Background:  BBA and MS in Accounting from a large state university, CPA, 5 years of PA experience in top 15 firm, 9 months of experience in industry with private company revenue 800Million.

Left public for better work life balance, which was promised to me by my new industry job but does not look to be a reality.  They keep buying up smaller company's and I'm sure should go public in the next 2 years.

Outlook:  My husband and I are planning to start a family in the next 6 months. My current job puts me 8 hours in the car a week of commute time, does not seem like they would be flexible on my schedule once the baby comes and working overtime is expected often.  My husband and I also anticipate moving to northern Colorado, Fort Collins, within the next two years.  Fort Collins is about 150,000 people in size.

I'm looking for a new position that will offer me  a better work life balance, less stress, understanding of a new mothers desire for a flexible schedule and a position that will not cut short my opportunities for when we move.

Would making a move to a smaller, say 30 person, CPA firm be harmful to my career?  My thoughts are no, since I will be moving from Dallas, Texas  2.5 million people to Fort Collins, Co 150K people.  The largest firm in Fort Collins is less than 50.

Would making a move to another industry job be a better move?

I enjoyed public, but hated how my last company treated their employees which is why I and the majority of people there have left that public company.  My thoughts are that not all public companies treat their employees that way and that public would be easier to work partime/from home than any industry job.

Industry is great because it seems like it would be less stressful. Not sure about a flexible schedule, since my current job does not seem to understand.

I know I am thinking to far ahead in the future, but I don't want to screw up and not be able to find a job in FOCO when we move.

Now that I have rambled enough, anyone care to comment?

Look, you have 5 years of public experience.  You've seen both sides of the fence.  You have a lot better idea of what's good for you than most of the people on this forum.  You don't want to mistakenly follow the advice of someone (like me) who doesn't have half the experience you do.

That being said, I think you're question boils down to, "How can I have my cake and eat it too?"  The answer is you probably can't.  You're moving from a big city to a no-name town.  You want fewer hours and extreme flexibility without closing any doors on your career.

The answer I would imagine you'd come to is that this is the first of many sacrifices you're about to have to make.  What is most important to you?  What is least important to you?  I'd start there, and see how much you can keep while still achieving the goals you want.