[mla1169]

I’ve seen quite a few posts from candidates concerned about working 50, 60 or more hours a week and trying to study too. I’ve been under the assumption that probably about 80% of the people here are working those types of long hours and its not keeping them from getting those study hours in.

Was I mistaken?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jtcali]

I work at a local CPA firm and I work about 55 hours a week, sometimes longer depending on deadlines.

[nextstopCPA]

I'm no spring chicken…I've been doing this 10 years. I really think it depends on one's goals. I am right where I want to be in my career. I couldn't have planned it better.

One should always strive to better themselves but I disagree that you have to work long hours to prove yourself. Perhaps, in some industries you do. I say just do your job with excellence. The only person that can hold you back is yourself.

FAR Passed
REG Passed
AUD Passed
BEC Passed

All aboard, this train's leaving. Next stop, TBD!

[HustlinHustlin]

I work 50 hours or so in our busy season September-December. But for the rest of the year the normal 40 or 45. Never less…

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[Anonymous]

I used to work at a Big 4 firm and typically worked 60-70 hours during the busy season (12/31 and 9/30) and more like 80 for the last week or two before filing. The rest of the year was around 45 – 50 hours. When my husband went back to Business School I got a new job working at the University and never work more than 40 hours a week now. It has definitely helped with passing the exam.

[jkey57]

Less than 25 hours a week. It's amazing how productive you can be when you work for yourself!

[Anonymous]

I'm in the office about 41 hrs a week, but I usually work about 5-10 hours/week..lol.. I work at a university(accounting)..

[Anonymous]

Depends on who you work for and where you work.

I worked for a bunch of ****** for 60-80 hrs per week. I left that job and work for a nice person who doesn't try to squeeze every ounce of work out of everyone. I now work 40 hours a week with more vacation, no tax season, and more mellow environment. AND the pay is better.

I personally think that outside of a big firm (i.e PWC or EY), then public accounting is a bad idea. Pay is lousy and hours are demanding. I honestly don't understand why people do it.

[Anonymous]

@coryrudolph-I don't either. I don't even know why people do accounting…lol

[RedStorm45]

22 years old…still taking 12 semester hours of master's classes for my MBA (done in May) so not working right now. Was working 40-45 hours before this semester started though. Should change in April/May.

Starting all over.

FAR - 11/27/13
AUD - 1/4/14

[Anonymous]

I'd say I work 45 hours a week.I have been with my excellent boss for about a dozen years. She works very long hours. When she first offered me a position (transfer from another department), I said I would come in if needed but otherwise would only be there 8-9 hours a day (I had two young children at the time), and if that wouldn't work for her, no hard feelings but her job offer was not for me. She looks at value of work product not hours put in. Also I'm now very experienced and my job plays to my strengths. I can get tasks done in one day that would take a less experienced person a few days or more.

Some people live for their jobs, some people want to make a certain amount of money, some people want to reach a certain prestigious level in their company, some people use their day job to fund their avocations. It's all good.

I will say my observation is that people who work freakishly long hours (unless they're entrepreneurs pursuing their passion) don't always have the best home life/social life.

See https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/magazine/why-are-harvard-graduates-in-the-mailroom.html

for an interesting take on this issue.

[jenuno01]

37.5 weekly.

Class of 2012

[MSG10]

I used to work 75-80 hrs a week prior to switching to a new company and now I work around 30 hrs a week. It helps when you're trying to study, but even back when I was working crazy hours I still had put in the time to study. It's not necessarily about quantity but the quality of the studying. 🙂

[KTE_CPA]

Interesting thread. Sounds like it comes down to each person's goals, aspirations, and priorities. Different for everyone. I typically work on average about 50 hours a week. I have worked upwards of 65 per week, but always close to the 50 mark. I work in Healthcare Finance and I really enjoy what I do. So 50 hours doesn't seem that much. I do agree with an earlier poster that if you want to move up (at least in Healthcare) you will have to go beyond the typical 40 hour week.

FAR - 80 (05/23/11)
AUD - 92 (07/27/11)
BEC - 81 (10/24/11)
REG - 89 (02/20/12)
CA Ethics - 94 (03/31/12)

CA CPA - Licensed May 2012

[Anonymous]

Luckily, not working right now. Hoping to start once I'm done:!)

Props to everyone who's working full+ time plus studying! You guys are no short of inspiration!

[reginacpa]

I've been a CPA for 10+ years. I worked for one of the Big 4 briefly as an intern in Europe and went to work at a small local firm where I'm one of two partners now. I took the exam when it was two days, all 4 parts. I was lucky to pass them all first try…some by a smidgen. But, it took studying 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for 3 months. Now during tax season, I work 7 days a week putting in about 57+ hours. However, outside of tax season, my office is closed on Friday afternoons from May – September. Our office hours are 8:30 – 4:30 and I take LOTS of vacation time. Just this year, I will take a 2 week trip to India, 10 days NY/Boston, a week at our lake house plus a ski trip. Its taken about this long to get in the swing of things with tax season. I now have down to a science how to work around my daughter's bedtime and meals I can make ahead that can be reheated a few times a week as my contribution to the evening meals. I even volunteer as a room mom and just let them know I will do anything they ask in the Fall but won't be available in the Spring. I enjoy being a CPA and the long hours for me are temporary. Working for myself has been one of the best career decisions I have made. The three months of working till 6:45 a few days a week and most weekends for lots of flexibility the rest of the year…..its a good trade for me.

[Author]

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