[Anonymous]

Hello all. I’ve recently been laid off from KPMG after about 10 months with the firm. I’ve been offered a Staff Accountant position with a regional firm doing the same thing I was doing at KPMG. I’ve also been offered an internal audit position at a manufacturing/engineering company. The industry offer seems very appealing. The team is great, there’s lots of opportunities to move around to different areas of the company, less hours and travel, tuition reimbursement, etc. I never thought of public accounting as a long term career for me, but is it too early to leave public after about one year? I just feel that private is a better fit for me, and I didn’t have a great experience in public. Any thoughts? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[Anonymous]

I would stick with the public accounting offer. You will be exposed to different industries, different accounting systems and software, the interpersonal relationships you develop working in public is invaluable, and all this will only lead to better opportunities in the future.

My only advice, if at all possible, would be to finish the CPA exam first before getting back to work. I work full-time (8:30 – 5:30) and cannot find the energy to open up the book and study anymore. No time for the gym either. It's tough but you would do yourself a favor if you took some time off to pass the exam first.

[LSNYC]

If you can get licensed in your state with out being in public accounting and public accounting is not what you want to do I don't think taking the job in industry is a bad idea.

Do what's best for you. But just make sure you will have the requirements to get licensed.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Anonymous]

I think if you can manage the hours for at least 2 years then going with the regional firm could be better career wise. You get exposed to so many different clients in public accounting and can gain more experience in a shorter period of time. Of course, the work life balance may not be as great.

Also, I would try and get back in the work force as soon as possible. While it is good to try and complete the CPA Exam, when I interview candidates I am not impressed when I hear that they took some time off to concentrate on studying for the exam. Unfortunately, it would be ideal even for myself with the kids but most employers do not want to hear that. The shorter time frame that you are out of the work force the more options you have; unless they were significant unforeseen circumstances that can be eexplained. Hard but very true.

[Anonymous]

I passed two parts of the exam already, and I'll be taking REG at the end of the month before either of these jobs start. I'll only have AUD left when I start, so that shouldn't be bad. As for the license, my state requires 1,600 hours of experience under a CPA. 400 of those must be attest hours. Since I've been an auditor for the past 10 months, I definitely have the 400 attest hours. I can get the remaining hours at either the public firm or the private company. I will be working with CPAs in either case, so getting the required experience is not an issue at this point. I just got laid off on Monday, so I won't be unemployed for very long. I just feel that if I took the public offer, I'd be looking for a new job in a couple years anyway.

I feel like I can make more of a difference in the private company. Yes, I may be exposed to more industries in public, but I will be more exposed to business areas in private (internal audit, accounting, tax, etc.). Working at the private company will also give me the experience that would allow me to get other designations like the CMA and CIA. I can also go back to school and get my MBA, which is also a goal of mine. I think the only reason why I'm still considering public is because it's the conventional wisdom to stay 2-3 years, but my heart says to take the private offer. I may be stupid for thinking that, but that's what I feel.

[neika822]

From your last post, it seems like you're leaning private – go private! There's nothing that says you “have” to do public accounting. I left public after 9 months because I was miserable. I haven't regretted it! Good luck 🙂

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[K_Sunshine5]

@BigFourSlave, I say go with what your heeart is saying. I am an internal auditor with a private company in PA and I absolutely love it. I've never been in public accounting but I never did have the desire to. Work/life balance is great in private companies. Not a lot of travel and regular hours.

If you feel you would be happier accepting the private offer, go for it! Don't make your decision on the stigma that you have to stay in public accounting for 2-3 years to have a good future. There is usually room for advancement in large private companies. And from what you are saying, the private offer will help you achieve your long terms goals of getting your MBA and maybe some other certifications. If your heart is telling you take the private offer, take it and don't look back. Make the best of it. You never know, you could end up being the CFO, Controller, or Director of Internal Audit of that company someday if that's what you aspire to 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Author]

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