[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! First time post here I needed some advice. I have been in accounting for 5 years now. I majored In college because of the positive career outlook and job stability of an accounting career. I alway was interested in business but not specifically accounting. Well fast forward 5 years and I am Working at a mid size firm and really not enjoying it. The pay is great and pays my bills, but I feel like I am really not that good in accounting. I still make mistakes often that someone at my level should not be making and it’s embarrassing. I am a smart guy always at the top of my class but for some reason with accounting I make so many errors. Would you recommend a career change? I feel like I am very personable , not super aggressive so i don’t know If sales would be a good option. One idea I had was to start my own tax prep business in a few years since I am good with people and I can focus on middle class simple returns (my jobs have been working on ultra high net worth complex tax returns which could be why I make mistakes often) so maybe I can succeed with middle market clients on my own. Who knows but I’m very frustrated and please advise! Like I Said it pays my bills but I want a career where I feel like I am a master of my trade and enjoy the work! Thanks !

[Jsmi77y]

I mostly enjoy my job, but I often struggle from making too many mistakes and it's incredibly frustrating because I'm usually pretty good at what I do. But I always am missing something here and there. Even if it's just small. Accounting is difficult, and some days are definitely no fun so you sort of check out.

Hard to say. It's really up to you, it sounds like you would get out if you had another attainable option atm. Just work on that and when something presents itself, give it a go.

REG - 68 | 71 | 88 | 86
FAR - 72 | 74 | 79
AUD - 66 | 70 | 77
BEC - 62 | 74 | 80

Guess that means I'm a soon-to-be CPA!

[wizards8507]

I'll let others address the crux of your question but my main piece of advice would be to absolutely NOT quit unless you have a firm, definite offer lined up. A lot of people quit to look for work and end up eating through their savings and going into debt. If you think you can do your job search discreetly, I don't see the harm in talking to some other companies and doing some interviews. You can usually get the *vibe* of a place during the interview process and if you found an environment where you're more comfortable, you might be more successful.

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

Great advice so far thank you! I think my main question Is whether it's worth leaving accouting all together to try a different field.. I mean a job is just a job and I know it always doesn't have to define you and the grass isn't always greener but i still have an urge to try something different. I want to go to work every day with a positive attitude an desire and drive to succeed.

[StephAV]

What are you passionate about? Maybe you could do accounting relating to that?? You apparently love the beach what if you had an industry job working in the hospitality business? Or a NPO that has a cause related to beaches?? These opportunities might not just fall into your lap but could be something to work towards…

Also, I feel working in industry you get a lot more comfortable with the numbers and data and you have more ways of checking yourself or at least learning from your past mistakes.

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.

[fuzyfro89]

You're only 5 years into your career, give something new a shot! You're an experienced accountant, so if you do something different for 1-2 years and decide you want back into accounting, I doubt it would be terribly difficult to return. You may have a yr to get back into things and such, but you've really only lost a small amount of time in a career that's likely to go on for another 30+ years.

If you try something like recruiting, you'll still learn some valuable skills in people management and sales-type experience. Nothing you do professionally will be a bad experience unless you don't learn anything. I understand that so many people in accounting are risk-averse, which is understandable, but sometimes it pays off to take a move off the standard path to try something new. Who knows, while you're recruiting you may come across a new opportunity by chance that you want to pursue.

I think I would rather try something new for a few years and decide I didn't like it, return to accounting and be more satisfied than if I stayed in accounting and 10 yrs later I look back with regret or can't help but wonder “what if”.

[Jsmi77y]

Yeah, basically agree with everyone else.

In short, start looking for another job while you are working. If you find something, dive in despite it being difficult! If you like it, great. If not, then you still have accounting to fall back on.

REG - 68 | 71 | 88 | 86
FAR - 72 | 74 | 79
AUD - 66 | 70 | 77
BEC - 62 | 74 | 80

Guess that means I'm a soon-to-be CPA!

[lyzgrace]

When I had a mid-college crisis and debated switching career focus a good friend of mine who is an incredible businessman said to ask myself two questions:

What are you good at and what do you love? I won't give any more suggestions 'cause I think the above posters did a pretty good job, just something to consider =) For me, I was ready to leave accounting to pursue ministry opportunities. What I ended up realizing is that I just needed to press on with accounting (what I'm good at), and use it to help families, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in my area (what I love).

If accounting doesn't fit either of those, then maybe you do need a full career change. I feel like it's such a universal industry, though, that you could probably find a route that's an entirely different field without requiring such a drastic change in education or experience.

AUD: 82
FAR: 78
BEC: 75
REG: 8/1 score release!!

[jelly]

You might be sick of tax returns already, but what about corporate returns? The issues tend to be better documented in court cases and revenue rulings b/c so much more money is at stake. My workplace does a few individual returns, but we've actually shed a lot of them b/c they're a lot of hassle on the technicalities and pressure client relations for the fee compared to corporate returns.

Couldn't pass again!

[quittingcpa2013]

Yes, go do something different. There's so much you can do with this experience. Understanding & initiating this is the first step.

What do you have to lose? You've already created your safety net.

[GO Hawks]

with 5 years exp, the job market will Pigeonhole you as an accountant. There's no easy way to just jump ship to an equal pay/responsibility in a new industry without starting out at the bottom. Unless you despise everything about accounting, maybe just look for a new niche within accounting, since there are so many.

or maybe go to B-school night classes and get an MBA? and see if anything else tickles your fancy. Either way, I agree with wizards8507. Dont leave your current job unless you get something lined up, it might take a while to find that ‘next thing'

BEC 88 5/25/2013
FAR 96 7/01/2013
AUD 99 7/08/2013
REG 93 8/01/2013

Straight Becker'in it

[mla1169]

If you are inclined to open your own business preparing simple middle class tax returns why don't you seek out a job that focuses more on individual tax returns and less on ultra high net worth corporate returns? You can still eventually start your own business, but in the meantime make sure that you'd be more satisfied with simpler returns. You may find that tax isn't your cup of tea……….or you may confirm what you're thinking.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

What type of tasks hold your interest at work? Do you think you would like tax?

[studylongUstudywrong]

BeachLover2000:

I had the same questions when I was in public accounting.

I always thought that I would be better at reviewing returns instead of preparing them. After you have been swimming in the details, it is difficult to look at your finished product objectively.

I used to day-dream about different tax preparation processes. I mean there has to be a better way. Just has to….

The typical process: Partner interviews without documenting many important facts > Preparer cranks out returns within tight time restrictions > Reviewer extinguishes cigar cherry on reviewers ego > Preparer shamefully makes corrections now going over budget on time > Reviewer hopes that more mistakes will be found on 2nd review > > >…….

Shame on all you Public Accounting Firms with your disgusting pyramid structures.

Licensed Texas CPA

[Author]

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