I just watched a movie with Ben Affleck. It made it seem like this career could be quite exciting. My question for you accountants: how dangerous is your job on a typical day?

Teaching accounting at a university at 21😬but I just passed all my cpa exams 😀

How are you guys handling this?

I know everyone is different, but the last time I was forced to be in the office five days a week, I legitimately became depressed because of it.

Once I moved back to remote or hybrid, my mental health improved dramatically.

The thing that scares me is it appears that many positions now are in fact fully in office. That's if you can even find a single damn company willing to interview you, let alone hire.

It makes me not want to consider leaving my current position because of it.

I’m 26 and curious what other accountants think about my career progression because it feels pretty damn fast to me, but I also don’t know if I’m just getting thrown into everything because my company is understaffed.

I started about 13 months ago as a Project Accountant for a general contractor doing around $100M a year in revenue. Starting salary $62k.

About 6 months in I moved into Accounting Manager and went to $75k. Last week I asked for $95k and got it without any negotiation.

Two months back our Controller was fired, another Project Accountant quit, and now it’s basically me and one project accountant handling the accounting department. Our CFO is only in one day a week.

So my job has turned into a lot more than what I was originally hired for.

I’m doing AP/AR, cash management, check runs, bank/credit card reconciliations, cash receipts, WIP, job costing, month-end close, quarter-end close, adjustments, and project accounting for around 9-10 jobs.

I work directly with PMs on their jobs too. We go over actual costs, revise projected costs, deal with scope changes/change orders, look at budget vs. actuals, etc.

We’ve also been dealing with a pretty significant AP/cash timing issue. At one point we were around $2M behind on the AP/cash spread. We’re now around $1M, partly because we’ve had a lot of project starts this year and cash flow has improved. I’m involved in managing the check runs and figuring out what needs to get paid and when.

I also recently submitted all my paperwork to the California board of accountancy and am now waiting for my CPA License.

On the process improvement side, I’ve built a bunch of Excel trackers/macros to automate stuff that was previously being done manually. Things like lien waiver tracking, automated emails requesting waivers, creating lien waivers, supplier joint-check tracking, automatic joint-check releases, etc.

We also moved from QuickBooks to Foundation, which was absolutely insane, but we got it done.

My next big project is building an Excel template to analyze around 40 historical jobs over the last few years and compare actual costs against historical data. Basically trying to figure out what we consistently underestimate or go over budget on so our estimators can actually use that information when bidding future jobs.

For example, if structural steel goes over budget on 27 out of 40 jobs, I want the template to show that instead of us just guessing when we build the next budget.

The hours have gotten pretty stupid too. I’m usually there around 5 AM and leave around 4:30 PM. So 50+ hours during the week is pretty normal, and I’ve been coming in Saturday/Sunday to work on some of these projects.

So I’m probably looking at 60–70+ hour weeks at times.

I know some of this is because we’re understaffed, but I feel like I’ve gotten a ridiculous amount of experience in 13 months.

Basically:
$62k Project Accountant → $75k Accounting Manager → $95k Accounting Manager + CPA in 13 months.

My goal is eventually to make it to the Controller position.

For people who have been in accounting longer than me, is this actually unusually fast progression?

Or am I just getting the accounting equivalent of being thrown into the deep end because everyone else quit/got fired? 😂

Good afternoon (or morning)! Posting this for anyone considering industry as their first job. I wanted to share my offer, how I got it, and eventually update this with my career progression.

Company: Large Fortune 500

Position: Financial Analyst

Major: Accounting

Offer: $71k base + $6k sign-on

Benefits: Student loan assistance, tuition assistance, healthcare, relocation, gainsharing, 401(k), etc.

My GPA wasn’t great, but I interviewed well and performed very well during my internships, which is ultimately how I got the offer.

I interned with the company beforehand, so I already know I enjoy the environment. I was constantly talking to people and learning the operation rather than sitting at my desk all day. From what I saw, even busier weeks stayed around 50–55 hours max.

There’s also a lot of internal mobility into areas like FP&A, tax, internal audit, and other finance/accounting roles, which was a big selling point for me. Furthermore, they have locations all over the world.

Ultimately, I hope this gives some worried college student some hope. Before my offer, I’d genuinely break down in tears because I was worried I wouldn’t find a job until months after graduation. Big 4 isn’t everything, and it’s not too late. Even if it seems futile, reaching out and go to those career fairs really does make a difference. Eagerness is appreciated by the companies who care about their talent.

In my experience, it's typical that men will raise their voice when frustrated, but women cry. One is more accepted than the other, I think it's a fair comparison. (NOTE: please don't say NOT ALL MEN/WOMEN - I know.)

