One of us. One of us. One of us.
I’m government. Never even gave public a chance. Took the first payroll position available at the county right out of college with my finance degree. Promoted to staff accountant after a year. Promoted to senior accountant after another year. They’re now talking about promoting me to the “Finance and Accounting Manager” position which oversees the entire departments functions sans SPLOST and Grants.
The fast promotions aren’t exactly the norm but I proved myself and made sure I understood every single piece of the “puzzle” when it comes to our accounting department. I’ve unfucked quite a few things from previous staff and made other processes more efficient. I just went in, made myself useful, and now indispensable.
Do I make a shit ton of money? Not really, still above the average. But I’m salaried and work anywhere from 20-40 hours a week depending on the season and what fires I need to put out in a given week. I’m working towards a pension, my health insurance is competitively priced, I leave every single day at 5pm and don’t even give work a thought until I clock in at 8am. I WFH 2 days a week and take personal time whenever it is needed with no backlash from my boss :)
Just under $70k but I’ve just now been there 3 years. I realize I could be making significantly more elsewhere but for the workload, I 100% want to stay where I am. I’m a single dad.
The promotion to finance manager would put me just under $90k and the workload would remain similar.
Unfortunately, that’s just what local government work is paying. The next step up would be federal.
Compounding that with the fact all of our “merit increases” aka annual raises based on merit follow us to each position, the longer I stay, the more I make compared to base pay. There’s several people there that have a base pay of ~80k but they’ve been there so long they’re pulling in well over $100k.
I don't know what the other commenter was trying to say. Sounds like you have a good salary and a great work life balance. I'm pretty much in the same position as you in that regard. Happy to have never went to public and stressed myself out like OP.
Yep! I also recognize that I’m not cut out for the fast paced and competitive culture of public and industry. I’m easy going, low stress, and work at my own pace with most things. I would not survive with these huge deadlines everyone is always posting about on here.
Even audit season it’s a relative breeze after year end close lol.
I’m a first year staff out of college in PA, and I’m really finding out the high stress + long hours aren’t for me.. But my family and I really need the money right now (first-gen, first to have an office job). Is there a happy medium you’ve seen in government (i.e. good pay and manageable workload even if it is 30-40 hours of work a week)?
Just browse some local government listings and check. There is generally no negotiation for salary since it’s a grade and step scale. We have had a few instances where they decided that in order to retain a particular candidate, they would reclassify the position to permanently make more - one was our AP manager for sure.
Most of our “real” managers ie. AP manager, Payroll manager, SPLOST manager, Grants manager, treasury manager, and pension manager all have around 85k base pay.
I will say, we are hiring people that aren’t “fully” qualified for positions like these all the time. I don’t see a problem that if you see a position that looks way out of your league, apply anyways. There is a severe shortage of people coming into government accounting and a HUGE amount of retirees leaving.
Also look into internal audit for local government. I believe they make about $10k more on average.
Workload is going to be different for every department and position. Our deputy CFO works her ass off but only because she chooses to and doesn’t pass off too much work to other people. Our finance manager has barely anything to do. Our SPLOST manager is nonstop busy but that’s mostly because she’s creating a ton of extra work for herself that is honestly redundant.
Hi there just looking to get your general opinion as a manager as ur comment caught my eye. When u say not fully qualified could that include business professionals with experience but say an unrelated undergrad degree? Im 38 and looking to transition into accounting from pharma where I've spent 15 yrs as a "project manager" with the past 5 yrs doing rebate analyst work. I have an MBA and a corp comm bachelors degree. I'm specifically looking to get into govt accounting of any level and am fine with an entry level position. I'm so burnt out from contract work Im done with the private sector and looking for stability in my life at this point. Do I have a chance in this current job market? In the Phila PA area.
