[Dave71]

I am currently working at a tax software company as a tax analyst and handle one of the larger products there, NY and NYC for multiple packages (individual, fid and partnership). Essentially i perform an analytical review of form flow, tax calc and implementation of changes for the current tax year based on form instructions and EF approval from NY and NYC DOR. I received my EA this summer and now sitting for a retake of AUD in early January (completed Reg last quarter). I was provided an interview at a regional cpa firm in the area and an immediate offer was given during the interview, which is 5k more than what i am currently making. The reason i want to leave my current position is there is virtually no opportunity to advance and handling a more complex product with no review process and making 57.5k doesn’t seem adequate to me. I worked for the big 4 for two tax seasons and now about to complete my second tax dev season at my current job. I was just curious if anyone had any insight as to making this transition back to public accounting and any other information that they feel would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

REG - 10/12/2015 77
AUD - 01/06/2016 75
BEC - 01/16/2016 75
FAR - 02/27/2016 68 Retake 05/13/16 70 Retake TBD

[monikernc]

Let me preface my response by saying my experience in public accounting is limited but i have transitioned from an IT career to accounting. What you have been doing is very focused and limited in scope whereas public is going to expose you to concerns beyond the system. You will now have to deal with real people who in the world you have been in are users. Getting outside of IT and dealing with real people will be your biggest transition, I think. Your expertise will shift from the application of changes in tax laws to systems to their effects on real people. This is very exciting but your comfort zone will be transitioning and that will take time. This new opportunity will have other areas to which you will be exposed so you may have to learn things you have never encountered. Going from an area in which you are an expert to one where you are a beginner can be both frustrating and challenging. The focus you have applied to systems will shift to people and their actual accounting needs. Your opportunities to learn will increase and your professional growth will benefit. Your new job sounds like it will be very different from what you have been doing so embrace the change, be willing to ask for help, prepare for the people facet and have fun!

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

[Missy]

Just make sure the $5k difference is actually worth a switch, otherwise keep looking. For example, at least where I work, a family health insurance plan is ~1500/mo. If my employer pays 80%, I am paying $3,600/year. If I had an offer from a firm with a better plan that cost $1800/mo but the employer only pays 60%I have to pay $8,640 per year so its a wash (save for tax implications) with the bump in salary, my take home won't change much. However if the situation was reversed and I went from the 60% paying employer to the 80% paying employer its nearly a 10k raise when you add in the decreased insurance deductions.Same idea applies to 401(k) matching, PTO, tuition reimibursement and section 125 plans.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Author]

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