Hi- I'm a CPA who spent 10+ years in Fortune 500 accounting/finance/audit roles. I started my own (non accounting) business, while employed as an accountant.....it took off and I've been out of corporate America for a few years now (thank God).
Looking back, the most important piece of advice I would give to any student, new grad or fresh accountant: It is extremely easy to get pigeonholed into an undesirable career path in this field. Usually, you are stuck in a path you don't want long before you realize it.

In my experience, the best way to prevent this is to do the right research and ask the right questions when interviewing. Not just that- find ex-employees on Linkedin and get their opinion. I've worked for companies with good reputations, but were incentivized to make deadend jobs seem like they offered growth and opportunities. This is not uncommon. In my experience, the best sign you are interviewing for a good company is to see the career/job trajectory of people who worked a similar or same job at the same company. Also easily found on Linkedin. The company will promise anything to get you in the door to work a deadend job. Don't trust them. Verify.

My best was four pages taped together because the client didn’t know how to format, but the part that had me literally laughing out loud was the adding machine tape stapled to each column. Totals were not in the spreadsheet. I introduced the client to AutoSum and blew their mind.

This has got to be a joke at this point.

I'm graduating in about a month with my MAcc after a BS in accounting and getting my AA in high school, yes, I am quite young compared to the average grad with a 3.9ish GPA. I've worked at a small family business and have taken care of the accounting there since I was about 17 - I have been *the* accountant there so I've done a bit of everything. I don't really get paid much at all though and need a new job.

Fast forward and naturally, I've sent out exactly 212 applications, 56 denials, 6 failed interviews - I keep a spreadsheet so I don't send multiple resumes into one place. My resume has been reviewed by a couple managers I know who said it's "good". I made a few connections to firms in my area - they all have been in the tune (and one outright said) "I would sooner hire someone out of McDonald's" because why? They're cheaper?

I hate to say it but I don't think I can do anything more. My interview skills are decent and definitely better than the competition in my area. I prepare proof and descriptions of all the projects I've done from taxes to budgeting to automation - it's not as if I even get that far in the interview process however to show it. I network to the point that just about every firm in the area personally knows and recognizes me. They all know that I need a job but very few of them will even give me a chance at an interview. They would rather hire someone who doesn't know what they're doing, stays around for a couple weeks, quits and then the firms want to complain about how they can't find qualified candidates.

Pardon? I'm not sure if I'm a "qualified candidate" and all but it's not like I'll ever know without a chance. At the very least, you can't complain *to me* about how you can't find prospective employees when I can see the resume I gave you in the trashcan over there. I still think my header design looks pretty, even with it sticking out of the can there FYI.

I've also been applying to every industry job I can find information about. The only one to contact me back was a business that instead wanted me to work as a forklift operator - I'm not sure how they got that from my education but oh well. It's not really worth discussing that side of this with how much I just get ghosted there.

I feel like the only chance I have left is Robert Half. I have no idea how this works and I've always heard bad stuff from recruitment agencies. I've also seen a lot of good stuff on here about Robert Half specifically so I have no idea what to think. They have something like 14 active postings in my area last I checked but I have no idea what that really means. I guess I just contact them and ask for a handler? Does anyone have any other ideas or any advice on how to handle the Robert Half pathway? Will they likely assign me to a firm or an industry job? Because I would theoretically like to get my CPA but the firms in this area seem to be far too elitist to actually offer positions to fulfill work hours to people who are eligible.

Graduated and I’m in public accounting.
After nearly a decade of learning this stuff, I kid you not, it finally clicked today WHY assets must equal liabilities and equity.

For years, my answer was simply, “Because that’s the accounting equation.” Or something very surface level

I was just doing some WACC revision then it clicked haha

How would you explain why they must balance

Edit: the best way I can explain why I didn’t click before, it’s similar to knowing that 5 + 5 is 10 just by recall …but for forgetting the part of “ if Johnny had 5 apples and you add blah blah etc”

Returning to in-person work 60% of the time.

Call me crazy but I miss public… I left public after a year in tax b/c I received an offer for 40k more, better benefits and is at a cheaper cost to me and obviously way more WLB to be home more with my wife and kid but I still miss tax so much. Obviously I will never go back unless salaries drastically improve so I’m in the process of getting my CPA and opening my own tax shop on the side until I can replace my current income.

Do any of you miss public?

Senior accountant resigned and I got the promotion. Boss requested a six month probation period then we would revisit comp, job title and other benefits. I requested it in writing and I was told no. Plus no comp until we revisit.

thoughts?

