[CM]

Hi everyone,

I’m having problem staying focus and studying after work. I have been so busy at work that I don’t remember when was the last time I took a break even for lunch. I started this job four months ago, and I have had my doubts since the beginning. I was offered a raise this January, and when I checked my bank account today, there was no raise. Also, my boss said yesterday that next week she is going to buy ham, bread, and cheese and she will put it on the fridge, so we don’t have to take breaks and eat a sandwich a day at our desk. My biggest pet peeve is to eat at my desk, but everyone at this company eats at their desk (that bothers me a lot). However, my biggest issue is that I feel like a slave. I get out so tired of this office that when I get home I don’t want to do anything. My brain feels numb. The only reason, I’m still here is because they will pay for my CPA license, courses, and passed exams.

How can I deal with this? How can I stay focused on my studies? I try to do the ELL, but most of the time I’m just too tired. This is my third attempt for FAR and I really don’t want to fail this time, I can’t afford it.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[CM]

I forgot to mentioned that I was diagnose with Carpal tunnel syndrome last month, which I knew I had. It has gotten worst since I got this job.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[Anonymous]

It definitely sounds like you're not in an ideal situation at all. Also, your boss with the whole sandwich thing, kind of bordering on the lines of illegal.

Anyway, Caroline, we all have to make our own choices. It's so great that they will pay for your CPA, but if you can't even pass one test because they are running you ragged then there really is no benefit there….

It seems like you will have to make a choice. We are all made differently; some people can study for and pass the CPA while working in an environment such as yours and others would not be able to (like you and I). If you can't even take a lunch break (which is always an ideal time to cram some studying in) then you will be even more crippled in trying to pass FAR…or any of the sections really.

Even if you choose to put the CPA on hold I really hope you would consider leaving this job. It isn't good for your health and at the end of the day that's what's most important!

[mla1169]

You're going to find in a lot of places that people choose to eat at their desk and continue working, but they shouldn't be “forced” to (sounds like your boss strongly encourages it but not necessarily compelling you to stay at your desk and eat).

That said if you're unhappy, begin looking for something else!

Not sure what you were doing before this job but it is very hard to work full time and study for the exams. Just have to push through when you're tired sometimes.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Allergic2CPA]

@OP

What's the point of having someone else pay all your CPA related expenses if you don't have the time nor energy to study?

Also, I would be concerned about my paycheck not reflecting a promised raise. If this was the 1st paycheck that should have reflected the raise, then perhaps it's a timing issue. Otherwise, this is a red flag for me.

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[s2sylvir]

Definitely start looking for a new job… I didn't feel burnt out until right after my second tax season where I was working 60+ hours a week, so the fact that you're already feeling burnt out is just the beginning of a hellish journey… The people you worked with definitely made a big difference. I'm pretty sure everyone in our firm also eats at our desk, but we also go out to happy hour after work though… So yeah, some things aren't going to change no matter where you go, but it shouldn't make you feeling smothering and stressed and tired….

Anyway, if you feel like a slave, GET OUT. You want what's best for you and your career is not going to advance at a place where you feel like a slave. Don't think that what you're feeling is the norm for public accounting. It shouldn't be, anyway.

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[CM]

Hi everyone,

I really appreciate your advise. I just rearrange my study schedule to see if this time I can study a little more effective as for my job I know it's normal to see some people eating at their desk; however, this is the first time I work in a place where 99.99% of the people eat at their desk, and the boss makes comments like “good that you're accepting the norm of eating at your desk” or “tomorrow I'm going to bring sandwiches, so no one moves from their desk” or “why are you leaving a 5pm?, when I leave at 7pm”, and the list goes on. Also, I became a little OCD after reading some articles that state that a keyboard has more germs than a toilet seat. Every time I have to eat at my desk, I feel like I'm eating on top of a toilet seat (maybe I'm just a little crazy). I ask myself everyday, why do they have a break room with tables and chairs, if no one uses it, and they ones that use are talked about like they're committing a crime?

I'm used to busy environments, but that's why I left my previous job (which wasn't in public accounting). I developed hypoglycemia at my last job because I used to get in at 8:30am and leave at 7pm the earliest and the latest at 10pm most of the time. I chose this job because they made it seem like the culture was more family oriented and more normal than the other job I had. Two years ago, I wouldn't care that much, but now I have a child and I need to take care of my health because he needs me.

Unfortunately, I can't leave this job right now because my family is in a very tied economy, and I don't want to start job hunting because I would have to ask for permission or lie and say that I'm sick, and right now these people are following every step everyone makes. My boss even told me last week not to make any doctor's appointment until the audit passes (which I understand, but I have a follow up appointment for the carpal tunnel that I have moved a couple of time because of them).