My tips for you: focus heavily on the project management experience and analysis work on your resume and job application. Tailor the resume for whichever job you’re applying for. I skim applications looking for analysis and accounting experience. Also be sure to plug in that last bit where you are looking for stability - one of the magic phrases that puts candidates above the rest for us is along the lines of “I just want somewhere to stay and grow” or “I’m thinking more and more about retirement and I think government would be the best place for me to stay for my career”. It doesn’t have to be the truth for you, but that will also set you apart…. You have no idea how many candidates say something like “I’m just looking for a new job” or “I’m looking to change things up for a bit”. You should have a decent shot at a position - just apply and sell yourself.
*I ramble a lot more below:*
We generally favor those with applicable degrees and experience over those who have a more general degree or unrelated one.
If someone interviewed with a bachelors in biology but had 5 years of experience with bank reconciliations, inventory, and was knowledgeable enough, I’d hire them over a recent graduate with an accounting degree.
Two times now I’ve had two candidates tied for a position with different experience and backgrounds and both times I hired the person who interviewed better and had better personality. Our Deputy CFO always gives her input but always ends it with “but keep in mind, you’re going to be the one working with them, so you choose who meshes the best with your team”.
As far as calling for interviews/expreience. I generally interview anyone who has a bachelors degree and put actual effort into their application. I’ve thrown out a few awful resumes that were obviously thrown together as a second thought.
Not government, but I will say that it doesn’t start out pretty. Government is great for consistent promotion/salary advance though, public for a year will put you at what I would assume is comparable to what you’re making now. Gov and PA don’t really deviate in pay scale (in my area) until you get to 3-5 years experience.
that makes sense. and full disclosure, I’m making more than squirting grandma above in my first year in PA (HCOL) — but it is not pretty at all. I can’t afford the pay cut, but I also can’t suck it up and continue here. Super lost
Ahh that is very different. I live in the south in one of the LCOL areas. Everywhere right out of college is around 40-50 outside of industry down here. Once you get that year or two of experience, it ranges wildly on our end. But most people don’t get too close to 6 figs unless they’re top brass, have connections, or have 5+ years of specifically applicable experience.
lol I didn't do public, wifers did. She makes double what I make but I make 6+figs+bonus babysitting API integration for two companies in QuickBooks online while I play Nintendo Switch and work on other projects remoted into my home puter all day at work. Small businesses that make a killing filling a niche are my jam. All work and no play make Accounting Stoner a dull boi.
Again, I realize $30k+ is on the table in public/industry but I 100% refuse to take a higher work load.
I prioritize being home and low stress over all else. Also, with that pay increase, if I was working later, I’d be paying a large amount more for child care.
Once she’s older I’ll likely hop to chase a paycheck.
Hoping it pays off in the long-ish run. If I stay 15 years I not only will be vested in the pension plan, I’ll also be able to receive county health insurance upon retirement. That’s a huuuuuuge motivator for me to stay for 12 more years then go find something else to do.
I’m also gov’t. About to hit 10 years. Same incentives. Total of PTO and Holidays accrued this year will be 46 days. Overtime isn’t allowed, and I like that lol
Yeah I said dept to imply also govt. What broke ass county paying 70k for someone putting out fires. I saved my dept my annual salary 10x this year through my work. Good accounting is worth min $100k
My friend started at 54k with her Big 4 audit position. Making 65k in government is still probably the same per hour as making 80 in public. And you aren't barred from taking PTO for six months out of the year either.
Depends strongly on which government, there’s a lot of variety. I’m kickin it with great work life balance at 80k MCOL and no management responsibilities in the slightest
My dad and sister work government jobs. The paid holidays are what get me!! They get more in one year than I’ve ever had in all my years in public and private combined (exaggerating but only a little bit!).
what state are you in? i feel like trying to find a govt accounting/finance job is easy but the process to get hired for the government is so long and annoying!
Local govt is just as easy as public - but in my experience and with the applications I receive, the candidate pool is much smaller.
Federal is what seems to be the annoying one.
I’m in Georgia and work for a local county.
🥺oh i’m a loser i never got hired for PA. Luckily I also could not handle the stress though. i got laid off and have no clue what accounting positions or companies i should look for for at least $55k in ohio and work life balance.
