[pfloyd]

Hello everyone, I got hired for my first full-time job beginning on Jan 3. There is only four of us: two accountants who have 30 plus years of experience and a secretary that has 30 years of experience. At first they said I would receive no training and would have to ask questions for help. They started handed me tax returns and last year files and expected me to do them. When I ask questions they seemed a little annoyed and said look at last year. The other partner would be more helpful, but he can be confusing and his answers don’t always make sense lol. The only time I ask questions is when I have a problem with the software, or if the client has very messy work papers and I don’t know what the hell is going on. I try to do the most work I can, but I still feel lost and would appreciate some guidance. I started asking the secretary and she was helping me, but my boss got upset and said I was distracting her even, though it only took a couple minutes and she was okay with it. I was upset because she gave me an idea of where to look and I could confirm I was on the right track. My boss who is in charge of audits expects me to get the work done right the first time and on my own. It’s pretty hard to do it right when you have no experience. I want to do my best, but it seems unreasonable, I could get everything done right without any help.
What do you guys think I should do?

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[A]

Management by bullying makes for a miserable work environment. Start networking and find a better boss.

B - 77 (2.27.16)
A - 81 (4.18.16)
R -
F -

Roger Review + Ninja MCQs

[pfloyd]

Thanks, mecrushYa I'm not a quitter, but I deserve better than that. It is my first couple of months on the job I am not a god lol.

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[Anonymous]

What is the structure of the firm? How many people and what do they do all day? You have to find your place and make sure you're asking the right people the right questions. It may not be the best training method or working environment but it works. Some places are highly conservative like that. I know even at bigger firms many new employees end up crying or quitting so it's not uncommon or unheard of to be in high stress environments. They will create issues and obstacles for you and see how you deal with it as a professional.

[pfloyd]

Sure it's me my two bosses and a secretary. My other boss handles the audits is younger and ocasionally answers tax questions if he's not busy. My older boss handles tax and is the one who hired me, the only reason I asked him questions is because he got mad when I made mistakes on my return. I double checked my work and looked at last year's but he still caught a couple of errors. I am wondering do other people make mistakes the first few months in public or maybe my skill level isn't on par with public accounting?

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[gigabyte2001]

Here's a tip for checking your own work. Check it backwards from normal. For instance, page 1 of 1040, start at the bottom & go up. It's very difficult to check your own work and I used to have a terrible time with it myself. I'd get so upset when an error was pointed out to me that I knew better and I HAD checked my own work – I just didn't see it. By doing your checking backwards, it forces you to see from a different perspective and slows your brain down. If you're double checking numbers, go from right to left instead of left to right.

Sometimes a good fit on paper is a terrible fit in real life. I've been there too. Some partners use the sink or swim approach and that's just the way they are and will be. Definitely keep your eyes open for other opportunities – no matter how your present job is going, you should always know what the market looks like. Sites like Indeed will email you every morning with all the new jobs if you set it up with a search & alerts.

B - 11/11/16
A - 4/16/16 87!!
R - 2/17/17
F - 7/26/16 - Waiting for 8/23

[pfloyd]

It's funny gigabyte, but I actually started going backward to forward checking it helps. Those aren't the only mistakes, the other ones have to do with applying the complex tax law to different situations. Also interpreting client's data and understanding what they hell they're saying lol

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[Anonymous]

Most partners are crabby patties during tax season.

A friend of mine worked for a CPA firm and she'd tell stories of the tax partner. You'd go in to ask a question and he'd literally flips piles of paper from his desk and say go ahead,now I have time for you, in the most sarcastic tone..

