[Anonymous]

Hi all!

I’m new the forum and figured I’d ask this question to you all as I’m having an internal debate with myself about it.

I work at a small firm (30-35 people). I’ve been here for a little over 2 and a half years and I’m a senior auditor- I haven’t been openly looking for jobs but I’m pretty unhappy with my current job. Back before Thanksgiving a saw an open position that I was interested in for a company in private. I sent my resume in for shits and giggles- never really thought it’d go anywhere. Long story short I’ve been offered the job and they want to know my answer by next week. Issue is- busy season just started and I don’t know what to do.

I like my firm and everyone here is great, my managers and partners are awesome to us but I’m just unhappy with the work and I dread going to work everyday. I’m afraid of screwing everyone over if I were to leave but I really think I’d be kicking myself down the road if I let this job offer slip.

What do you guys think I should do?

[Anonymous]

Tough decision to make but at the end of the day your an at-will employee and can quit anytime. However, you might burn some bridges quitting during busy season. I was always told that if your looking to quit it's best to do it before January. Does the new employer want you to start right away? if you quit will the firm look to replace you? Maybe you can talk to your new employer into letting you start sometime in February so your current firm can find a replacement (assuming they will).

[TaxGod]

Which sounds worse to you, burning bridges or missing this opportunity? Id use the answer to that question to decide

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[Anonymous]

@cpa8488 they would want me to start 2 weeks from when I resign my current position. I don't think my firm would look to replace me until after busy season is over. I never had the intention to quit during busy season – it just took the company a while to get to the interview process and they got back to me right after New Years unfortunately.

I know I'll most likely be burning a bridge by leaving now… When I first got my current job and had to resign from a previous job- the managing partner told me “there's never a good time to resign” and that has been stuck in my mind this entire time.

I just don't know if I really want to stick around and continue to being miserable for the rest of busy season and then have to start all over with the interviewing process if I pass up on my current offer… I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and my friends and family don't understand why I just wouldn't quit as none of them are in the public accounting field…

[Anonymous]

I think that's very good advice! and if it was vice versa and the company had to cut cost I don't think they would consider your finances when letting you go lol. I know it's harsh to say but that's just reality. Take a few days to think about it and do what you feel is right for YOURSELF. Because that's the decision you have to live with and nobody else should make it for you. Goodluck

[CPA2BEE]

I went through this last year. I work in tax and left my job for a new one in the middle of MARCH, and this was a very small firm of 5 people and was responsible for about 1/3 of the firms returns – couldn't have left at a worse time. I fought so many battles with myself feeling like the worst person ever, but I can honestly tell you that was the best decision I've made in my short career so far (I'm 25, entering my 3rd tax season). If you aren't happy and see greener grass, and also taking the long-term into account, I'd say go for it. This is probably far more common than we think, and although not everyone will be happy about it, your firm will survive and advance I'm sure. The way I see it, if you're going to spend ALL of your time doing something, it should be important to put yourself in a place where at the very least you aren't miserable. Just my 2 cents.

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ETHICS - 90
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[Tuthegreat]

there's never EVER a good time to quit in the eyes of an employer. I was stuck in your situation once, maybe twice, 3 times max. I remember when I told my last employer that i had to GTFO. Comforted her with a piece of her own wisdom, “you've done well without me in the past, you will continue to do well without me in the future.”

…she “return to sender” my holiday card..it's been 2years…there goes my job reference

[monikernc]

Are you sure about the new job and is it a good fit? You have not said much about it. Let us hear.

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[Anonymous]

So the new position is with a large national company that is headquartered in my state. The position is a mid senior accountant position – slight title change but salary is equivalent to what I'm making now with a promised bonus incentive that overall will increase my salary by roughly $8k total. The people I met during my interviews were very nice and I felt that I'd mesh with them very easily and would enjoy the work I would do. I've been in the private side of the industry prior to public and only went into public so I'd have the hours for when I passed the CPA exam. I enjoyed working in industry and think I'd like to go back. To me the only downside of taking the job would be the whole “burning the bridge” issue with my firm.. Idk what to do

[monikernc]

If this is what you want and you think it is the right move for you then take it. Talk to your current employer tell them you have an offer you are going to accept. Be very appreciative of all the opportunities they have provided and acknowledge but do not apologize for the bad timing. See if you can agree on a less painful date to depart that will work with new job. If they want to avoid suffering they may counter offer. Don't disclose your new job's salary and either agree to consider a counter if they offer to come up with one or tell them no thank you. I suggest you keep your options open until you have heard your employer's response. Then make a firm decision and politely decline the losing offer.
Don't ever postpone happiness out of guilt. And don't make a choice until all the information is known.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[neaux]

I would definitely take the job if I were you because it sounds like you are completely burnt out on public accounting. I don't know if burning that bring would really matter. Your current firm is definitely looking out for themselves so why not you?

Something you can consider is taking the job and then negotiating a later start date. You can use whatever excuse that makes sense/is most effective. You'd at least lighten the load for your co-workers, give a heads up to management if you desire, and leave with some respect. My two cents.

[Jdn9201]

Take the job. Trust me I spent 7 years spinning my wheels in a deadend job because I was more worried about my company and what I thought my coworkers wanted than myself. No one is going to be a better advocate for yourself than yourself. We spend too much time at our job when we work in this field – there is no sense spending that time being miserable.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
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[Author]

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