[Fred]

So I am a CPA who worked in public for two years and have spent the last few months waiting for the right opportunity to get out of public. I accepted a job with a company as a cost accountant. I didnt want to be a GL accountant so I figured being in cost accounting would be better. However, about 4 weeks on the job, I’m realizing that I really miss the whole overview of the business instead of just focusing on the cost side of inventory. I dont miss auditing, but I was worried that I could get bored/tired of just dealing with inventory/cost accounting instead of working on the whole company. To be clear, my problem is not the company or the people. They have been so great and that’s what is really killing me with this decision.

I had interviewed with another company about 18 months ago. It looked good but then they had to delay the position. I never heard anything until about 2 weeks ago when the senior accountant emailed me and asked if I would be interested in the role I interviewed for with his company. It is a great role, it combines my accounting knowledge & finance interest, its a good company, and its in a good industry. it isnt perfect, I would be making tradeoffs with this role I have now, but long story short, this role has been one I’ve been looking at for 18 months+ when I first saw it. I regret not reaching out earlier to them, but I figured that the position was off the table.

I now have a terrible situation that I feel there is no “good answer.” Either A) I pursue the job I really want and potentially leave my current job after only like 2 months. I would get the job I really want and feel I would do well in, but I would also probably leave a really bad taste with my current company and disappoint a team I really like…or B) I stick it out with the job I’m in now. I made a commitment, these guys came me a job offer whereas the others didnt. The role I really want wont be around in a few months when I hit a year and could probably start looking again.

Has anyone had a dilemma like this before? I truly do not know what to do and know that there is no win/win situation here. I just hate the fact I stayed in public accounting too long. I feel like I wasted the past year of my career in public and now worry that I am wasting another year of my life if I stay in this job. Conversely, leaving a job less than six months after starting isnt a good look for me, the recruiter I worked with to get the job, or the manager/team that gave me this current opportunity. The last thing I want to do is screw anyone over or let someone down that helped me out like this to get this job.

[CPA Hunter]

Hi man, I have not been in this situation before, but wanted to give my opinion on this. If I were you I would choose the job I really like no matter what for many reasons. First, you will regret not taking the opportunity when it was available and it may not come to you again. So you will have to live with that your whole life. Second, you are right, your current company believed in you when no one did, however, let's say the company goes through some tough times and management have to lay off some people, do you think they will give you a special treatment? I don't think so. My point is do not use your feelings when you decide your future. This is your future and it is a big deal. Use your professional judgment and try to be realistic and look for your own benefit because when tough times come, no one will look after you.

[12tang]

I'm with Hunter. If it's the job you really want, you need to go for it. Try not to get too attached to things in business. Don't treat it like family, because it's not. You're a professional with a valuable skill set, but you're also not the only one in the world qualified for the position. A few months delay won't kill the company and I'm sure they'll fill the position just fine. Be respectful and professional about your departure. You might feel bad at first but later down the road, hopefully you'll definitively say to yourself that you made the right decision.

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
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REG: (XX)

[cpa1234]

I was at a job for a year and then found a new job in a new city that I thought would be my dream job. After a few months I did not feel challenged enough, my knowledge and skills were being under-utilized, and I was not seeing a lot of opportunity for growth. I applied, interviewed, and was offered a position at a much bigger firm with better pay, opportunities, and lots of challenging work. Even my parents told me if I didn't take it I would regret it, if the firm I was at was not providing me what I wanted then I should go elsewhere. People understand if you need to move on, regardless of a short or long tenure. Maybe a long time ago there was an idea that you get a job and stay at that job and show loyalty. Now, people are understanding no one looks out for you more than you do. Take the job you want, do not waste anymore time in your career with jobs you do not want.

[Recked]

Agree with the above posters, but just a word of caution.
A job is a job and it will always be a job. You might feel your current job is not the role for you because it sucks having a 9-5 and you see this other job as a shining beacon for things you want that you don't currently have. You might make the switch, go for the new job, and then in 2 months, 6 months, maybe a year realize you hate that job too.
Just be sure to think it through all the way, but if you feel the other role is better suited to your needs, it seems foolish not to seek out that opportunity.
The grass is greener on the other side, vs. the grass is greener where you water it.

[Jimmy Dugan]

I would go after the job you want. Just be certain it is the job you want, because while one short stint isn't going to kill your resume, it wouldn't look great if you left the next job after a short time. Good luck!

[MaLoTu]

Do you have any idea why they weren’t hiring then all the sudden they were? I feel like the situation could be sort of a red flag.
I think you should go with where you will be happiest (career growth, culture, etc.).

[Author]

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