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almost a cpa
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Posted: 04 Dec 2011 at 17:49 \| IP Logged

Hi, I've been with public accounting tax for a few months now. Obviously, it's a tough job, I don't feel like I need to explain why. I'll just say that I rarely get to spend any time with my friends/family, which is causing issues in my personal life, and leave it at that.

I'm going to be done with the CPA exams fairly soon, and I've already finished the educational requirements in my state. I can definitely stick it out for the remainder of the year and get my CPA license.

After that, I would really like to transition into a job with more reasonable hours -maybe corporate accounting, (or the IRS sounds like it would be awesome).

However, my fear is that one year of experience wouldn't be enough, even with a CPA license. Maybe potential employers would frown upon a candidate who left Big 4 after just one year.

My question to the forum is: from your experience, do you think it would be practical to leave after just one year with a CPA license? If not, what would you say would be the minimum amount of time that someone should stay?

(Please don't respond with something glib or sarcastic, it's not a meaningful contribution to the discussion).

Thanks for your insights.

WSPcpa
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Posted: 04 Dec 2011 at 19:38 \| IP Logged

I can't say from first hand experience but I would
suggest trying to stick it out for 1.5 years. If you
started in August, try to make it through your second
busy season. Of course we don't know the severity of
your personal issues and some times you need to do what
is best for you. If it's just a matter of "this sucks" I
would try to stick it out, but if you're having some
depression issues or something then maybe its time to
leave. The extra year you put in will pay dividends for
you in the long term. Maybe there isn't much difference
between 1 year and 2 years, but IDK.

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db729
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Posted: 04 Dec 2011 at 20:25 \| IP Logged

From my experience (from audit perspective), not very many people leave after one years of experience. The ones that do leave typically either 1) basically got fired or 2) went onto do something not accounting related (this is more common). Most people that leave usually have at least two years of experience and their CPA, although it's not impossible to leave before that. Also, I see a lot of people leave after their next "milestone." I.E. right after they make senior associate. If you've worked two busy seasons, you might as well wait an extra few months and get that senior title/raise (assuming you're not at PwC).

I had recruiters start contacting me about 4 months into FT audit, but I was usually on the "lighter" side of experience. The positions that I came across, either through online postings or recruiters, usually asked for 2+ years of public accounting experience. Personally I think if you're going to go into industry for some kind of accounting related function, you're better off with at least two years and definitely have your CPA. Maybe you can try talking to your coach/scheduler about your schedule and try to work things out. But if you really can't do 2 years, at least finish up this next busy season so you have a year of experience under your belt.

That said, you can start talking to recruiters whenever you want. In fact, the earlier the better. I've found that job searching can take quite a few months. Not so much because there aren't opportunities out there, more that you don't want to have to settle for a position you're not happy with. I've seen quite a few colleagues that started searching for jobs when they really couldn't stand Big 4 anymore and just took the first job they found. I had a senior that left for industry making the same pay when she could have commanded a much higher salary had she just waited.

*Disclaimer: I left Big 4 audit with about a little over a year of experience, but it was for something unrelated to accounting. So technically, I can't give you an 100% accurate perspective on how difficult it would have been for me to find a job in industry. But based on my experiences during my time there and talking/see what goes on around me, I'd say 2+ years is better.

**Disclaimer: At the end of the day, none of us really know what you're going through. What you prioritize more in your life, etc. From a purely career perspective, 2+ is better. But that's not taking into consideration other factors, such as family which should be more important than work.

pinoyaccountant
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Posted: 04 Dec 2011 at 23:20 \| IP Logged

I personally left the Big 4 after 2 years and it doesn't affect any of my subsequent applications to other companies. In fact, it enhances it. You must note that some firms prefer candidates that stayed with the Big 4 for quite some time. That "quite some time" to me is minimum of 2 years.

Just my 2 cents . At the end of day, its really up to you anyway. Our circumstances are for sure different so feel free to explore other suggestions.

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Virgil
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Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 18:15 \| IP Logged

General Rule: The longer you stay in Big 4 public the better in terms of job opportunities.

Your single year at a Big 4 will most likely have marginal benefit. think about it...you were a 1st year staff and were delegated the easiest and most mind numbing duties available. you probably also spent most of your time auditing cash, A/R, or tying out F/S. In other words, there's not much there to offer a firm that another non big 4 staff accountant with one year experience can give them.

I think the plus is that they probably know they're getting a good candidate who will work hard.

Not trying to discourage you, since only you can make those types of decisions for yourself...however, I think that a bare minimum of 2 years is necessary to see any real benefit of the Big 4.

I think talking to your mentor/coach to give you a better client schedule is most likely the best idea. I'd find out what the lighter clients are...and then I would make up some reasons why you want to be switched to them/it.

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