[jombe]

Background
In my early 30’s
5+ years in operations at 3 different companies
Wanted stability, which led to passing the CPA exams
Audit Associate at a local firm (150+ ppl) going thru 2nd busy season (few more weeks!)
Should be able to get my license before 2018 is over.

I am currently averaging 50~60 hour weeks.
Seniors & managers average about 60~80 hours at my firm during busy season.

It wasn’t so bad from Jan~mid Feb when I was still relatively fresh and energized, but the hours and stress hit me really hard about last week. Feel exhausted mentally & physically. Tired all the time.

Even during off season, we still do 40 hours/wk. 4 weeks of PTO is nice, but that ain’t everything.

Basically I am left with two options.

I have a friend who knows at least 1~2 senior or manager at big 4 and he’s willing to get me introduced to them, so I can get a referral. If I am going to hate my life in public accounting, why not hate it at big 4, so I can build up my resume before I leave public for good?

2nd option would be going into private after busy season, where hopefully I can enjoy better work/life balance.

What do you guys think? 1 or 2?

FAR - 94 (10/4/15), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
AUD - 99 (1/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
REG - 96 (4/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
BEC - 91 (7/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ

581 days of listening to lectures, reading texts & 10,000+ MCQs...

[Recked]

I know of a local larger firm that does 6 day weeks during tax season and then 4 day weeks from memorial day to labor day.
It's all about finding that balance. The older you get the harder it is to keep grinding on those long hours, unless you are very well rewarded.

[jombe]

Yeah never mind. I kind of answered my own question when working thru review comments just now.
I don't think I can deal with managers doing their own thing and adding more work when there is a testing procedure the partners approved of 5 months ago for this specific busy season.

I know some might say it's a guideline/template that can be tailored to each client, but this is a very specific account that most of our clients have, and there is just no good reason for the manager to add this additional steps. I used the same approach for several other clients so far w/o any issue.

Good bye, public accounting.

FAR - 94 (10/4/15), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
AUD - 99 (1/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
REG - 96 (4/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
BEC - 91 (7/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ

581 days of listening to lectures, reading texts & 10,000+ MCQs...

[Author]

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