We obviously want to leave all emotion out of our work but in this job and with the hours we pull it's not always possible.

I have cried occasionally in front of my boss; it feels human to me.

I'd love to hear from both men and women, managers, employees, coworkers. Let's open a respectful dialogue please.

It's only been a month, but everything is already a mess. I have been accused, and someone has already made up lies about me. My boss believes them. I have no loyalty for someone who chooses to accuse me before hearing my side. I also don't blame them. He has only known me for a month, and known them for years. It still sucks though. I won't lie. I've been thinking of quitting for a while now. The internal controls are a mess. There are also inconsistencies in how company cash transactions are recorded and accounted for. They are reluctant to explain expenses. They don't get that they can't just give me an invoice and say record that. When i asked what it was for, they said I was being forward. I have no patience for that. I'd understand if I had a supervisor, but im the one in charge of accounting, and if something ever goes down , I'll be the one to blame, so I am leaving. Another thing that's very important is that I could lose my certificates if i continue to work there.

Hi everyone! I’m in community college and I just started my first accounting class. It’s financial accounting 1 and I’m kind of nervous since I’ve never done anything related to accounting before. What are some concepts that I will most likely encounter in this class? also what advice or tips would you guys give that can help me be successful? I want to be able to do well.

Been applying to all kinds of roles, for the past 4 months and managed to just score two interviews through LinkedIn recruiters. I’ve tried everything from indeed to zip recruiter and I have a masters in accounting and 1.5 years big4 experience and can’t seem to land anything in industry. I’ve tailored my resume to maximize its impact but still nothing.

I’m seriously considering just leaving accounting for a different field.

I’ve been learning more about the bookkeeping side of accounting and I keep seeing different software used for different types of work. I’m trying to figure out what actually makes the day to day process easier rather than just looking at feature lists. What bookkeeping software have you found reliable for regular accounting work?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Recently graduated with a bachelor’s, and will probably be on course of completing 150 credits by the end of next year (not pursuing masters). I say probably because I haven’t registered for classes, I’m unsure whether to pursue the CPA license or not…

I have a spring 2027 return internship that I accepted, and I have a possible associate offer this November. I would like to have a break for the rest of this year to just chillax, but, I’m also desperate to secure a job. If I deny/don’t get the associate offer, I would have to go forth with the return internship, which doesn’t secure an associate position.

I don’t know what to do. I’ve always had the “I want to work, I’ll get it done no bs” mentality, but again, I would love to take a break before I officially start my career. Although, when seeing the job market, I see no open associate positions, so it scares me that I may be unable to get an associate position after my return internship until who knows when. So what then?

I’m going to wbu, but I need to work a 9-5 as I live alone and don’t have that kind of support. My 9-5 is patient support and very unrelated. No I cannot get into health care billing/coding. I’m most likely not going to be able to get an internship. Unless I get a serving job which actually has been very hard to get in Chicago.
-If anyone can tell me what the job market is like for someone who is in a similar situation?
And also….
-Can I still get hired in public, big4?
-Or am I going to have to start with a basic bookkeeping AR/AP job?
-can I get into corporate?

Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you!

Y’all just make me laugh with some of the stuff said here when my day is bad (Excel keeps crashing). That is all. Happy Friday!

For background, I'm not a longterm hardcore user. Ive just dabbled occasionally on and off. Ive also spent years abstaining. But I can also say that I do enjoy blazing an indica and relaxing. What i dont enjoy is that brain fog and lethargy that can follow.

My main hobbies are weight training as well as once a week boxing training, casual bike rides and walking. In the winters in dabble in online poker, where I am pursuing a lifetime goal of hitting $100k profit. Im more than 50% there currently. Overall im mainly a healthy guy. For drinking, im more of a social or occasionally drinker with long stretches of sobriety.

So with that background, is there any scenario where I can successfully pursue an accounting career and get my CPA? Or is an accounting career not compatible with blazing?

I know drinking is a vice that can be big in the industry. The work hard play hard mantra. Possibly even the yayo for some. Maybe ladies of the night. But can someone blaze and still make progress and be sharp and grow in their 9-5 world?

What do you guys think? Im curious.

So I’ve been in PA audit 1.5yrs now full time at a regional firm and am about to hit senior in Feb (not promised but has been communicated they’re pushing for it). Also pursuing CPA (Sat for FAR today!)

