[Anonymous]

Hi all! This has been an interesting week around the office where at any given point during the day I am being reprimanded for mistakes. Don’t get me wrong. I can take criticism and if it’s constructive then criticize away since that’s how I’ll learn. Today my manager informed me about a major mistake I made in testing which will push the issuance date of the report back and lead to adjustments. I’ve been working with this firm for a little over 6 months now and thought I had gotten over what we refer to as “the first year screw up phase” where no matter how hard you try, you are just wrong. No matter how good you followed the audit program you get blown up with review comments.

So, I’m curious to hear what other big mistakes have been made during the first year and how that ended! I’m hoping apologizing heavily will smooth this over but my paranoid side says I am completely done for and come end of busy season this will be coming back to haunt me during performance reviews. Maybe I should cash in my PTO? lol

[FindaJob]

Well, I have seen two scenarios in a Big 4:

1) Staff performs bad and a manager talks shit about him, he gets to go on another engagement where he works with a manager that likes his work, so they take him off the Improvement plan he was on and it works out well for him.

2) Staff performs bad, gets a below average performance evaluation in the engagement he worked on the most, did not work with a different manager that was ready to fight for him and was laid off.

Here are my thoughts:

A) If you think you will be fired, you can take all your paid time off and enjoy it while you can. But you would have to bear the risk of having no vacation time until the end of the year.

B) Search for a new job and get some of the vacation days paid in cash “Its too early in the year though, you wont get much”.

C) if you think that you will be Laid off, I would leave while i am at the firm, you would look more attractive that way, Otherwise the first question they will ask you is why were you fired.

Update the REG score and Good luck 🙂 (YES PASS THAT CPA, it HELPS A LOT when leaving public accounting … )

two to go !

[FindaJob]

Well, I have seen two scenarios in a Big 4:

1) Staff performs bad and a manager talks shit about him, he gets to go on another engagement where he works with a manager that likes his work, so they take him off the Improvement plan he was on and it works out well for him.

2) Staff performs bad, gets a below average performance evaluation in the engagement he worked on the most, did not work with a different manager that was ready to fight for him and was laid off.

Here are my thoughts:

A) If you think you will be fired, you can take all your paid time off and enjoy it while you can. But you would have to bear the risk of having no vacation time until the end of the year.

B) Search for a new job and get some of the vacation days paid in cash “Its too early in the year though, you wont get much”.

C) if you think that you will be Laid off, I would leave while i am at the firm, you would look more attractive that way, Otherwise the first question they will ask you is why were you fired.

Update the REG score and Good luck 🙂 (YES PASS THAT CPA, it HELPS A LOT when leaving public accounting … )

two to go !

[mla1169]

Don't apologize profusely. Instead think of ways you could have prevented the mistake and tell your manager you've learned a valuable lesson from this instance and can assure him/her that you're taking the appropriate steps to prevent the same thing from happening again. They're much more likely to be forgiving if you can turn it around into a positive result for future engagements.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Don't apologize profusely. Instead think of ways you could have prevented the mistake and tell your manager you've learned a valuable lesson from this instance and can assure him/her that you're taking the appropriate steps to prevent the same thing from happening again. They're much more likely to be forgiving if you can turn it around into a positive result for future engagements.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[acamp]

I'd be more interested in the handful of people to singed off as reviewer of your work.

I mean, unless you were fudging numbers, leaving ghost tickmarks (rolling without performing) or the like, it seems like some sort of oversight should have caught your mistakes.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

I'd be more interested in the handful of people to singed off as reviewer of your work.