I graduated this spring with an Econ degree and I’ve struggled to land a job in the finance and Econ fields as I don’t have any internships and my GPA was mediocre.

I’ve thought about going back to school for accounting as it looks like getting a CPA opens a lot of doors. Would you guys say that it’s worth it for someone like me? Or is there more I should do to get into the accounting field?

I'm 22 and I've spent the last four years in post-secondary pursuing a degree that I don't even like.

I started in accounting, switched majors a few times during second and third year, and eventually came back to accounting because it seemed like the most practical option. The problem is that I've only recently started to understand the material after 4 goddamn years, and even now it's by far my weakest and most difficult subject. Since I've already used up most of my electives, my semesters are now almost entirely accounting courses. Every term just reinforces the feeling that the thing I've chosen as a career is the subject I'm worst at.

My real passion has always been art and design. Hell, I even found law more interesting than anything I've learned in business school.

But I've always been terrified of the "starving artist" reality. I'm aware that I'm not some exceptionally talented artist who can effortlessly make a living doing creative work. When I was choosing a major in high school, accounting felt like the safer option. I wanted stability, decent job prospects, and a career where I could clock in, clock out, pay my bills, and still feel somewhat fulfilled.

Now I'm not sure I've found any of that.

My college offers a Business Administration Accounting diploma, and I'm only one semester away from completing it. Part of me wants to take the diploma and run. It feels like my ticket out. At the same time, I know how important a bachelor's degree can be. If I ever want to pursue a CPA, I need to keep going. I also recognize that I'm in a really privileged position. I'm still young, I live with my parents, and I don't have major financial responsibilities. Logically, it probably makes sense to stick it out and finish the degree while I have the opportunity.

But mentally, I'm exhausted.

I feel trapped between finishing a degree I don't enjoy because it's the smart thing to do, and walking away because I genuinely can't see myself doing this forever.

What the hell do I do?

TL;DR: 22, four years into an accounting degree (will take me 6 to complete) that I don't enjoy and struggle with. I'm one semester away from an accounting diploma and tempted to leave, but finishing the bachelor's would open more doors and allow me to pursue a CPA. I feel stuck between doing what's practical and doing what I'd actually enjoy. What would you do?

That is all.

Just accepted an offer at a mid sized regional firm for spring internship rolling into summer, which I’m pretty stoked for, as I will get to do tax busy season and audit in the summer. I am taking the semester off from classes and am a bit lost on exactly how this whole overtime/seasonal work stuff works.

I only have corporate accounting experience which was pretty standard 9-5 environment, but understand that hours become a bit more amorphous in public. The firm mentioned flexible schedules for students who take limited credits during their internship, but are willing to have people on essentially full time if they choose to.

Is working OT done typically when you need to finish a project, or are asked by management to stay extra, or how exactly does the request get communicated?

Currently working in corporate accounting as in-house Senior Accountant, but the same applied when I worked in Public Accounting for small and medium businesses. I spend so much of my time having to explain to people why they can't commit financial fraud. No, you can't create fake invoices. No, you can't pay your workers late. No, you can't bypass our internal controls or policies. No, you can't do X illegal thing because it makes your life easier. It's so exhausting and the worst part is that people will argue will me forever about "but why can't I do it???!!". I'm tired y'all.

Hi everyone, I'm currently a Junior in college and I'm in my Intermediate Financial Accounting course.

I just got the second (of three) exam back and I got a 98, and I got a 100 on the first exam. With how much I've had to study for this course I'm very proud of how it's gone and how well I'm doing (hence I just wanted to brag). The second exam especially was hard, so many in class didn't finish.

I also have a busy season tax internship next semester with a top 10 firm that I'm really looking forward to as well!

Lock in and good things will come to you! Make sure you understand the material - practice and if you get it wrong, understand why you get it wrong, fix it for next time!

Just wanted to brag. Y'all are awesome :)

When comparing expense apps for QuickBooks Online, what would you use if being able to find the receipt later is the main requirement? If someone asks about a purchase six months later, I'd want the original image attached to the expense instead of having to search another app or an email archive.

Is this a canon event or do I switch majors

I recently finished a MAcc in taxation and left an accounting clerk job to start a new job as a staff accountant for a small industry company (in June).

I did VITA last year and got my EA so I am interested in tax, but got (what seemed like) a good offer for my current job so I accepted it to learn and make more.