No one is perfect and I'm sure they made mistakes too as new staff accountants

[gigabyte2001]

Consider another thought: The partners have a huge pile of work to review and it's hard to do that when you're continually interrupted. It's hard to focus. You have the benefit of fewer interruptions. The clients aren't calling you – they call the partners. It may be that the one partner needs advance warning so they can set aside time to review your questions or concerns. It may also be that for them the “most efficient” method is for you to do work, turn it in, they review & send back for corrections as necessary. If that is the case in your firm – DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT. “I applied Reg XYZ to this situation because…….” give them a clue as to your thought process. That way they can see you were close but maybe missed a nuance here or there. In the busy season, everyone is stressed & on edge and overworked and under tons of pressure. Figure out how they are most comfortable communicating and use that knowledge to your advantage.

B - 11/11/16
A - 4/16/16 87!!
R - 2/17/17
F - 7/26/16 - Waiting for 8/23

[Anonymous]

It's all a learning process. Everyone makes mistakes, they are just training you to know what to look for and how to have a good eye for mistakes. Some places are hard on employees like that because it's either sink or swim. It appears to me they want you to succeed in preparing taxes so that is why they are focusing on that with you. You don't have to like them, they don't have to like you, but they are paying you and essentially own you and take responsibility for the work going out the door. That's just how some firms operate..I've learned some hard but good lessons working at similar smaller firms.

[pfloyd]

If they let me go after tax season is it good experience to have on a resume or is the duration too short and should I just leave it off? Thanks!

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[Anonymous]

Also, it's important to be more personable as well at work, but to not let it take away from getting things done. Some firms want to be able to market their employees to their clients so being personable helps them learn more about you so they can essentially brag or pitch you to their clients. (i.e. this is ___, he graduated from ___ and is hoping to become a CPA 🙂 )

As for leaving it on or off the resume, it's completely up to you. In my opinion it's totally dependent on each individual place you send your resume to. If you decide to leave it on and they ask about that job you can always say, “Well, I completed my exam and was hoping to establish myself at a larger firm and work in a more team-oriented environment.”

[Bluetoothray]

I don't know if this recommendation has been made, but I would keep an error log. After every return that you get back with review notes keep track of what the errors are. Then before you submit a new return for review look through your error log or your “common errors” and make sure you haven't made them. Over time you're going to naturally pickup on your errors and you won't need your error log anymore. 🙂

[CPA788]

I am inclined to leave it on your resume. Curious what others here will say. You can fall back on the explanation of “company wasn't the right fit” or “I felt like I couldn't grow.” A spin can be put (and those are probably truthful spins) that still benefits you. While your time there is obviously stressful and frustrating, you are getting experience and exposure to the work and that's worth talking about.

I work at a pretty awesome software company that invests in its employees, and I know not every office is like that, but hearing your story is just – no. I don't have the tolerance for that. Life is too short to deal with that sh*t. Easier said than done obviously, I'm not looking for a job. But you DO deserve better than that. It's out there for you. Keep us posted.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[ellejay]

I would be looking for a better job. They seem to have a poor work culture from what you've said. Perhaps they only hired you because hiring a more experienced person would cost them more money…

How frustrating. I was going to suggest that you write all your questions down throughout the day and then ask them all at once. That is what I do because I know my boss gets angry when I am interrupting her multiple times a day with questions… But I don't know if it will work in your case, especially given what you said about their attitude when you make errors. At my firm we have a policy that every return is double checked, and we all occasionally make mistakes even the CPAs who have been there for years. We expect it with new hires, we scrutinize their work. To me your experience seems to indicate that the culture at the firm is not positive or they don't remember what it was like being a fresh accountant.

If you stick through tax season and they let you go, I would still put it on the resume. I'd just tell future employers that the culture just didn't click well. At least that's my advice. One tax season is good experience though and I wouldn't want to leave it off.

[pfloyd]

Thanks for taking time out of your day to reply guys. I dont want to sound like a complainer, but I just need advice from some fellow wccountants. I'm the only accountant in my family

AUD 5/27/16 74 &#%!! 7/13/2016 86!
BEC 8/17/2016
FAR 11/04/2015 73, 1/4/2016 75 (phew!)
REG 2/26/2016 74. 4/2/2016 79

[Author]

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