I mean, unless you were fudging numbers, leaving ghost tickmarks (rolling without performing) or the like, it seems like some sort of oversight should have caught your mistakes.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

I've been at my firm for a little over a year, and I STILL get crazy review points lol

[Anonymous]

I've been at my firm for a little over a year, and I STILL get crazy review points lol

[ahugemistake]

I have been here for about 8 months, and since it's a small firm we have no training. you just get thrown into the pit with the lions and you gotta figure out a way to come out on top. I have definitely made my share of minor errors that are more annoying than anything.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[ahugemistake]

I have been here for about 8 months, and since it's a small firm we have no training. you just get thrown into the pit with the lions and you gotta figure out a way to come out on top. I have definitely made my share of minor errors that are more annoying than anything.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[Anonymous]

At the first firm I worked at I just got thrown into the pit and it was horrible.

One time my partner asked me to make a small change to someones books, and I ended up reprinting the f/s. The date changed to default which was in 2006, for 2012 f/s. He didn't notice, and it went to the client. A couple of other things happened that were noob mistakes, like forgetting to foot something, ect. He didn't really take it well and scolded me all the time for little mistakes. He said that he had been in charge of other people, and they didn't make the “careless” mistakes I made. (Well, he may have been in charge, but it was at a larger firm and they had reviewers before it got to him)

Also, while I was there, I learned three different accounting programs, and taught one to a different staff member. The partner didn't know how to use these programs. All of this within three months.

The last straw for me was when I prepared a tax return and gave it to him, and he told me to keep it in my office until he got to it. Well, a month goes by, and he comes raging in asking for it. I give it to him and he scolds me for misplacing it and not giving it to him sooner. (Even though I had tried, and I knew exactly where it was)

Anyways, the 90 day review period came up and I left. I've made small mistakes at my new firm, but my employer has been very impressed with my work overall and has put me on several difficult projects. It passes. Just learn from your mistakes and don't get too upset.

[Anonymous]

At the first firm I worked at I just got thrown into the pit and it was horrible.

One time my partner asked me to make a small change to someones books, and I ended up reprinting the f/s. The date changed to default which was in 2006, for 2012 f/s. He didn't notice, and it went to the client. A couple of other things happened that were noob mistakes, like forgetting to foot something, ect. He didn't really take it well and scolded me all the time for little mistakes. He said that he had been in charge of other people, and they didn't make the “careless” mistakes I made. (Well, he may have been in charge, but it was at a larger firm and they had reviewers before it got to him)

Also, while I was there, I learned three different accounting programs, and taught one to a different staff member. The partner didn't know how to use these programs. All of this within three months.

The last straw for me was when I prepared a tax return and gave it to him, and he told me to keep it in my office until he got to it. Well, a month goes by, and he comes raging in asking for it. I give it to him and he scolds me for misplacing it and not giving it to him sooner. (Even though I had tried, and I knew exactly where it was)

Anyways, the 90 day review period came up and I left. I've made small mistakes at my new firm, but my employer has been very impressed with my work overall and has put me on several difficult projects. It passes. Just learn from your mistakes and don't get too upset.

[ahugemistake]

> Well, a month goes by, and he comes raging in asking for it. I give it to him and he scolds me for misplacing it and not giving it to him sooner.

I know this feeling! I have to stay on top of the managers that review my returns even when the return is sitting in their cubicle!

Last week my manager forgot to hit send on an email and came in the morning and blamed me for not reminding her to send it? I dont even get mad anymore, I just laugh at all the creative ways they will find to blame the staff.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[ahugemistake]

> Well, a month goes by, and he comes raging in asking for it. I give it to him and he scolds me for misplacing it and not giving it to him sooner.

I know this feeling! I have to stay on top of the managers that review my returns even when the return is sitting in their cubicle!

Last week my manager forgot to hit send on an email and came in the morning and blamed me for not reminding her to send it? I dont even get mad anymore, I just laugh at all the creative ways they will find to blame the staff.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[Anonymous]

Do public accounting firms really fire people for making a few small mistakes. Good God, you people are terrifying me. I've been with my firm for just over four months now as a bank auditor and I have made plenty of mistakes. Honestly, I still feel like I know nothing about auditing or banking. I certainly can't afford to get canned for screwing up. Anybody out there make tons of mistakes their first year and NOT get fired?!?!

[Author]

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