This new job is not turning out to be what I expected at all, even though I tried my best to vet the company and position before starting. It feels like I’m doing everything but accounting, including payroll, HR, sales admin, operations, financial analysis, and the accounting work is mostly limited to AP/AR so far.

The person previously doing this work quit right after I started, and they didn’t replace her. I’m worried about bringing this up because they have been doing layoffs and are still doing some. (The company stays afloat by the owner personally investing money)

There are other issues and concerns I have about the company as well, and overall I’m just feeling exhausted. I definitely wouldn’t have taken this job if I knew what I’d be getting into.

I’m studying for the CPA right now, and am considering reaching out to firms for busy season. I’d honestly consider leaving this job even for a temporary tax job (permanent/FT would be the goal). That would leave me with roughly a 6 month stint at this job (previous jobs were 8 months then 2 years) but it shows progression in title.

Anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice?

I currently have a very big dilemma as I am deciding between two mutually exclusive options of a tax internship or resident advisor position. I'm a sophomore accounting major and I just received an offer to join as a Tax intern for Busy Season 2028 (my junior year). However, I have already accepted an offer for a Deloitte Summer 2028 audit internship. Thus, I am trying to discern whether or not to accept this tax internship for the experience or apply to be a resident advisor instead.

I would save about $15,000 if I were to be an RA (housing, food, etc.) compared to the $11,500 I would make as the Tax Intern. In addition, I wouldn't find out the RA results until March which could throw a wrench in upperclassmen housing if rejected (~30% acceptance rate). What do I do? Do I accept the tax internship or reject it and apply to become an RA? I could also accept the internship AND apply to be an RA...then renege the offer in March if given the RA position.

I'm so conflicted because I obviously want to work at Deloitte post-grad (not this other firm), so this decision is just a matter of finances and personal development. Please help!!!

Been a Controller for 6 years. 3 PE backed portfolio companies. A mix of headaches and cleanups and moving at a fast pace for the LP's and a higher than average salary. I want to do more than being stuck in this seat.

In my personal experience, the people that are moving up faster are the finance folks, not the CPA folks like myself. I have a ton on my plate at all times and I don't have the bandwidth to build out fancy models or learn cool AI agent stuff. But I want to.

Anyone else hit this plateau? I want to break through to VP of F or CFO but super hard to gain the skills when you don't have a seat directly at the FP&A table.

Thoughts?!

Has anybody started their own accounting firms? How long did it take and was it worth it? How much do you make now? and hows your work life balance?

I started in busy season and since 3 managers have given me negative feedback saying that I take too long on tasks, don’t answer my review notes timely, don’t ask enough question, and lack technical knowledge. Is this normal or should I start looking elsewhere?

Only 2 senior staffs have left a positive review saying that I ask great question.

Hi friends,

I recently moved from a boutique CPA firm making $50k doing what my understanding of CAAs/ CAS is plus a high volume 1040s to a mid-size regional firm doing CAS/CAAS at $82k as a Staff. As a solo parent studying for the CPA exam, taking a $32k pay increase was an instant yes.
The new firm seems great and I'm told I'll only do a small amount of tax work compared to the full tax department. However, I keep falling down online rabbit holes about CAS having "no prestige," lower salary ceilings, and being a "lower tier" line of service.
The new firm has multiple CAS partners and managers and the department has about 15 staff members in total. I'm struggling to find actual facts to back up the negativity but unfortunately I’m already bummed out about the position and feel quite insecure about it.
For anyone in CAS/CAAS:
What is the real salary trajectory compared to Tax/Audit?
I Know the CPA will open doors for me. But am I over thinking this too much. I only have three years of PA experience. I have only worked in PA
I Would love to hear your opinions.

Hi guys,

I wanted to get peoples opinion to pick between two potential job opportunities, both for an assistant manager role in FDD in London.

1) GT FS FDD - Had the final interview for this yesterday and thought it went OK but yet to hear back. Was told I will hear back by the end of the week.

2) Deloitte Industrials FDD - Just found out today I have been moved onto the assessment which is the first stage so not done any interviews yet.

For some background on me, I’m currently in FS audit at Deloitte so the Deloitte opportunity will be an internal transfer if I was to get the role. The main drawback I can think of is that I have heard partners can delay the internal transfer and I’m worried this might happen to me especially with busy season coming up. I could literally end up doing an extra busy season for no reason to then transfer.

Just wanted to get people’s thoughts around the two potential opportunities and if industrials is a good sector to work in. Also, not sure what to do if I get the GT offer soon, do I not risk it and just take it, is Deloitte worth that much for CV clout in FDD?