[Anonymous]

I feel like I am bored to death when I do accounting. I worked in private for 1.5 yrs. I felt like I could do better, to do work that would be more high-level, complex and interesting. So I passed the CPA and went to a public accounting mid-sized firm, hoping that there I would work on VARIETY of different projects and clients. I do work on variety of different projects now, but I was bumped down one level (feels like that), maybe because I am new and they think I need to sort of go through the “accounting boot camp” 😉 So along with some interesting assignments I perform A LOT of tedious tasks, like a first-year accountant or an Intern. I like to do analytical work, but the tedious work and following absolutely stupid rules that contradict with each other is just killing me and I start to hate public accounting altogether. I either need to move to a Sr. Accountant level (but I doubt that it’s going to be much better and it’s going to take TIME), where the work should more interesting (supposedly) or just change my profession completely. Did anybody have such thoughts? Does it get any better if you work as a Senior in Private? Anybody?

[EuroAddict]

Just b/c you have a CPA doesn't mean your above the tedious work 🙂

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Anonymous]

I agree, but still…

[ror668]

SA CPA,

Id suggest maybe getting into forensic accounting/ litigation support. I feel like you gain tremendous experience from that area, and you are constantly working a large variety of different assignments. No two cases are every exactly the same and you come across some very complex issues at times.

[Anonymous]

ror668, that's a good advice! I'll need to figure out how to get there. Do you know about the requirements?

[Jdn9201]

Think back to your college days – did you enjoy accounting then? If so, then I think it'd be foolish to switch careers entirely. I sympathize with you, because I also get bored easily. That's why I took an international tax job fresh out of school, because tax always changes and that is amplified when looking at multiple countries. On the other hand, the tedious work may not seem important to you now, but it's very helpful in building that foundation that helps you understand more complicated work. My internship in college was being an assistant bookkeeper at a motorcycle dealership. At the time, I was bored to death but it wound up being very good for me because I got experience in the full accounting cycle. Try to take a step back and think about how your tedious work is going to help you out down the road. Also, I'd caution you against appearing to be too eager to move on to harder work before you are perceived to be ready for it. I made this mistake early in my career. While you may have honest intentions (you are bored and you want to learn), others may perceive that as you thinking you are too good to do certain tasks.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Anonymous]

Jdn9201, that is exactly how I was perceived at my old job in industry! I am amazed about how you got it just right! But like you said, my intentions were good and I didn't get it. Like, why co-workers would stick to what they do for YEARS without willing to learn anything new. I always want to move ahead, learn something new. So yes, you have a valid point, people tend to perceive it like you're too good for certain tasks. I liked accounting in college and while studying for CPA. What a boost of motivation!

[Missy]

The higher level jobs are much more meaty and engaging however one of the requirements to get to those jobs (in addition to education and licensing) is experience, and several years of it. Yeah some hot shots jump right into the more senior jobs and skip the grunt work but they're few and far between.

I am a fan of analogies (always) you're like that kid that starts kindergarten reading at a 3rd grade level and is basically bored silly because you're expected to sit all day and look at picture books. I get it. Thing is you can't skip those three grades because there is peripheral learning (social skills, etc) to be done so you're stuck with the boredom. Thats you in your career, you have the book smarts to do more but need the other benefits of experience to progress.

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

[Anonymous]

You have to know how it all works. I am in year 7 of accounting career and maybe just now everything is clicking. I am doing some large returns with a dozen states for individuals and business entities. Lots of trusts. But you have to know how accounting works inside and out. Payroll, accruals, tax computations, calculate distributable net income for trusts, how schedule K works, how to do equity roll over spreadsheets, corrective distribution calcs, the list is endless. None of this stuff is on the CPA exam in the sense that I do it daily.

[Anonymous]

Oh God give me patience!

[Author]

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