[Princesskimber]

It’s been awhile since I posted on this forum, but I do l read the forum everyday for my daily dose of motivation.

I have long been in a quandary over my current situation. I am hoping to get advice, insight, etc.

Here is my story:

I am currently a Controller for a small company. The pay is very very low. I took a pay cut in exchange for the title and experience. In addition, the company is always struggling to meet payroll. The stress is taking a toll on my health.

Another problem is I currently work 12 hours a day, plus 2 hours of commute. My brain is literally fried by the time I get home at night. The weekend is my only time to study.

A while back, I interviewed with a prestigious career placement firm. The recruiter acknowledged that my salary was way below my skills set. She can place me on assignment (as a accounting/finance consultant) that pays more. I would also have the flexibility to study for the CPA exam. The recruiter also stated I would be worth a lot more once I obtained the CPA certification. My ultimate goal is to be a CFO for a mid-size company.

I have taken BEC and REG while working at my current position. I failed both of tests. It was because I was not able to put enough time in to studying.

Should I quit my current position and become a consultant with more time to study.

Any advice and insight would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Anonymous]

I almost took a similar Controller position for a Landscaping Company….thank the good Lord that I didn't. I'd have been in the same boat as you are. I was seeing stars with the title CONTROLLER. Well that title and a dollar woudl buy you a cup of coffee at McDonalds. I can say from recent hiring experience I heard the words muttered by an Senior Vice President–“yeah, who cares they were the Controller of a rinky dink operation”. Kind of working at a bank and having the title VP of so and so…meaningless.

If I were your life coach I'd tell you to run, not walk, away from that job (if you can swing a better salary) and add the flexibility to study. If you were telling us that you had unlimited career upside and potential then staying might grant you better opportunities. You didn't, IMHO, give me one good reason for you to stay other than a meaningless title.

I'd do it. You aren't happy and aren't going anywhere there. But that's my opinion.

[porschify]

I would say get our of your current position and take the consultant position. The pay is better, less stress, less hours. Its a serious concern if your employer is struggling to make payroll. If your current company goes under, how do you think an interview will go with a new potential employer if you were the controller of a company that went bankrupt?

REG- 81
BEC- 72,76
AUD- 67,88
FAR- 78

Done!

[Maverick]

Let's see:

Controller:

1. Very, very, very low pay, salary way below skill set.

2. Stress taking toll on health.

3. Work 12 hours a day, 2 hours commute.

4. Brain fried.

5. Lack of time to study.

Consultant:

1. Pays more.

2. Less stress (maybe)

3. Less hours and commute time (maybe)

4. Flexible, allow time to obtain a CPA certification

5. Goal is to become a CFO for midsize company, not to be a Controller in a small company.

We all take risks. I say this one is worth it (IMO).

F - Passed...THANK YOU, LORD. GLORY TO GOD.
B - Passed...THANK YOU, LORD. GLORY TO GOD.
A - Passed...THANK YOU, LORD. GLORY TO GOD.
R - Passed...THANK YOU, LORD. GLORY TO GOD.

Ethics - 95

Licensed CPA

I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT MY LORD. THANK YOU.

"According to your faith will it be done to you." Matthew 9:29

[Anonymous]

Quit ASAP……….when u say low I suppose u mean lower than 50k…….

[Minimorty]

Secure the new gig, then quit.

[mla1169]

You took the controller position/title to improve your resume. Leave on good terms and mission accomplished, you've already reached your objective. Do you need bennies (insurance) and will there be any in the consultant position? That would be my main concern.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Princesskimber]

@CPApending . You are so right about seeing stars with the title. I felt like I was in a rut with my previous staff accountant title. I figured with my MBA in Accounting, I should be a Controller level. There is no room for advancement. I report directly to the pres/ceo/owner. He does not have a CPA certification. He has dangled the CFO title in front of me recently.

I have applied for other job posting and was turn down due to my lack of “big company” experience. Just so hard to start all over again.

@porschify. You have a good point. I have been asked why I am looking for new job, when I applied. My response was “lack of financial stability.” I can't bag the boss, but it feels like its my fault struggling to make payroll. Either way I am SOL.

@Maverick. Thanks for the list and the advice. Love it. Makes me want to give my notice ASAP.

@CPATerminator. OMG! You nailed it on the salary .. below 50k and I haven't received a raise since I started. That was back in 9/2010. So humiliating.

@mla1169. No I don't need the insurance. I have it through the Mr.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciated it.

[jelly]

Before you jump ship, get some more details on the consulting gig, b/c consulting/advisory tends to be feast or famine, where you might work 12 hours a day for 4 weeks in some weird remote industrial place 3 hours away from home, and then 0 for another month afterwards (“on the bench” or “at the beach”). A lot of the working times can sometimes be during the holidays, etc. For instance:

-How much travel will there be? What is the compensation policy on distance and modes of transportation, cars vs planes? For instance, if a client site is 3 hours away by car, is there enough in the budget for you to crash at a nearby motel/hotel until the gig is complete?

-How much training for company-supported software is there?

-How much will be remote or on-site supervision and management?

-What types of clients and industries? What are their fiscal/calendar years?

-What is the base pay? What bonuses are available? Or are you being treated like a 1099, where you will be responsible for SE tax, and you're only paid when you have billable hours?

-What kind of minimum billable hours per week/month/quarter metrics are there?

-How have the budgets for client jobs changed, and what happens when you need to eat hours b/c the budget is unrealistic?

-Will you be required to “upsell” services? How would you be compensated for successfully snagging more business?

Cashflow problems with meeting payroll is usually not a good thing at your current gig. It doesn't necessarily reflect on you, b/c sales can be slow and/or concentrated in a few clients, management might like spending like a Kardashian for no reason, etc.

Couldn't pass again!

[jelly]

If you're asked why you're leaving where you are, a long commute is a fair reason. For the consulting gig you described, you could also say that you're looking to work & learn about other industries, b/c there's nothing wrong with feeling unchallenged from working at one place all the time.

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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