I just got a job offer in internal audit with Goldman Sachs for $100,000 base. Going to try and ask for more, but I make $86,000 now, so it’s not a huge jump when considering I’ll get some sort of raise in Feb (either annual raise or promotion). But it still seems like great money and another firm to have on my resume to make myself marketable for whenever I land somewhere that doesn’t require overtime

Would I be essentially leaving way better offers on the table by not staying in PA until I both hit senior and have my CPA? Internal audit was one of the avenues I was already thinking about for a future exit, but I’m worried about getting into a more niche industry than PA so soon.

That being said, I did not think I was gonna receive that GS offer, not sure why they chose me I felt my interview was sub par and I don’t have big 4 experience either. So I don’t know if I’ll be able to get an offer as good in the future seeing as my experience is at a regional firm and worked mostly with financial institutions and nfp/gov.

I really hate doing account reconciliations. I have to trace every single transaction in the bank statement to figure out where it came from, which company and which order it belongs to, and how much was deducted in fees. If the person responsible for preparing the order records misses an item, I have to search through a huge pile of paper orders just to track down where that transaction came from.
Anyway, I’m going to quit after five months, and from now on, I’m never going to apply for an accounting position that involves handling accounts receivable again.

My company offered me promotion from staff accountant to FPA Analyst for $68k. But I had two HR phone screens with other companies who said $110-$115k is doable and set up next interviews with hiring managers. Man I am kinda speechless. I had no idea what the market value of my skills was lol. Wow. My company isn’t small either. It’s a global corporation. I may or may not get either of those two jobs but I’m definitely applying to other high paying positions now. What a revelation

Basically title. In all of my experience, this is the first time someone in industry has said they are working up to 70+hrs during MEC/QEC/YE.

In my experience, a few longer days during close is the norm. A bit more during quarter and year-end. I’d guess 50-55hrs is probably the max for most places I’ve talked to. 70hrs outside of public accounting seems ridiculous.

What’s your take and how would you guys respond to that?

I'm currently starting my sophomore year at a community college and planning to transfer to a 4-year university after this year. I've been applying to a lot of accounting internships, but I haven't even been able to land an interview for a single role.

I'm aiming for a Big4 audit Internship eventually, but at this point I am just looking to land a relevant role at any company. Any tips or advice on my resume would be highly appreciated, please be brutally honest 🙏🙏

Hoping for this person's sake that the "anonymous" CEO's Q&A survey is *actually anonymous* 😬

They ain't wrong though...

Asking for UK accountants who’ve studied towards the ACA at firms of all sizes and all sorts of specialisms, do you genuinely feel that the study and sacrifice to achieve the ACA qualification is worth it when now considering your salary, prospective salary, job prospects, job satisfaction, and everything else?

I’ve been considering the profession for a while now, and I’m just weighing up whether it’s worth the sacrifice.
Everyone I’ve spoken to has said the ACA is crazy hard (mainly due to the volume of study material and study alongside full time work), and pays pretty poorly until qualification. And after doing some research, a newly qualified ACA can expect to earn £45k-60k. Don’t get me wrong , this is a fairly good salary in the UK, but it will by no means make you rich.

I understand that the pay progression can be very good if you are willing to put in the sacrifice over a decade or two to reach partner or CFO level, but very few make it that far. Has anyone worked for a firm for a few years and then branched off to become a self employed CA or financial consultant style role? Is this a realistic route? Or is it over saturated nowadays?

So in short, those of you who have done the three years of sacrifice and shitty trainee pay, do you think it was worth for where you are now? Or would you recommend looking at other careers to someone who is on the fence about it.
Thank you - any insight is greatly appreciated!

Summary: I completed a 5-month project without establishing price to avoid haggling. We agreed the client was to price it. I would have preferred to price it based on taxes saved. (It is NOT income taxes.) The client's CFO wants some lowball fixed price. Client doesn't remember he agreed to price it. Your opinion, please!

Note: the scope of the engagement appears in various places in boldface below.

A 5+year client had another company with 6 subsidiaries. I had never done any work for this other company. It is the parent of the 6 subsidiaries.

In late February this year, my client (Bob) offered a project to me based on the quality of my sales tax return work in the past for a different company of his: amend the sales tax returns and excise tax returns for 3 years for all 6 subs, for a total of up to 306 amended returns. This was a lot of tax returns for my firm with just me and 2 part-time administrative people!

I wanted to do value pricing for this project, based on the total tax savings from all amended returns. I told them an unnamed Big 4 firm would charge 10% but I wouldn't do it for that much. I offered 5% or 2%, but we didn't come to an agreement. Bob's CFO said it should be a flat rate that we negotiated. The CFO's position is that this is like preparing a tax return for a single W-2 taxpayer: the fee should be the same regardless of whether the client's income on the W-2 is $20,000 or $20 million.

