1 year into public accounting

  • Creator
    Topic
  • September 5, 2017 at 11:29 pm #1621096
    IwannabeaCPA2017
    Participant

    Hey guys,
    so this post isn’t really about the exam but about work. The stuff I’m doing at work just isn’t really clicking like estimated payments (really struggling to understand). For those in tax, what did you really do to help understand this? I know every firm and client is different and hard to generalize “one” way to make it click. I have tried to ask more questions but due to language barrier of my associate Im not really understanding his explanations and I simply dont know what to ask (even with PY work paper Im not getting it).. I feel really stupid at work and think Tax or accounting in general isn’t my thing. I really do put in the effort but sometimes I just dont know what to even ask. Anyone have similar feelings?

    Any advice would be helpful. FYI I am about 1 year and 2 months in the field. Thanks and I apologize if this is more of me complaining.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • September 6, 2017 at 12:35 am #1621124
    ellejay
    Participant

    I have been in public tax for about 4 years now. My boss speaks English as her second language (and so do many of our clients) and like you there is a language barrier. How I have gotten around it is by doing a lot of my own research on the tax code when I have issues. The IRS has some helpful publications and there is one on estimated tax (Pub. 505 I believe). Check out their website to get familiar and read up on topics you don't fully understand.

    Also don't be afraid to politely ask for clarification. There have been times I have had to tell my boss I have a hard time understanding what she is explaining to me. She has had to re-explain things to me before and it can be frustrating, but most people who speak ESL understand in my experience.

    September 6, 2017 at 12:38 am #1621126
    M123
    Participant

    Do you have these?

    – Master Tax Guide (such as CCH) – this will give basics and Code overview (the right ones have business and personal taxes – don't get stuck with just the personal versions)

    – US Internal Revenue Code (entire printed Title 26 Code and Regs (?) )

    Hard copy is a must and buy some colored tabs for easy finding sections (Staples).

    I won't begin to extol the virtues of these but I highly regard and use extensively.

    You can get prior year versions which are still very useful for dirt on a certain auction site.

    Edit – echo what @ElleJay says – collaboration and breaking through communication barriers will be invaluable as well as expected.

    September 6, 2017 at 12:58 am #1621129
    IwannabeaCPA2017
    Participant

    Thanks guys! I will def check the IRS publication out once I finish the exam later this week. @M123, when you say CCH thats the software we use to prep tax return. I can get one of the master tax guide from HR or someone I guess. Thanks again!

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • The topic ‘1 year into public accounting’ is closed to new replies.