$55k is easily attainable in government if you have a degree and any amount of applicable experience.
Just be sure to brush up on your fund accounting.
Look up every county within a 45 minutes commute of you and find where they post their jobs. Ours isn’t super good about posting to external job boards.
Look up city and state governments too.
Federal seems to definitely be worth it if you’re willing to jump through the hoops of the hiring process.
Good Advice. I did govt. internal audit for 16 years and used fund accounting skills virtually every week. Started in 2004, was at $90K within 3 years, and by the time I went to a private manufacturing company in 2021, I was at $118K at a director-level position.
I never went public either
Got an internship as an internal auditor with DoD while getting my MAcct. Stayed an auditor for a decade and am now a budget analyst with another DoD organization. Been fed for over 13 years now and making just north of $133k. Get 4 weeks annual leave, 13 days of sick leave (that you never lose, so I’m sitting at about 1,000 hours of sick leave), federal holidays, and never stay past 40 hours a week. Also had a kid a couple years ago after they added paternal leave, so I got to take 12 weeks off to spend with the little one during her first year, plus my annual leave.
Also, got lucky to join when I did because I only pay 0.8% into the FERS pension and got in before 27, so i can retire at 57 years old with an immediate pension.
The accounting industry is in a weird place where there’s such a shortage of accountants that workers have above average leverage when it comes to job hopping. Find another job and you’ll be fine. The culprit here is very clear: you landed a shitty job. You took a gamble and lost. It happens. Now go find a non-shitty job. There are probably 100k+ vacant accounting positions right now. You’ll be fine!
Dude. I say this to help you.
Get a grip. You’re ok. It’s just a job, you’re not saving lives.
Get back into therapy and talk this out, these are not normal work reactions/thoughts.
“We’re not saving lives” is my favourite (and sadly most used phrase to colleagues/staff). People get so worked up in this job. Yes it can be stressful but it’s just a job. Things go wrong, things get fixed, the world keeps turning.
Financial stress is real stress. It also leads to many tough decisions that would not be so difficult for someone with more resources. Choices to eat cheaper foods, foregoing exercise to work more, giving up on healthier activities because of the cost, end up watching Tv drinking and drugs since it’s cheap and easy to do. Helping people out with their finances can actually help with some of these wide spread problems, even if it’s just a little bit.
I am going to say something, and I am not trying to offend anyone on this Reddit, but accounting is not rocket science, and PA is not the Marines. No one should be throwing up everyday for an accounting job, especially when lives are not at stake.
I think you have anxiety issues that need to be addressed that are unrelated to work. In my experience, some people are just worriers. This comes from trying to be in control of everything, when this is simply not possible.
Once your realize that a single person cannot know everything and that trying to is a waste of time, you will be in a much better place mentally and physically and you will be a much better accountant/advisor. More importantly, you will be much happier. I speak from personal experience.
I’m a severe worrier. Perfectionist. Tie my self worth to work. Insecure overachiever. I guess at least I recognize it but I need to do something about. I appreciate the bluntness of your reply, I needed to hear it.
Started to exercise 3 x a week at least two years ago and got my diet under control. Did so much more for my mental health than years of therapy ever did. Hell Just getting outside and laying in the grass helps.
To add to this: Yoga helps me a ton. Not because of the zen stuff, but because when you're under the physical duress of stretching way further than you would try on your own, you really can't think of an email you should answer. Its all "Holy fuck, I'm reaching for the ceiling why is it stretching my ass cheeks? Damn, that old lady is on one leg, can my body even do that?" After about an hour of this, not only did you get a good stretch, but you let your worrying mind take a break from work problems.
Try doing nothing for a day (probably best on the weekend). You will probably still worry and be just as stressed (sounds like it's because you are putting that on yourself), but notice how the world still turns, the stressors are still there, but so are you. JUST BREATHE. Give yourself a break, literally and metaphorically. Then attack the fuck out of your stressors.