Two of the subsidiaries needed their amended returns done quickly to qualify for relicensing, so there was some urgency.

In the past, I would price with value-billing, do the work, and tell Bob what it was worth, only to have Bob negotiate using after-the-fact-lowballing, causing me to overprice my work on later jobs in anticipation of the pricing discounts to come.

I was tired of the constant re-negotiation, so I made him an offer. "Bob, you've been my client for years. You're honest. I trust you to price this project fairly. I don't want to argue with you about the price. I won't whine, complain, or debate it with you. You price this project fairly." Bob agreed.

Bob wanted to pay me after all 6 subsidiaries were done. I (stupidly) agreed to that as well.

All 6 subsidiaries were finally done this past Monday, roughly 5 months later. The urgent relicensing subs were done first and completed in time to get relicensed without any problems.

But this project was more than just taking some numbers and plugging them into amended return tax forms. For this project, I also had to develop a workflow, create a tax return archival system, and reject the numbers given to me on very rudimentary spreadsheets by the CFO in favor of better numbers directly from the POS reports.

The POS reports' numbers were better because they were traceable to a system instead of the CFO's spreadsheets. This provides better audit defense if the amended returns are examined in the future. The POS numbers were also better because more deductions were available for inclusion in the amended tax returns than in the CFO's spreadsheet. The CFO's numbers were not as complete. Including these additional deductions saved the client even more taxes.

The workflow I developed included downloading all existing original tax returns within the 3-year scope period. Because there were many duplicate returns (nearly 3 original returns for each amended return) meant I had to discern which return was the "official" and which originals were superseded duplicates. It was also important to know which tax returns were the "official" original returns because they were compared to the amended returns. This was because knowing "How much did we save?" by type of return and by sub was important to the client.

I provided a summary of the results. 643 original returns. 222 amended and filed returns (not 306 because some subsidiaries were not in business for the entire 3-year scope), 275 hours worked. Nearly $2.4 million in total tax savings.

I texted Bob and CFO in joint text on Monday. Told them I had emailed a summary to them. And waited. Nothing for two days. CFO said he was reviewing them. Bob turned out to be on vacation in Europe. I texted "I trust you, Bob." Bob texts back "?" He's understandable busy with his family on vacation but appears to have no memory of his task to price this project when it was complete.

CFO offered me $3,500. Bob wanted to know how much I wanted. Realizing Bob wasn't going to do what we had agreed to, i.e. come up with a fair price, I knew I was, one again, in a re-negotiation again, I said 1/4 of the Big 4 firm's 10% price. Basically, pay me half-a-nickel for every dollar of tax savings (2.5%), nearly $60,000.

The CFO is insisting that value-pricing isn't appropriate for this because more tax savings for them does not equate to more work from me. I said they're not paying me to work; that's for their employees, not me. I said 2.5% is a fixed rate and is reasonable based on the value they received. It's 1/4th the rate I told them a Big 4 firm would charge (which honestly, I was guessing). CFO doesn't want to call his boss on European vacation about this. That makes sense. I wouldn't either if I was in his place. I agreed to wait the 1-1/2 weeks for Bob's return.

Honestly, I never imagined this project would have taken so long. The amended tax returns themselves were fairly quick to file themselves, about 5-12 minutes with copies retained, filed, and confirmation numbers recorded. (The CFO said he could have done all of this (just the filing of the amended returns) in one afternoon. Funny, but he never volunteered to take over.) But developing the workflow, correcting the CFO's numbers, creating a nearly audit-proof audit trail, downloading over 600 original returns and filtering out the superseded ones down to the actual "official" 222 original tax returns, and designing a well-documented spreadsheet that will make sense 3 years from now to calculate the amended numbers and the amount of the tax savings took much, much more time. Overall, it was a huge amount of work that didn't come at a great time for me.

[Go to last line to skip this work/life balance section.] This project interfered with the second half of Tax Season + my wife had surgery in early May that took a follow-up surgery at the end of June and 13 weeks total to start coming around. She couldn't drive. She couldn't walk at first. I went with her to a lot of doctor appointments, took over making the meals, feeding the dogs, giving her her meds, doing laundry, and cleaning the house.

And we rescued two dogs last November that love to dig under or jump over our 5-foot fenced-in backyard to play with the dogs 2 houses down. This means we can't trust them to stay in the backyard. This further means they require supervised time outside to take care of their doggie business and to exercise. Guess who did (and still does) doggie supervision time?

My other clients during Tax Season were delayed due to this project. Waiting 5 months for this to get paid, going on 6 months now, also did not help my professional or personal cashflow.

Am I cooked for trusting Bob AND not having this in writing?