What are the expectations from a Senior Accountant? - Page 3

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    Topic
  • #2157508
    Swatee
    Participant

    I am a CPA and a senior Accountant, started this job in May 18.Most of my work is accurate but I am making very basic errors which are mostly not presenting the data properly.I am recording all numbers correctly and never had any reconciling variance.My Manager is not happy with the minor errors and wants to make a decision on me soon.I am not sure what that decision be but I feel that he is unreasonable.

    I make errors like showing zero balances in recons, not filtering the data in recon backup that is relevant to the reconciling item even though my recon is accurate .I reconciled dec accurately but forgot to copy nov numbers in the next column and had oct numbers.

    These are the kind of errors I make and they are very silly mistakes .Are Senior accountant’s not expected to make errors like these and they get terminated?

Viewing 5 replies - 31 through 35 (of 35 total)
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    Replies
  • #2786673
    Nate
    Participant

    Congrats on finding success in your new role. I agree with other posters, stay where you're at, grow and learn, and during the boring times find a way to do research and learn. Right now it's super boring at my work as well, heck that's why I'm on this forum right now. There's nothing to do. But take that as an opportunity to do some research and online training/CPE courses. No matter what field you're in, there's always changes and new things to learn with accounting. Sounds like you have a good gig going with a fantastic manager, don't take that for granted.

    #2788671

    I'm actually impressed that you convinced another employer to give you another shot at being a senior accountant. Yet here you are, still unimpressed. I'm not sure why you think you're ready for a manager position at this point.

    #2788707
    Paul
    Participant

    You managed to find another job, a manager that will look the other way on small mistakes that you make and you want to jump in management position because you are bored? With your work history, to me it sounds like it would be a big mistake. Bigger company means they do not hold your hand, with you being in management position, if something goes wrong they will fire you and not ask for explanation etc. I would stay where you are, ask your manager if there is some project she needs help with. If there is nothing for you to do, start studying for cma, Cia etc

    #2789181
    Cobalt60
    Participant

    As I read through this it occurs to me that there is a link between boredom and making mistakes.

    If you are bored you are not engaged. If you are not engaged you are going to make mistakes. Then you get fired.

    You might try to figure yourself out a bit. There is a strong self destructive sub theme in all that you have posted.

    #2790762
    aaronmo
    Participant

    I did my first two years of accounting at a small firm, and learned some very bad habits. We didn't do enough with work papers, we were aggressive with positions, we relied on estimates too heavily…it's how I was trained.

    I then went to a regional as a senior. Quickly, I learned that I wasn't adequately prepared and felt very much behind others. I felt like I wasn't living up to expectations. We also had a flaming bully jerk hole who I shared an office with who made me feel worse about my work than I should have. He wasn't my manager, but I – thought – he had more influence than he had. I didn't know at the time, but he clashed with everyone he shared an office with…he was just a schmuck. Good accountant, bad guy, and lousy with clients.

    And then we started this review program where we went over our peer's work. Mine was no worse, and often better (after a couple of months) than my peers. Many of them were more experienced than me in THIS process, but I had other strengths, and was able to deal better with complexity. I'm also particularly good at research.

    Everyone makes mistakes, the issue is learning from them and trying not to make the same ones. Also – your manager's opinion about your work, and how they want it prepared, counts a lot more than yours. In this employment environment, most companies aren't getting rid of good staff.

Viewing 5 replies - 31 through 35 (of 35 total)
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