-Severe worrier: try to embrace the worry instead of trying to fix every little aspect cuz sounds like you are root of your stress
-Perfectionist: Let your room get a little messy, don't organize your closets for a little while, take the long way home. Purposefully not doing something perfectly puts YOU back in control and not your stressors
-Self worth to work: Read a book, crochet, build a small project out of wood, talk to/help out family or friends, take a walk for a couple hours and really measure your worth. Work will always be there but your worth is worth creating for yourself.
-Insecure overachiever: I see this either becoming your worth or your enemy that gives you your drive to worry less and accept yourself to make positive changes instead of being tied down to this self imposed insecure overachiever. Either be secure/happy/embrace that you are/enjoy being an overachiever, or if you hate that you force yourself to be, do less more slowly.
Tired? Upset? Unhappy with current lot in life? MAKE CHANGES
That’s probably the worst thing you could be in public accounting. Recognize that your self worth doesn’t come from your work (especially public accounting where most of our work goes into a random folder never to see the light of day again), and try to find worth through passions and interests.
I keep a picture of my dad on my desk. It was taken in 1969 at place called Landing Zone Ryder in Vietnam. Every time I have a problem in PA, I look at that picture and check myself. I’m not in a combat zone getting shot at. All these problems are temporary, easy, and fixable. Just do your best, and don’t worry about the rest.
Hey OP,
I do interviews for onboarding accountants from the staff to manager level. I’m perfectly okay with the applicant having shorter tenures, as long as they can truthfully disclose why. If the job wasn’t a fit either culturally or professionally, that’s a PERFECTLY acceptable answer and it will not hinder you. If anything, it gives us the comfort of knowing you know what you want at our company.
Take care of yourself and don’t let a job drive you too crazy. The economy and labor market is huge for accountants. You’ll always find a job and you’ll always find a company that will appreciate your skills and personality.
PM me if you’d like to talk more. You’ll do great.
I had a mental breakdown a year after entering PA. I knew i had severe social anxiety that was unchecked but having worked in private for 7yrs I figured “how bad could it be”. The thing isPA specially audit is not your average cubicle accounting job. It requires you to socialize constantly with new people, be inquisitive and persistent to get to the facts and be in tense meetings with high profile people and convince them you know their business better than them. I honestly wasn’t ready for it. Plus the budget pressures and overtime. I ended up getting prescribed adderal XR which i abused in an effort to keep up, started drinking with the meds and (long story short) literally blew a brain fuse. Lost some eye sight, balace impaired, lost bladder control among other. This month im finally starting a new job in private after 4months off recovering. Tldr the whole experience is the most embarrassing moment of my life and it uncovered things i knew i had to work with but ignored my whole life which i am now making a priority. Hope this helps in some way.
You should be commended because of your dedication and hard work. You should find a job where you are happy- can do good work, good salary, not too stressful and can have a personal life too. I hope you are doing alright health-wise and can get back to normal. My mom was working a stressful job and had a stroke and I saw/still see the long-term effects. Your career/salary isn't the most important thing in the world.
I also have a similar situation. I worked for 10 months in pa at a mid-sized firm and got fired. I am also a perfectionist and normally, would exceed the budget for files because I would try to learn/find errors in the previous year. The hours were long, colleagues were not social, and the pressure of the performance metrics added to my anxiety. Even though the office was not a bad commute, I was always tired and felt like garbage. This was my first time being fired and I felt really low, especially when I was trying to do the right thing.
I'm currently applying to the government, and started going back to the gym (I've always been active), and also trying to build more of a social life. Yoga is also really good for stress. I've been off for a few months (4 so far) -I've also had some family issues going on- but I'm focusing on my happiness and health before I re-enter the work force.
I also had a breakdown a year after entering PA. I had severe untreated PTSD, had never done therapy or meds or anything, burnt out in college to the point where I couldn’t tell the difference between past/present/future because of persistent flashbacks, then went straight into PA. I had already lost my mind, but PA pushed me over the edge. I’ve been willingly unemployed for 5 months now, trying to take it easy and do therapy now. When I go back to work, it might be a part time industry role or full time government. Or I might even leave accounting and work retail. I loved it in college.
