[Anonymous]

I graduated a few months ago and I have not yet had any sort of public accounting experience. I’m currently working on passing my exams but I’m just curious..what’s a typical day like in the life of an auditor? Is it tough? Are you completely swamped with stuff to do every day? Are there a lot of phone calls to be answered? A buncha emails? A buncha clients to meet up with?

Have any of you had any run-ins with particularly nasty clients?

[The CPA Kid]

A lot of your day to day work depends on what firm you work at, what kind of clients you have (industry, size, etc), what level you are at within your accounting firm, and the time of the year (busy season or not).

You'll probably be doing most of your work at your client location. If you don't have a very large client (probably with the Big 4), that means you get to share a conference room with a couple of other auditors. Client interaction is pretty regular, but a lot of it is just with one or two particular contacts (though you do interact with a lot of client employees eventually). Lots of emails, but that's every desk job.

When you first start you'll probably being working mostly with Excel and whatever audit software your firm uses. It's not exactly crazy work but you do learn a lot and your work will in fact be necessary and not just busy work. It will feel mundane at times, but be sure not to just focus on the small picture. Making contacts, learning the ropes, and developing soft skills are key when you're at the associate level.

FAR- 82 (December 2013)
BEC- 88 (January 2014)
AUD-94 (January 2014)
REG- 84 (February 2014)

They call me the Kid

[The CPA Kid]

A lot of your day to day work depends on what firm you work at, what kind of clients you have (industry, size, etc), what level you are at within your accounting firm, and the time of the year (busy season or not).

You'll probably be doing most of your work at your client location. If you don't have a very large client (probably with the Big 4), that means you get to share a conference room with a couple of other auditors. Client interaction is pretty regular, but a lot of it is just with one or two particular contacts (though you do interact with a lot of client employees eventually). Lots of emails, but that's every desk job.

When you first start you'll probably being working mostly with Excel and whatever audit software your firm uses. It's not exactly crazy work but you do learn a lot and your work will in fact be necessary and not just busy work. It will feel mundane at times, but be sure not to just focus on the small picture. Making contacts, learning the ropes, and developing soft skills are key when you're at the associate level.

FAR- 82 (December 2013)
BEC- 88 (January 2014)
AUD-94 (January 2014)
REG- 84 (February 2014)

They call me the Kid

[ymmit]

I work at a smaller firm auditing non-profits. Basically we are given the conference room or sometimes wherever the can fit us (lunch room at smaller non-profits). So basically my audit manager, my two co-workers, and I sit at one big conference table in a room all day together. If you dislike your fellow auditor's it can be hell. If you are friends and get along with everyone it could be really fun. As for emails and phone calls they are non-existent for me since everyone I'm working with are literally feet away. I am constantly busy all day but rarely rushed and pressured as long as i'm doing my work at a good pace. If I need any info, documents etc. I talk to the client as they are at our disposal. I usually run what i'm going to ask the client by my manager since we like to be professional and not ask them something we already have/don't need.

So the jist of auditing is sitting in a room working as a team all day with your fellow auditor's. So get along with them from the start!

Licensed CPA!

[ymmit]

I work at a smaller firm auditing non-profits. Basically we are given the conference room or sometimes wherever the can fit us (lunch room at smaller non-profits). So basically my audit manager, my two co-workers, and I sit at one big conference table in a room all day together. If you dislike your fellow auditor's it can be hell. If you are friends and get along with everyone it could be really fun. As for emails and phone calls they are non-existent for me since everyone I'm working with are literally feet away. I am constantly busy all day but rarely rushed and pressured as long as i'm doing my work at a good pace. If I need any info, documents etc. I talk to the client as they are at our disposal. I usually run what i'm going to ask the client by my manager since we like to be professional and not ask them something we already have/don't need.

So the jist of auditing is sitting in a room working as a team all day with your fellow auditor's. So get along with them from the start!

Licensed CPA!

[Author]

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