[AndrewE]

Currently feeling indecisive whether or not I want to stick with accounting. The combination of work & studying most of time could be leading me to negative thinking I suppose. I have been working for almost a year now in a small public firm and have been studying for almost the entire time I have been working.I told myself that I will finish this exam before I make any next move and I am trying my best to hold myself to that promise.

I am currently in between tests; I just took a REG retake last week 5/22. Just waiting to start FAR now this summer. This journey is truly a long one and currently feeling lost -.-

BEC – 77 (Q4’16)
AUD – 70 (Q4’16) , 75 (Q1’17)
REG – 73 (Q1’17) , 5/22 (Q2’17)
FAR – Q3 or TBD

[Anonymous]

Yea it's a horrible profession. I have about 6-7 years of public/private experience and I can honestly say I have learned more in the past several months that I've taken a break from work to complete the CPA exam than I have while working full time.

That is 60-70 hours of work per week for several years of brain numbing repetitive non-value adding easily replicable and unappreciated audit and accounting work. Sure, you get a paycheck from it, but if I spent nearly as much time as I have put into accounting into something I am truly passionate about, the results could be much more far reaching.

Since I have had my time off, I have been participating in many groups and discussions about businesses and entrepreneurship. Accounting is a joke in these circles. It's a “burdensome necessity” to business owners.

With that said, there ARE opportunities out there to do well with accounting. However, my goal is to simply obtain my license, work a few more years at a large public firm, transfer to a major tech company, and fade into the sunset while also having my own practice/business ventures on the side where the opportunities are virtually endless. The CPA designation is only a stepping stone to greatness.

[melonbread]

if you are passionate for accounting, then don't give up.

[AndrewE]

@melonbread I am only 23 years old but I can already tell accounting is not my passion.

[AndrewE]

@BrickellCPA I believe the CPA is a stepping stone for me at this point as well, I have only just begun my career but I believe that I am good at accounting… but it might not be for me for the rest of my life.

[AndrewE]

@brickellcpa

[Anonymous]

Yea don't be discouraged at all from obtaining the license, but the profession itself in my opinion is a joke.

You can get valuable experiences and takeaways from it like working with some of the most overachieving professionals, time management, industry insights, and technical knowledge… But to make a lifelong career out of accounting, that is like selling your soul in exchange for bread crumbs.

[AndrewE]

@brickellcpa I can definitely agree with that statement at this time. I would like to do something more creative (with numbers as well potentially) I feel that would better suit my passion and purpose.

[Anonymous]

@BrickellCPA Most people on this forum come here asking for encouragement and they receive it. Your input is always an interesting diversion.

@AndrewE Like @melonbread says, if you are passionate about the industry, there's no reason to give up. Take a break if you need to. I happen to absolutely love accounting. There are so many puzzles to solve and I love working with different systems and making things easier, quicker, and more accurate hence why I work as a consultant and have my own practice. Perhaps you should take inventory on why you took this path in the first place. Is it the prestige? Is it the problem-solving? Is it security? Is it the critical thinking skills? What area of accounting did you like the most in your studies?

In any case, with merely a degree in accounting, you can go down any path in business. The license is a whole other ball of wax–it's mostly helping me for marketing & being able to command a higher rate. Never did public and probably never will!

[Anonymous]

You are half way done to becoming a CPA-you are so young, just get it done, and no one can take it away from you after that !:)

[AndrewE]

@almond when I chose accounting as my intended major I made my decision primarily off of security I would say, prestige came second I guess. I cannot come up with an answer to your second question currently off the top of my head.

I have heard private life is more enjoyable than public.

[AndrewE]

@anyatver I still have to get some more credits but that’s the plan, I have been trying to keep my eyes on the prize!

[Anonymous]

@almond I am a bit more of a realist than blindly optimistic. And I think my comments are mostly fair and accurate. However, my perspective is generally underappreciated because most people would rather be lied to for sake of their feelings.

After about 1-2 years in public, blind optimism won't be enough to successfully advance in an accounting career like in college. They will have demanding clients and deadlines, horrible managers, overworked and underpaid. That's the truth of the industry.

The people who succeed are the ones who understand that and prepare for it so I truly believe by sharing my perspective is helpful if taken into honest consideration rather than criticized for having a different opinion.

[ragepsn29]

@almond, I am interested to hear your take about CPAs who don't have public accounting experience. Would a CPA who has no public accounting experience hold the same marketability as a CPA who has public accounting experience? I have finished my exams and will be certified soon. I am currently unemployed and plan to seek a job in public accounting. After a few years, I plan to move from public to industry. I want to work in public only so that I can put public accounting experience on my resume for future job seek. What do you think? Should I get an employment in public first then move to an industry or just go straight to an industry?

AUD - 65, 72, 70, 74, 81
FAR - 66, 71, 76
REG - 69
BEC - 80

[AndrewE]

@brickellcpa Your opinion is greatly appreciated. I had the same line of thinking and have been telling myself just “put in my time” and move into another area.

[tg7174]

I've only ever worked in internal audit, but I find the experience to be incredibly interesting and have helped a number of internal clients. I continuously get emails about how my work product has improved operations, resolved issues, and have strengthened confidence for both middle managers and the higher ups. I have been able to work and study comfortably for my CPA license, and have received a lot of support.

As for the profession as a whole, I think it's still a needed profession, but there are a lot of reporting and compliance aspects that are splitting hairs and are not all that helpful in my opinion. If you get away from the reporting and compliance aspects, the operational and analyst work is definitely helpful and trained accountants bring a lot to the table in those areas. I still think that reporting and compliance are important to a degree, but when you are doing it 70-80 hours a week for a few years you will get discouraged.

[Author]

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