority. The other was basically a bookkeeping job and the guy was pissed I refused to walk his dog.

You may well be ready for a senior position but I see too many people with less than 3-5 years experience who assume they're qualified but really need a bit more experience.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Swatee]

I have a 6 years of an experience and mostly as a contractor out of which one year was a senior accountant experience.I am going to start with my new Senior accountant role soon and the things that happened with my previous job makes me nervous.All along I kept in thinking that I was doing well because I worked really hard.

[ellejay]

I think it sounds like they had a bad culture. For whatever reason they didn't like you. You just have to brush it off and move on. It just sounds like that company wasn't the one for you. There is something better out there for you.
From what you have said it seems they don't really provide the tools for success. They should have sat down with you and talked to you about your performance and ways you could improve. They should have determined if it was a skills gap or if there was something going on (i.e. the issues with the reconciliation you weren't properly trained on) before deciding to fire you.

The fact “everyone” in the office is happy you are leaving sounds like they have been creating a hostile environment anyways. To be honest I would take this as a blessing and look for another company with better culture where you fit in more.

[Swatee]

Thanks for your inputs missy and I think you are right.I am thinking towards my new job but at the same time wondering what can I do to improve my performance in the future .I don't know if it's my consulting background that's coming in my way or a lack of a true experience.As I said I do have 6 years of an experience but it's not at one place, being a contractor I moved from one place to another.I am looking for an opportunity where I can prove that I know my job and I work hard .I am looking to build my tenure which is what I lack in my resume otherwise I have my CPA license.In a real world passing CPA means nothing and it's more about how much you know and are exposed to.Experience is much more valuable than just having a CPA.

Thanks for your advise, I really appreciate that.

[Missy]

What I found helped was to anticipate what a supervisor would suggest trying and exhaust those options. The nuances matter. It's better to say “I've tried x, y and z. Do you have any suggestions for me to try?”

Also for reconciliations, when I'm just stumped I always go back to the last GOOD reconciliation or the beginning of the account and start there one month at a time. Sounds tedious I know but 90% of the time it's less tedious then looking for a needle in a haystack.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Accounting sucks. But it can open up some great opportunities if you play your cards right. Personality, culture, and politics play just as much a role as technical competency. They don't really teach that in school though.

[Swatee]

Hi Brickell accounting jobs are truely stressful and you need to be focused all the time with whatever you do.You need to very very careful with excel and all of it's functions and how you use it.One incorrect item in any row can mess up your entire schedule .Undergrad/grad school or CPA exam never covered anything that I do on the actual job and it all comes with an experience but the flip side is nobody has patience to let you learn and then shine.Everybody wants a trained person who can come and hit the ground running.I worked as a consultant for a very long time and that's how I learned.Fulltime jobs don't give you an opportunity to learn and grow, you need to know everything on day one.

[shawn in VA]

Swattee-

Not sure if you work in public or private, apologize if you did mention in an earlier post, but I have worked in both. 7 years public and 1 year private. Currently in public and plan to stay put.

My short experience in private was not fun. Very competitive among employees, and poor performers were let go with no hesitation. Add to that I worked for a government contractor so sequestration and the like really hurt the company.

Private your just overhead, and usually are the first to let go. Who knows there could have been other reason why you were let go aside from not being able to complete a complex bank rec.

Please move on, and I know it hurts I have been there personally. I was not fired but my managers were setting me up for failure and gave me a stern verbal warning how I was not performing to their nitpicky standards. I got the feeling they were trying to get me to quit, so I did a couple weeks after that verbal warning and found something better (back in public and more pay). It is a big kick to the ego, but realize it just was not meant to be and you will get something better.

BTW- There was 2 of us that were being targeted as the manager did not like us for what I believe are personality reason (i.e. we were not friends/social with her). The employees that kissed her you know what made many mistakes in their work BUT were looked passed.

I personally will not kiss any ones you know what just to be friends with me or keep my job. I have a family to support and still would NOT sink to such a low level

[Author]

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