[leebird]

I have about 8 years total experience — over 4 in public accounting (Governmental Audits, Tax Preparation, Low-Income Housing Audits) BUT ABSOLUTELY ZERO (as in none) SOX exposure. Nor have I worked for a Big 4 Firm. My other experience has been with small organizations as a Grants Accountant and Assistant Controller.

My problem is this — and ANY HELP WILL GREATLY BE APPRECIATED: I want to get out of public accounting forever, permanently. I’ve been out of work nearly two months now and have had a few interviews for Staff/Senior Staff Accountant positions with no luck. Where I get jumbled up in the interview process is convincing the Interviewer that although I have not strictly performed month-end closing, and other “roles” unique to those positions, I am very aware/knowledgeable of the process. The interviewers can see on my resume’ that the experience is not there…..yet they call me in a badger me to death on how my skill set translates to their needs.

Just this week, I had a great opportunity for a Cost Accountant role. I met with the VP of Finance and we had a pleasant talk. Secondly, I met with the Finance Manager and she badgered me over lack of manufacturing experience — when the job description listed it as “preferred BUT NOT REQUIRED”.

So guys, how do I break into one of these roles and demonstrate that with over 8 years experience and an ACTIVE CPA license, I can perform bookkeeping and financial accounting tasks? Any suggestions? Some are great interviewers….I am not! It’s getting better, but I need a JOB and refuse to go back to public accounting for personal health reasons.

[Topsya]

Where do you live? What area?

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Topsya]

Where do you live? What area?

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Anonymous]

Depending on how old yo are, it may be due to age discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Depending on how old yo are, it may be due to age discrimination.

[hutchinson29]

This probably isn't much help at all. I'm in college and only have experience as a bookkeeper and finance assistant so my experience is limited and can't help you directly answer your question. I just finished my worst semester of college. I took 4 accounting courses and 1 business course while working over 20 hours a week. I am not lazy nor do I have to review information lots of times to understand it but I am not a fast studier and that hurts me significantly. While I am a little upset with my grades this past semester, I am looking at it as feedback and an opportunity to become better than I would have been without the feedback. I did homework 24/7 this semester and I would still go into some tests having not even reviewed some of the information even once. I definitely don't look healthy, and definitely don't feel healthy, and definitely don't want to experience what I experienced this semester EVER again. So I can relate to not wanting to do something for health reasons.

First advice:

I would suggest looking at your lack of success in interviews as feedback and then move forward accordingly. If you are doing A, B, C, D, and E in interviews and D is part of your lack of success in interviews, don't automatically assume A, B, C, D, and E are all reasons for a lack of success. Assess accordingly and honestly. You may not be good at B but that doesn't mean you should associate everything you are doing at the same time as B with B. Sure, doing B poorly could translate to doing C and D poorly, but actually make that assessment, don't just make the quick assumption.

Second advice:

Try building your life from your life out, not your career in. What I mean by this is before you do whatever it is that you do with your day (for me it would be studying and working), get the foundation of your life right first. This may not be easy to implement right away but if you get it the habit I'm sure it can be done. That means if you have laundry that you need to hang up, hang it up. If you have groceries you need to buy so you can have a healthy meal, or at least a decent one, go get your groceries. Then when you are feeling better overall because the foundation of your life is right, I am sure you will find it easier in your career and possibly interviews.

Third advice:

This may be difficult with your CPA license, but maybe you could consider taking a job you really don't want that badly to get certain experience and then make like a tree and leave after 6-8 months. Sure, it's not ideal, but having your problem solved in 6-8 months is better than it being solved later than that. You might have to keep silent about your CPA license, if that's possible. I don't know if there's rules about disclosing your CPA license. And nobody is stopping you from interviewing while working either. You could end up at a place for a month and then stop working there and work your new job.

I'm going to implement some of the strategies above and pick up a few books on time management. I can't speak for the above ideas actually resulting in success because I haven't has a chance to implement them yet but it certainly can't hurt to give them a try.

Best of luck.

[hutchinson29]

This probably isn't much help at all. I'm in college and only have experience as a bookkeeper and finance assistant so my experience is limited and can't help you directly answer your question. I just finished my worst semester of college. I took 4 accounting courses and 1 business course while working over 20 hours a week. I am not lazy nor do I have to review information lots of times to understand it but I am not a fast studier and that hurts me significantly. While I am a little upset with my grades this past semester, I am looking at it as feedback and an opportunity to become better than I would have been without the feedback. I did homework 24/7 this semester and I would still go into some tests having not even reviewed some of the information even once. I definitely don't look healthy, and definitely don't feel healthy, and definitely don't want to experience what I experienced this semester EVER again. So I can relate to not wanting to do something for health reasons.

First advice:

I would suggest looking at your lack of success in interviews as feedback and then move forward accordingly. If you are doing A, B, C, D, and E in interviews and D is part of your lack of success in interviews, don't automatically assume A, B, C, D, and E are all reasons for a lack of success. Assess accordingly and honestly. You may not be good at B but that doesn't mean you should associate everything you are doing at the same time as B with B. Sure, doing B poorly could translate to doing C and D poorly, but actually make that assessment, don't just make the quick assumption.

Second advice:

Try building your life from your life out, not your career in. What I mean by this is before you do whatever it is that you do with your day (for me it would be studying and working), get the foundation of your life right first. This may not be easy to implement right away but if you get it the habit I'm sure it can be done. That means if you have laundry that you need to hang up, hang it up. If you have groceries you need to buy so you can have a healthy meal, or at least a decent one, go get your groceries. Then when you are feeling better overall because the foundation of your life is right, I am sure you will find it easier in your career and possibly interviews.

