[April94]

I used to work at a Big 4 but left after 6 months because it was just so toxic and it got to the point where I just went to bed every night praying to God I wouldn’t wake up the next day. 90% of the time I’m super grateful to have left, but then the other 10% of the time I panic and wonder if I threw my whole career away bc I quit so easily. This is probably a silly thing to ask, but it’s just been one of those days. I don’t know why I do this to myself but some days I’ll just look up old coworkers and I feel disappointed with where I am in my career compared to them. I know I shouldn’t do this but there’s this urge in me to do it but then of course I feel terrible about myself after. I feel like at 25 I should be at the senior level but I’m just a staff accountant at a retail grocery store.

Anyone else do things like this or ever feel like they’re not enough or doing enough??

[monikernc]

Thank you, April. This journey is challenging in so many ways. This forum was vital to my success with exams and I am happy to help. Always do what is best for you and be nice to yourself.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[I can and I will]

I’m so sorry you feel this way. Big four environment is totally toxic most of the time. If it weren’t for one really good team I had, my view would be 100 percent jaded. I left just shy of senior due to being on rolling busy seasons While trying to pass my Cpa exams. It was getting down to the wire for my expirations so I made the decision to leave. I hated the work, the company, clients and the people so honestly- it was the best decision I ever made. I made a pivot to finance at a well respected media giant- and I’m on track to become a manager due to needs on my team
This year. I obviously took a jump in my pay (maybe not as much as if I stayed another year or so)But you cannot put a price on happiness. Life is more than work. I too would cry every other day or get anxiety Attacks thinking of
Managers emailing me at 11 pm and thinking about how I’m going to pass my exams. I don’t miss the firm at all- maybe I miss the perks.

I’m going to make a bold statement and say I don’t think I’ve found a single person that likes auditing at big 4. Most people who stay are so complacent and dead set on making the next promotion or shiny external thing they are presenting you to validate you. It takes courage to recognize you’re unhappy and actually do something about it and create your reality.

Long story short- left right before senior promo for a SFA position and never been happier. Haven’t looked back once. (I just had my one year with nbc this month)

[Jennifer]

To the OP and everyone else – you can have a fine career in tax even if you never do public accounting. I purposely avoided it (especially big4) because of the horror stories I heard from graduate friends, etc. a part of me regrets it now because not all firms are like that but I’m still proud of my experience and career. I’m in my 30s and a Director with a CPA. I honesty think the CPA is more important than public accounting in your career. You can still get a well rounded experience depending on what company you work with and how much freedom you have to do new things.

[Author]

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