[meme]

Hi all,
I have been in audit with a big 4 firm for 1 year and a couple of months. I am thinking of quitting before busy season starts, since I’ve developed a host of health issues and a stomach condition that my doctors believe may be exacerbated due to work-stress, and am currently on a ST disability leave till the end of next week (Dec 1) for these issues. My doctor will not extend my leave beyond that, but the key issue (flare-ups of pain) is exacerbated by stress. Before joining Big4, I was managing my diet pretty well, and had managed to lose 35 pounds, so I had no stomach issues. In the past year, I have gained that back, and then some.

I think that this career path may not be a good fit for me in the long run. I love the analytical and problem solving aspects of the job, but I live more than an hour away from my home office, so my clients are usually 2 hours or more each way from where I live, and my resource manager has put me on engagements that travel out of state despite repeated discussions about my reservations about my engagements. We are mutually aware that I am struggling but there has been little she is willing to do to help.

Moreover, since my main client travels quite a bit and workpaper turnaround is quite quick and intensive, I’m unable to eat the foods recommended by my doctor (my diet is already pretty restrictive) and commit to exercise while I’m traveling while balancing the CPA exam (Audit begins to roll off for me in the next 6 months, and I still have FAR and REG left), so I often have to manage the pain while traveling and juggle my workload. My previous specialist prescribed some medication to little effect, and I try to minimize my intake of medication while traveling lest it prevent me from being alert on the job.

A family friend says that he would be willing to hire me part-time in his office (which is a lot closer to home and lenient on hours) while I sort through my health issues and try to get my body back in control. Does anybody have any recommendations or input on how to leave gracefully? I know it is rather late at this point, but was going to wait out resigning ’till my leave was over, since I think it would be better to inform my resource manager in person than over email.

I’ve been having anxiety after hearing about how big a mistake it is to leave before busy season, but I also feel like I need to get a handle on the psychosomatic and physical symptoms I’m experiencing before they take a further toll and put me out of commission. Should I resign now? Try hanging on for the next year/the end of busy season, even though I have serious concerns about my ability to travel/commute under my current mental and physical state? What is the best way to resign to minimize damage on my future career?

[Anonymous]

No job is worth your physical and/or mental health. You don't necessarily have to choose between Big 4 and the family friend job because there are plenty of jobs out there. If I were you, I would start sending out resumes and see what kind of job offers are out there right now. If you live in a decent side city, it should be pretty easy to find a more doable job.

Good luck on your search and happy holidays.

[Anonymous]

Meme, I have no Big 4 experience, but a lot of life experience. You sound very unhappy. You have to take care of yourself first. You need to get yourself healthy. If you are not able to give what your firm requires, you are not doing them a favor by staying on. You have legitimate medical reasons for resigning. The sooner you leave, the sooner they can train someone else.

It is not a disgrace to leave after a year and some months. The last time I job-hunted, I had been at three firms less than a year (for various reasons), and I got more calls than I have ever had. Today's employer seems to expect a lot of job changes.

You say yourself that the CPA path may not be a good fit for you. There are other accounting careers that do not require a CPA certification. And there are many firms that hire non-CPA accounting professionals on a part-time basis. I have worked with people who make a good living from various part-time jobs.

You obviously have a strong work ethic and sense of loyalty to your firm, but understand this: Your firm would lay you off if it needed to do so. Your firm will not collapse if you leave.

[Jdn9201]

That's very admirable that you are being considerate of your employer, but you need to do what is best for you and your family. Like others have said, if they were considering laying people off, it'd be a business decision..that's what it has to be for you too. I'm sure if you are feeling bad and stressed out, you probably aren't performing at your best. That's not good for them nor you. As long as you can pay your bills, go get a lower stress job, take care of yourself and don't look back. Good luck!

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[meme]

Thank you all for your replies! I have a question about resigning. Do I need to mention my health issues in my resignation? I don't want to seem like I'm complaining/whining, since I've already had several conversations with my resource manager about this.

Even though it may seem that way, I'm not completely jaded and am well aware of the opportunities working at a Big 4 presents. I don't want to burn away any inroads in the future, since I'm young and may be better equipped to handle a Big 4 Career in another facility when I'm more mature. I don't completely hate the CPA and Big 4 Accounting. I don't mind the time commitments during busy season either, since I can always fit in a workout near home when I'm not traveling, but all the traveling jobs and commutes are tough because they suck out the majority of my time. Traveling jobs also are a whole other beast because the turnaround leaves us working overnight and traveling presents challenges because of my diet.

The stress of commute demands/travel involved with auditing at the big 4 location I currently am working at is difficult to handle given my situation. Maybe I would have been better suited for an in-office position, but I've already talked to my resource manager and coaches about that, and they have indicated that the chances of transferring between lines are slim to none, so I'm left with no option but to consider resignation.

Thank you!

[mrap]

I would not include the reason in the resignation, nor I would talk about it explicitly too. Its a personal matter.

[Author]

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