[Hello2016]

Hi Everyone, sorry, this is kind of long, but I really need your opinions. I have my GL accountant position in a new company(global public trade company) for half of month, and I already freak out about the working hours in the company. I just wonder if this is normal in a large American company. Here is the background. This company main headquarter is in Asia, so even we are working in U.S, they still have the Asian working culture in here. Right now I do not have anything to do yet,but I already feel the pressure, I come to work around 8:45am, and leave around 6:30pm ( because no one seems like leaving , I almost like the first one to leave the office). And some coworkers tell me the last week of the month and the first week of the month will be chaos. during that period, they normally working until 9pm, sometime mid-night or even 4AM in the morning. Oh yes, we do not get paid for overtime. Right now, they are giving me SOP to read,and expect me to do the month end closing for one of subsidiary companies.(Responsible system, every GL responsible for one company, no one will back you up unless you are sick or family emergency) I only get around 1 or 2 hours in-person training a day from the person who trains me(he is so busy,and he said he cannot handle it anymore,because there will be more duties add to the GL accountant position. he is changing his tasks to AR, and I will take over his current job). They also told me the budget for next year is coming, when doing budget, the whole two month will be chaos. I am so confused. My previous job had some overtime, but it isn’t as !!!crazy!!! as this one. Is this a regular working hours for an accountant in a large company in U.S.? I am so lost right now if I should stay, I just work in this company for half month, I do not want my resume looks bad about changing job so quickly.

[nadroj]

If you stick it out six months before quitting, you have the choice of explaining why you only stayed 6 months vs explaining a 6 month gap.

However, if you change jobs quickly enough, you can leave this one off your resume, and avoid awkward questions.

[Hello2016]

@nadroj sound great…ideally is 1 year, hopefully I can make it.

[Sang]

I hope your salary is enough to make up for the crazy hours.

I think a normal accountant position works 40-50 hours per week.

If you decide to look for a new job and need a reason to explain why you quit the job, I would say that the headquarters is based in Asia, and sometimes working until 4:00 am is mandatory.

FAR: (05/24/16) | (07/15/16) | (10/22/16)
AUD: (09/07/16) | (11/29/16) |
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
Using Roger CPA Review + Ninja (MCQs, Notes, Audio)

[Hello2016]

@sang the salary is not good.. it is just a average salary on payscale….I want 45 hours per week :(.. I still have to have life outside of work.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that's Asian culture. And salary is irrelevant, even the janitor is expected to stay 12 hours. On the other hand, the owner bought me a car as a bonus.

[itsanaccrualworld]

I would say hang in there for 6 months. The learning curve exists in a large portion of accounting jobs. Feeling like you dont know anything adds the unnecessary stress to a day's work, but it is also necessary as it will strengthen your mindset. 40-50 hour weeks will become a breeze when you have your sea legs. The salary isnt the best when you break it down (i deal with the same issue in public accounting sometimes 60+ hour weeks), but it is the education that is the payoff.

FAR - 75
REG - 69, September 16
BEC - 80
AUD - 69, October 16

[iwana_PASS]

In public accounting especially in tax I easily work 70-100+ hours during my busy tax season and I just graduate from school a year ago. Even now not a busy season I still work over 40+ hours. I'm sure a lot of big 4 works over 100 hours. My friend at big 4 Audit tells me she works over 100+ hours a week easily 7 days a week.

AUD - 77
BEC - 78
FAR - 79
REG - 82

[Hello2016]

@itsanaccrualworld excellent analysis , you are so right…I dont know much + the unecessary stress to a day's work!. thanks for your suggestion.

[Hello2016]

@iwana_PASS ……………that's no life, If i have the will to spend 100 hours per week for work. I rather spend 40 hours for work to support my expenses and use the rest of 60 hours per week to get a computer science degree, and get better paid…

[iwana_PASS]

@Hello2016…lol thats public accounting especially for tax at least at my firm i mean 100+ hours r not required and not very week but it happens especially during the deadline but normal 70-90 hours are normal during busy tax season. i mean for me i really like it since I'm 23 just graduate from school never had real job in my life except did part time when i was at school so i have a lot to learn and busy season is the time i learn a lot and i feel very accomplished. plus in our firm every July we get raise and bonus etc after every busy season so i think my pay is great compare to a lot of friends i know at my age.

AUD - 77
BEC - 78
FAR - 79
REG - 82

[liuye2012]

I am now working as a GL accountant at a world top 50 company(was public, now a private). I work from 7am to 4pm since I need to pick up my daughter at 5pm and the road is always bad so my boss agreed for me to change my work schedule. But at month end and year end, we always work overtime. The first week of every month, we work from 8am to 7pm or 6:30pm. And during year end or budget time, sometimes we need to work during weekends. Salary is average. I think your work load is too heavy. You need to talk to your supervisor to see if he can help. But I guess if everyone is working like this, it is just the culture.

[Hello2016]

@liuye2012 thanks so much, your info is very helpful. How about the last week of the month. How long are the working hours?

[Author]

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