[Jriver]

Mind-numbing month-end close data entry. There can be interesting issues, but the bulk of accounting is just recording and reconciling. Does anybody find this fulfilling? How long do people stay in accounting before the mid-life crisis?

[Yahmon]

Depends where and for what company you worked for. I have worked only in private for the following companies:

Drug rehab –> while in college nothing special there just mundane clerk
High end retail –> where I got to meet celebrities and models but the work was easy…hence the time to hang with celebrities and models
Regular retail –> where it was very complicated work but boring after I fully understood what I was doing
Healthcare (both for profit & NFP) –> My favorite so far. It's very interesting and complicated. I learn something everyday and I'm at the controller level now. I get to make real change to my community and impact peoples lives which is what drives me

It all depends on your individual interest and what you think is interesting etc. Varies from person to person

FAR 8/20/15 - Passed 77
AUD 10/10/15 -
BEC TBD
REG TBD

[Skynet]

The free coffee. The women. And it is a part of my Diabolical plan for World Domination.

[Anonymous]

@Skynet – you would not do well at my workplace. Although I'm not the best person to ask about “hot women”, there don't seem to be any in the accounting department and we've got about 35 people
on my floor. There are at least two divorcees, very good at their jobs, looking for Mr. Right! But, the best-looking ones are MWC (married w/ kids.) Hope your Phase II is coming along….let us know if you manage to complete that one. I think you're very sound in putting Free Coffee as your first reason. Me too. Although I only drink decaf!

[VanDammage]

Recording and reconciling is really the first few years in corporate accounting. You'll still be doing that as a senior, manager, possibly even controller, but there's also other aspects as you continue to progress in your career. You should start getting exposure to policy issues, rev rec decisions, etc at some point.

Also, not sure why it would be awkward for you to work with women as a straight man…

[itooshallpass]

@hwriver, I work in a small tax firm and 2/3 of us are women.

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a small firm that was all women and one other older guy. One of my professional associations I'm active in is also mostly all women. It sucks. PS women fart.

[Skynet]

A lot of women in accounting and the downside is???

It's my single guy's dream!!! 😀

@oliviarthgb- 2/3 women's huh? Are you hiring?

[itooshallpass]

@Skynet hahaha yes actually, but they've only interviewed women so far

[ultrarunner]

@hwriver, I got bored in corporate/GL accounting, so I went back to the school for a tax program and received an offer from a public accounting firm. It is never too late to pursue your dream (I am much older than you). I have a friend in mid-30s, who was a well-paid material engineer. He quit a job to go to a coding boot camp type of school. He wants to be a programmer, but he has a bit background in programming (machine learning). Without any background in this field, it may be difficult to survive. Anyway, I strongly recommend you to explore a career in tax. My experience in corporate accounting helped me to land a job. Good luck.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Ana]

in my experience there's more males in accounting, especially at the audit firm. not that I mind 🙂

[Jdn9201]

I feel pretty blessed that I actually enjoy what I do. Math was always my strongest and favorite subject in school. Coming out of college I didn't know if I wanted to do audit or tax but I don't like routine and took a job in international tax, and have never looked back. It is highly specialized but I've been doing it for 10 years and I come across something new at least once a week. Tax is where it's at. 🙂 people have better personalities too and aren't so boring.

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

[Anonymous]

We have more female accountants than male ones at my workplace. Frankly, I like that. Not because they're females, but because I think they do a better job, on average, than those of us who are males, and they make the team stronger.

Long long ago, in my undergraduate years (in the mid/late 90s) I always noticed that the girls took the best notes in class. Most of the guys were just half asleep, except for the real pencil-pushers who sat in the front. I wasn't one of those guys, and I tried to take notes well but didn't really succeed. It makes sense though. Girls are more organized. I work on a large team of accountants and all the girls are really good at their jobs. Not that the guys are bad, but they're not as organized and they don't get things done as quickly I've noticed.

[Anonymous]

@brickellcpa – regarding the last (short) line of your post, haha. I didn't think they ever did. I didn't think their bodies were capable of that.

[LedgerL0ver]

There is just something so satisfying about when numbers balance. 🙂
Besides, I don't think anyone likes data entry, but once you've put in your time and start to move on to bigger and better things, it will all be worth it. I started with data entry as an Accounting Assistant and am now an Accounting Manager creating financial statements, analyzing numbers and making management decisions based off my analysis, coming up with annual budgets, etc. Fun, fun!

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[Anonymous]

Frustrating as hell when the numbers do not tie and you don't know why……but, somehow it all comes out in the wash.

[Author]

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