Third advice:

This may be difficult with your CPA license, but maybe you could consider taking a job you really don't want that badly to get certain experience and then make like a tree and leave after 6-8 months. Sure, it's not ideal, but having your problem solved in 6-8 months is better than it being solved later than that. You might have to keep silent about your CPA license, if that's possible. I don't know if there's rules about disclosing your CPA license. And nobody is stopping you from interviewing while working either. You could end up at a place for a month and then stop working there and work your new job.

I'm going to implement some of the strategies above and pick up a few books on time management. I can't speak for the above ideas actually resulting in success because I haven't has a chance to implement them yet but it certainly can't hurt to give them a try.

Best of luck.

[leebird]

To posters above, I live in San Diego area. And in my mid-30's but honestly people think I'm 10 yrs younger. Thanks parents! It's not age discrimination nor is it lack of jobs in this area. It's my approach to each interview. My health issues are very minor: stiff back and anxiety from stress of ridiculous hrs in public acct.

I just have to present myself as a viable candidate and demonstrate superior excel skills, thorough knowledge of accounting cycle, and prove my past experience is relevant to job @ hand. Thanks for extended commentary to previos poster

All others can certainly chime in. Thanks!!

[leebird]

To posters above, I live in San Diego area. And in my mid-30's but honestly people think I'm 10 yrs younger. Thanks parents! It's not age discrimination nor is it lack of jobs in this area. It's my approach to each interview. My health issues are very minor: stiff back and anxiety from stress of ridiculous hrs in public acct.

I just have to present myself as a viable candidate and demonstrate superior excel skills, thorough knowledge of accounting cycle, and prove my past experience is relevant to job @ hand. Thanks for extended commentary to previos poster

All others can certainly chime in. Thanks!!

[mla1169]

2 months is not long to be looking even though it feels that way. I've got nearly 20 years' experience and that's how long it took me to find a job that I was experienced in. Also I was sending out no less than 8 resumes per day and had over 40 interviews (yes often 2 per day) and had a few insulting offers.

It's a numbers game–how many resumes per day are you committed to getting out? Also if you desperately need a job, look in public then take your time looking for what you really want.

An ad may say no experience required but trust me they're getting resumes from experienced people too. It's not just about meeting the minimum requirements. It's more about being the best candidate for that position out of the dozens of resumes they receive.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

2 months is not long to be looking even though it feels that way. I've got nearly 20 years' experience and that's how long it took me to find a job that I was experienced in. Also I was sending out no less than 8 resumes per day and had over 40 interviews (yes often 2 per day) and had a few insulting offers.

It's a numbers game–how many resumes per day are you committed to getting out? Also if you desperately need a job, look in public then take your time looking for what you really want.

An ad may say no experience required but trust me they're getting resumes from experienced people too. It's not just about meeting the minimum requirements. It's more about being the best candidate for that position out of the dozens of resumes they receive.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[vanadium3]

I think after 8 years in public you can tell them that although you never worked for private, you have the necessary thinking skills and you've seen many types of transactions, forms, methods, etc. it will be a transition, but you can pick it up fast and as you get more familiar, everything will be more efficient.

8 years in public is a long time, so you can also tell them how hard you can work and how you can manage chargeable time blah blah blah. ask them if they have cpa's in their office and what are they like.

unless you are interviewing for a top management position without private exp, I don't see why you can't get one. mention more about your audit experiences and bookkeeping/adjusting.

sorry about your health, I totally get it about the stiff back and stress.

CPA

[vanadium3]

I think after 8 years in public you can tell them that although you never worked for private, you have the necessary thinking skills and you've seen many types of transactions, forms, methods, etc. it will be a transition, but you can pick it up fast and as you get more familiar, everything will be more efficient.

8 years in public is a long time, so you can also tell them how hard you can work and how you can manage chargeable time blah blah blah. ask them if they have cpa's in their office and what are they like.

unless you are interviewing for a top management position without private exp, I don't see why you can't get one. mention more about your audit experiences and bookkeeping/adjusting.

sorry about your health, I totally get it about the stiff back and stress.

CPA

[fuzyfro89]

leebird: There's got to be a match in terms of skills and close enough match to compensation between what they want and what you've got. 8 years of experience is great, but not if it's completely unrelated to what you're trying to get into and also if the skills don't overlap very much. To be clear, it could be very easy to train you, however, you're probably competing with people who have non-govt experience. Smoehow, you've got to convince someone that you're worth their time/effort that will be put in.

MLA: lol, about insulting offers. I remember when I was a 2nd yr staff making in the mid-50s, having recruiters present me with jobs that had stated range of +/- 55k base. I obviously did not take even an interview since it wasn't even close to my expectations. But that's probably more of an indication of a useless recruiter than anything else.

[fuzyfro89]

leebird: There's got to be a match in terms of skills and close enough match to compensation between what they want and what you've got. 8 years of experience is great, but not if it's completely unrelated to what you're trying to get into and also if the skills don't overlap very much. To be clear, it could be very easy to train you, however, you're probably competing with people who have non-govt experience. Smoehow, you've got to convince someone that you're worth their time/effort that will be put in.

MLA: lol, about insulting offers. I remember when I was a 2nd yr staff making in the mid-50s, having recruiters present me with jobs that had stated range of +/- 55k base. I obviously did not take even an interview since it wasn't even close to my expectations. But that's probably more of an indication of a useless recruiter than anything else.

[ipasscpa]

@leebird: I work in private (real estate) and based on what I have notice, HR likes to bring in people with the same industry backgroud. However, we recetnly hired a property accountant who had public experience and that is becuase he was auditing real estate compaines. I will say apply in similar private sector which you use to audit. good luck

CPA- VA

[Author]

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