[mcchowder]

So I have the opportunity to jump to a Senior Auditor for private for-profit, government, and nonprofit clients at a regional firm. I also have the opportunity to move horizontally to a staff level position for another regional firm with SEC clients. I know SEC audit experience is valuable for the future jump out of public accounting, but I’m not sure if it is worth wasting 2 years to become a senior. I am already a CPA with 2 years of private audit experience & 2 years of gov’t audit experience. I feel I can probably make it to senior at the SEC firm fairly quickly, but who knows with the office politics. And because it isn’t a national firm, mobility may be limited. Your thoughts?

[StephAV]

I'd say it depends on how hard you want to work/how much money you want to make, etc. I think the senior auditor at the NPO/Gov job might provide more work/life balance now, but when you leave hopefully you are happy with NPO/Gov jobs because you'll be up against the staff and seniors at the firms that have more relavant experience.

I worked at a regional NPO/Gov firm and now I've been at an NPO for 6+ years and I feel like I'd have a hard time getting out of NPO/Gov work… But at the same time I have AWESOME work life balance. Like 35 hour work week. Nevermind the fact that I'm probably paid about the same as new college grads going into public. Ugh! There are positives and negatives. Decide what appeals to you more.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Lindrobe]

I agree with StephAV. I work in non-profit tax (large university) and I am having a hard time getting into something else because my experience is not relevant. My work life balance is not as great as Steph's, and my salary is about the same that college are grads are getting in public accounting and I have ten years of experience. Benefits make up for it some. Unless work/life balance us your priority, I would think hard about going the NPO route.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mcchowder]

Just FYI, it's private & some government/nonprofit senior. The other job would be staff for SEC audits.

[StephAV]

The firm I worked at was some private too… But most well-known for the NPO/Gov industries. There was a job at a Credit Union that I was pretty excited about when I was looking after 2.5 years at that firm. I beleive it was a Senior Staff Accountant but I was up against Big 4 candidates with banking experience. I was told it was between the 2 of us, my large regional firm with primarily Gov/NPO and the other candidate with Big 4 experience. I guess depending on the mix of clients you might not get stuck in Gov/NPO.

On the flip side, I have 9 years of experience now and after I get my CPA license I'll be promoted to Assistant Controller and given a big raise… And after a year of that I'll probably start looking around for a controller position of my own… Hoping for $85k +.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[mcchowder]

Sorry, i should have been more clear. This is a 70% private non-sec clients in various industries and 30% govt/nonprofit as a Senior. The other job is a staff position for 40% SEC audits and 60% private companies in various industries.

[impska]

I totally misread your post.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Author]

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