[Fratty Redneck]

Mulling over a job offer and wanted to get some insight from the board…

I’m a tax accountant that just completed m 4th tax season. I spent 2 tax seasons with a CPA firm while completing my MBA at night. Once I completed my MBA, I moved and took a job with my current firm and just completed my second tax season with this firm. I make good money for where I am (Southeast).

The job offer is with a large regional law practice. They have a big tax department and are looking to bring on a CPA/CPA candidate to assist with the tax practice. The basic duties of the job would be representing clients before the IRS. I would get to work on a lot of fraud cases which is pretty intriguing. The pay bump is around $15k and they will pay 100% of my health insurance. They are starting a new company under the law firm umbrella, and I would be the only employee. This is an opportunity for me to market and grow the company and basically be a non-equity shareholder in the beginning. Oh yeah – 40 hour work week year-round with no Saturday workdays.

All of this sounds great, and I will be making great money with the best benefits. My question is whether or not I will be handcuffing myself in the future if I want to get out. I will not be preparing tax returns (which doesn’t sound bad at all). I just want to make sure I’m not jumping at a great opportunity in the short-term without considering my career down the road should things not be as good as they sound with the law practice.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

@75isthegoal sounds like a great opportunity. It's every tax professional dream to work in this area, especially working with clients and represent them at IRS.

Being an accountant (CPA or non-CPA) has an advantage as to career choices and areas that he/she wishes to specialized. You can be a tax expert, internal/external auditor, financial planner, portfolio manager, financial analyst, CEO, CFO, Comptroller, financial statement preparer, bookkeeper, accounting staff, accounting partner, accounting instructor, accounting author/writer and so on. The list goes on.

The question is, what is your main goal (short term & long term), personally and career wise? I recently listened to one of Mr. Roger Philipp videos, and this one makes sense: https://youtu.be/UIPWPb9Vnrs

Good luck.

[Author]

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