I think I'll just suck it up until the busy season ends, and I'll start looking for another job later when things are more relaxed in public accounting. I hope I have more luck in the next job I choose.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[quantumfizz]

Definitely sounds like a terrible environment to work in. I'm lucky enough (in public) to have had my engagement leaders tell me “I don't care where or when you get your work done, just get it done.” If it's possible, try to “make time” in your schedule. Mornings (early ones) are your best friend. If you study highly successful people, they are all awake and “making moves” before everyone else is even up. This allows you to stay ahead of your deliverables and work on your most important tasks before anyone can jump in with distractions. That said, know your responsibilities. Find out what major deliverables your managers care about. Get those done first and you can spend your time on monotonous tasks later. If you get in at 6am and most people don't come in until 8 or 9, when they ask you to start xyz this morning, you can already have it done. Thus, they're impressed and might “earn” you some more flexibility. Find ways to “set the tone.” Then, perhaps, when you get home, you will have some time in the evening to hang out with your family for a bit, remove yourself from the job stress, then refocus and knock out some studying. If this helps out at all feel free to send a DM.

[ythomas10]

Carolina, I'm in the same situation. Since I know my inconvenient times of working late is in the middle of the month, I study 3 days during the week. I've actually been good about doing MCQs in the morning before work and during lunch. But nevertheless hang in there…what gets me through is my determination to pass which can only be achieved by discipline. I had to revert back to my undergrad days where I worked during the day, went to class at night and studied late nights. If you need a cheerleader, I'll be glad to be one!

FAR 7/24/15
AUD 10/10/15
REG TBA
BEC TBA

[Kettlepot]

“…The only reason, I'm still here is because they will pay [me about $4,000 over two years].”

Really? That's the thing that's keeping you there? If it's not a recognizable name to pad your Resume or their salary isn't higher than the average, then I don't see why you're not looking around for something else.

Far: 49
BEC: 79 (Expired)
AUD: 51, 67, 64
REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

[s2sylvir]

” My boss even told me last week not to make any doctor's appointment until the audit passes.” That is NOT okay to say. I would have called the ethics hotline or something of the equivalent. I don't know if this is reportable behavior, but that comment is absolutely terrible.

It's one thing if your boss told you “okay, here's the schedule for next week, please be at a client's site for two weeks”. It's another thing to phrase it in such a manner that they don't even trust you to make your doctor's appointment around the engagement. Your boss also sounds like he controls the office out of fear, not respect.

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[CM]

I just made my decision today, and I'm going to start looking for another job. This company wants to change its culture, but the biggest problem is the tone at the top. If I stayed here, I would never be able to become a CPA, and my hair will go totally gray. Today I had a discussion with one of the top manager (whom is also partly owner of one of the subsidiaries) because I made the mistake of mentioning his name in a meeting with a client, whom also knows this manager. If you work for a company, I'm don't see why you wouldn't want people to know you work there (unless your work for some of federal agency). Indeed, I apologized, and said I will be more careful from now on, but he wasn't happy and told me that the next mistake I make if will fire me, but I don't even work for him directly. I told him that he needs to speak with my direct boss, and that my boss already knows and that he said that this is not a big deal. My direct boss, the CEO, told me that I shouldn't follow nobody else's orders, and this manager is mad because he works for 3 more companies and don't want anybody to know that he works at my company. I now have put some thought into it, and figured out that the companies that the CEO told are partly owned by this manager, and I believe there's something fishy going on. These companies had short paid one of my companies subsidiary and also have overbilled others subsidiary, and have missed balances and this manager is in charge of disputing all of this and collecting our money, but he hasn't done anything. He just says that he hasn't been successful. Now, I understand why he got so aggressive, and I wonder if the CEO knows about this. I knows about all the transactions, but I can't believe he is so naïve not to see that this other guy might me stealing money using his others companies.

I just can't believe I have such a bad luck. I turned down a big corporation's offer for this. I feel disappointed and depressed. I just wanted to find a place where I feel happy working and stop changing jobs. I'm starting to lose faith in the profession I have always loved since I was a kid (believe it or not, I have always loved accounting since I was a little girl that believed cashiers were accountants). Maybe is the region I work, which is known for one of the most fraudulent cities of this country.

How should I answer the question “why are you leaving your current job?”. I don't want to tell the interviewer that I'm leaving because the company lacks of internal control and are abusive because I never like to talk negative about any company during interviews.

How should I analyze the new companies, so I don't make this mistake again? Last time I did a bunch of research, but opted to go with the company that didn't have any reviews or anything on the Internet. That was my big mistake. Even the person that interviewed me gave me little hints of what was going on in this company, but since I was getting hired to replace him I just thought he was mad and that's why he told me all of that.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[Author]

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