[Anonymous]

Hey guys. I’m a long time reader but this is my first post to the site. I know that there are some accountants out there who have gone through the situation I’m about to describe.

I am graduating college in late May 2010 and I have landed a position with an accounting firm to start in mid January 2011. I am taking a small vacation in June but will need a job from late June to early January before I start CPA firm work. I sat for FAR early May and will sit for AUD late May. I plan on sitting for BEC and REG in July and August. My question is how I should go about finding a position in my time in between graduation and my CPA job. If anyone out there has gone through this I would appreciate some feedback on the following questions:

-Should I tell possible in between employers about already having a future CPA position?

-Should I go for an entry level job w/o much responsibility as to not disappoint someone when I leave, or should I put my own interests before them and get the best position I can?

-Any answers regarding the correct ethical decision here

Some info that might also help: I’m graduating in with a double major in accounting and finance w/ about 158 hours. Thanks in advance for any help on this issue.

[Anonymous]

As someone else said, if I were you I would focus on studying and enjoy any extra free time you have because it will be your last until retirement. Of course if you have expenses to pay and your current assets/budget won't cover them then temporary employment is probably mandatory. I had four and a half months between graduation and starting full-time and used every day of that to pass all of my exams. I managed to pass the final section two days before I started work. But those two days in between were wonderful – no job, no school, no exams hanging over my head – I wish I had more of it!

[soFARaway]

I doubt that your offer to start in 2011 would get taken away. But you never know these days. If I were you, I would definitely focus on passing the exams first, then you should try to find a job for the time in between. Definitely don't tell them that you're looking for a temp job and that you'll be out of there by January of 2011. Be selfish. They all are. This is about your career/financial stability, and you should consider what's best for you.

You never know, you might even like the job and decide to stay there.

To be honest with you, while the CPA firm might keep your offer, it doesn't mean that you're guaranteed to stay there long. I worked at a Big 4 for 9 months, until they decided that they have too many people, and laid off a whole bunch of us first year staff right after the very first busy season. All because they had 30 new interns coming in in the summer and 50 new first year staff starting in the fall ( and they didn't wanna take away their offer because they didn't wanna look bad at the schools they recruited them from). But who's to say that these new kids aren't gonna get laid off just like my group did?

P.S. Do what's best for you!

[Anonymous]

^^ “You never know, you might even like the job and decide to stay there.”

I agree that this could happen, but I would NEVER back out of an offer than I already accepted, especially after waiting 8+ months. Talk about burning bridges.. I absolutely do not recommend you even consider this.

[Author]

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