[B2RAD]

so the last couple weeks have been getting worse and worse at this small firm i took a job at. i have mutliple offers to go bigger but thought (on paper) that this looked better. turns out its a freaking mess.

partners treat me like a dog, the client load is not bad at all but yet i have to work 55 hours a week with no tax season bonus, no o/t, no incentive. i did more during my internships than i do here. partners come up to me and i smile and ask how i can help and the last three times i was told “to be quiet and just listen” i was told this morning i am to sit at my desk and figure things out on my own or just submit them to review and the reviewer will just fix the problems. i barely use technology, everything is by hand, little tax software and such. overall they put on a good show during the interview process.

honestly i am so close to putting my 2 weeks and saying see ya cuz i dont feel like i am doing myself any favors here and its starting to affect my personal life. i have my undergrad and working on my MAC, all my other jobs i help for years with no issues, but some reason i hate coming into this place everyday cuz i know its just going to me getting beat up hour after hour. and i ask how i can improve and get no guidance. i was guided more as an intern than now as a salary person.

i am trying to stay until at least april 15 but am finding it harder and harder each day.

anyone been in this position before? i just have had such great luck in private and public before and this is making me hate accounting.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[EuroAddict]

No technology is tough. As for the working 55 hours and no compensation, MANY firms are like that. They base your salary off of 2200 hours a year, not 2080.

Remember, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. But doing it all by hand is way too old school for my liking.

-----------------------------
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.

[B2RAD]

totally agree, its just too old school for me and then add get treated like crap every day is horrible and now i cant ask questions to the senior accountants so i have no clue how i am going to development as a professional.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[ChristieF]

I'd say if you have other offers that you think you'd like more – go for it. No job is worth getting treated like crap for – especially if you're not learning anything. Just my two cents.

[B2RAD]

yea thats where i am at. i got treated better working at mcdonalds lol i am applying to other staff jobs and probably submitting my two weeks after the March 15th deadline.

i didnt work super hard to go through this. i applying to the firms that had offers extended before so shall be interesting.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[Missy]

There must be a lot more to this than just your post above because it doesn't sound like you are mistreated it just sounds like you were not prepared to be a self-starter. (Note, never ever ask how you can help especially during a busy time, either jump in with both feet or stay out of the way)

Sounds like it just isn't a good fit for your expectations and there is nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't count on much with firms that had extended offers if they were recent, turning down an offer very often disqualifies you from being considered in the next year or two.

Stay where you are until you have another offer and learn what you can in the meantime. You've got a lot going for you with your internships but regardless of where you go you'll be expected to demonstrate self sufficiency right out of the gate in a way that you are not accustomed to.

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

[B2RAD]

i have had no issues before self starting projects and getting things done. i make open items lists, i get projects to where i know i am done but the remaining items i need assistance with. i guess i am used to different firm because in the past i would ask if i can help and partners and managers loved it. i have never had issues like this in the past 3 tax seasons or summer spent in private. like i want to learn, i want to improve everyday but just seems like i get kicked to the bone everyday. most of my questions relate to how our software flows items and such. i know where my open items need to end up but just get confused on how the firm wants them done. i just dont think this place is the fit for me.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[littlecpathatcould]

I've been lurking and wanted to echo what mla11692 said – I wouldn't leave until you've got another job ready to go. A crappy job with a paycheck is better than no job and no paycheck. Plus being unemployed/employed for such a short period of time doesn't tend to make applicants look good.

Good luck with finding a better fit and until you do, try and see the silver linings – like food and money for rent! haha

[B2RAD]

haha i live at home so my expenses are small. the money is nice but i can go make the small amount of cash doing what i was doing before managing a restaurant and the family that owned the restaurant loved me and treated me well and always hated when i would leave to pursue accounting experience but loved when i would come back and help out.

yea i am starting to really apply and i dont want to leave until i have another job but not sure how much more i can take everyday. i am trying my best to do a good job, putting the hours in, jobs are getting done right and still getting hammered with issues. i worked 53.5 hours one week and was told i need to work at least 54 and i ran out of work that week which is why i didnt keep working on saturday lol

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[B2RAD]

they also originally wanted a CPA with 6 plus years experience but they said they liked my outlook and attitude during the interview but they are treating me like i have 6 years experience when i only have 1.5-2 years and still need some guidance on certain accounting topics or how they want things done.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[acamp]

You really want your resume to read:

Restaurant Manager
Accounting
Restaurant Manager
?

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[choffner]

My first gig was a large accounting firm. 55 hour weeks during tax season. But I didn't have enough work to hit 55 hours and I asked for more work daily. It was also a very toxic environment. I bit my tongue, did what I could, and looked elsewhere. Once I found a better opportunity, I left. I'm at a competing large firm, same hours expected, which is just the standard, no worries. But the environment here promotes growth and positiveness.

I would say ride it out as long as you have to until you have your next opportunity, which is likely to be after April 15. Some people will frown upon seeing that you quit during busy season. Personally, I'd avoid that.

BEC 75
REG 81
FAR 69, 75
AUD 71, 74, 84

[B2RAD]

yea thats what i am trying to avoid and my resume is already a cluster of intern during these 4 months, then this internship over the summer then i would have to work at the restaurant in the fall cuz no one wanted an intern. but i always interned at the same companies over and over but they had no openings when i was looking to be full time and now they all have ads up online….. hey life happens and just have to move forward. only about a month left anyway

its just funny that i worked 75 hours a week at firm that promoted positive attitude and such and i was totally fine with it and now i work 54 hours a week and end up hating it most of the time.

i just feel like i screwed myself over at 23 years old with no CPA, no 150 yet. just nothing out there. i almost rather just get the 150 done, CPA done and be able to apply to any firm i want then to have to take a job at a lessor firm just because my masters isnt done

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[Jdn9201]

It's disappointing when your expectations aren't being met, but I think you need to take a step back and think about it differently before you decide to leave. Compared to some of the horror stories I've read about how people are treated in public, I really don't see how your situation is that bad. I know you are frustrated with them doing things ‘old school' – I'm 32 and I'm not a tech geek, but paper drives me crazy at work. But, you need to think about the situation from their perspective. If I was older and had decades of experience in the field, and some kid fresh out of college came in and wanted me to spend half my day holding their hand while telling me how to do my job differently, I'd be annoyed. You may not be doing all of this, but I think that's how it's being interpreted. I think you need to take more ownership of your learning. If they aren't giving you enough work to do, make your own work. Review another client's file that you don't work on. Do some research on recent tax legislation. When I first started my career, I also liked to ask for more work to do because I hate being bored. It annoyed people though, and I learned it's much more effective to listen when people bring up a certain project they need help with, to volunteer for that specific assignment. This way, you're not interrupting people asking them to do more work to come up with something for you to do. I'd also say that if they are very old school, research different kinds of technology they could use and more importantly, figure out how it would make the office more efficient, save money, etc. That way, you're coming up with a solution instead of just complaining about a problem. Good luck – ultimately you are the one to decide if it's a good fit for you or not.

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

[B2RAD]

oo i have not complained to them about there processes at all. i have been trying to make sure everything i turn in is how they like it. i have been doing things the way they like and such. i ask to have mini meetings before starting an engagement and they do want too. i ask if there is anything i need to know before starting, and they say no. but then half way through they tell me i am doing it wrong when it looks super close to last year so i am confused on expectations and they wont give me guidance when i ask. they say “you should have known the client did things this way” ummm only been here two months lol paper is annoying but the least of my problems i feel. i just have general questions some days that i know the other accountants who have been here longer could answer instead of bothering a partner with there door shut most of the day.

all the other younger accountants have all left this place within 3-7 months and one employee has been here for almost 3 years but everyone else is only a year.

the other accountants tell me i am doing great for what they expected but then the partners just s*4% on me all day, i dont understand because i ask for ways they think i can improve and they dont provide any constructive criticism.

so after this morning, i am no longer allowed to ask questions and if i cant figure it out, the partners want the project so they can finish it without me knowing what the problem was. this all came about because i felt the tax software was not calculating a gain or loss correctly and wanted a second look before i asked the partner. but it is what is.

overall it just makes me feel like being a CPA is overrated and makes it hard to focus on studying.

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[JohnWayneIsGod]

At my only accounting job I had an abusive boss. I'm talking yelling at me in front of the whole office, and people routinely coming up to me and asking me if I was going to quit. When I turned in my resignation, people were not surprised and one of the managers was pissed off that I was driven to that point. So…two points of advice:

1) Ask yourself if it is really that bad.
2) If it is that bad, or if you are just generally unhappy, then move on.

It's bad enough we have to work for a living. Don't make it worse by working a job that makes you miserable.

FAR - 80

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

-John Wayne

[Author]

Replies