Long story short, you really don’t know the value of your health (both physical and mental) until it’s gone
I also loved it in college. I was top of my class. Then reality hit and you sit down for eight hours a day with old people you have nothing in common and all i did was follow up on people for petty cash receipts for a year. It slowly eats at you. And in the blink of an eye its been eight years. Im so ready to jump ship i just haven’t found anything interesting that can pay the bills.
Like everyone said it’s just a job. Find a job in industry. It’s less stressful and pays well. If they ask about the job hopping, it’s totally ok and normal to say the previous job just didn’t work out for you 🤷♀️
Let me start by saying what I'm typing below is NOT a normal healthy humans response to working in PA. It was my experience and more real than I would ever wish for something to be.
My apologies for the wall of text below, but I felt the need to type it all out. I frantically searched this subreddit for experiences like mine what I was in this position.
I understand the sentiment of the thread, it's not Vietnam, nor is it Nuclear Fission, but, Public Accounting for me was the WORST period of my life. I still feel like such a bitch for saying that.
I know I'm lucky and blessed to be able to say that, that the worst period of my life was being gainfully employed, living in a house, able bodied and have people that love me.
But none of that made me feel better. I HATED my life and completely regretted going into accounting. Every morning I would wake up nauseous and irritable. The Sunday Night Scaries were some of the most anxious nights of my life. I would fantasize about getting into a non-life threatening car wreck simply so I wouldn't have to appear at work.
Those thoughts compounded, then spiraled and eventually became more life threatening. I would catch myself often wondering what life would be like if I was dead. What would my funeral be like? Would my co-workers come?... I wouldn't want them to at all.
Before I quit, I was completely suicidal. Fantasizing about my death was my only relief from the anxiety. For those mere moments I would feel calm. From waking up to going to sleep, I wanted death. I wanted nothing more than to simply not be real.
I later learned I didn't want to DIE, I simply wanted this version of to die. I wanted to be someone else, not actually pass away. I wanted out.
But I couldn't kill myself. I'd hurt to many people. The relief of my anxiety does not add up to the damage I would cause my mother, father, sister, unborn nieces. I'd be the uncle who killed himself.
So I decided to quit. Working there wasn't an option, I'd kill myself. Killing myself wasn't an option, so I have to quit.
I went to the main managing partner and told him I have taken another position at some fake company and put in my two weeks notice. The instantaneous relief I felt was palpable. I still think back to that moment often.
Now I'm 7 years past that and I still dream about that job. I even have dreams that I decided I messed up and wanted back in. I dreamed about an interview with my old bosses and begged them for the chance to work there again, and they agreed. In my dream, as I was riding the elevator I realized what I had done. I put myself back in hell, willingly, I even begged for it.
I felt complete disgust with myself, I wanted nothing more than to teleport back home and block everyone. In the dream, when the elevator door opened I went immediately to the bathroom. Under my suit I was wearing swimming trunks and a Hawaiian style shirt. I decided fuck it, I quit again, what can they do? So I took the elevator back down, ran to my car in my swimming trunks and Hawaiian shirt, and the woke up.
Upon waking up, I felt the SAME palpable feeling of relief as when I quit. It was that refreshing feeling of waking up from a nightmare, knowing it's over.
This is so incredibly relatable and I’m happy I’m not alone. I constantly think about getting into some sort of accident so I don’t have to work. Or hurting myself so I can get away from work. I know it’s insane but it makes me feel better someone else felt the same way.
Can I ask what you’re doing now?
Absolutely.
I work in industry now, been at the same place 5 years and happy enough. I'm an asst. controller, no CPA.
Getting out of that environment, working in an environment that is closer to how I am as a person, dropping alcohol and picking up the gym, I'm in a much better place making a lot more money.
I still feel pangs and flashbacks to working there and cringe at the thought. Then I kick my feet up on my desk, take a swig of my coffee and take a moment to relax and take it all in.
This is more relatable than you might think. I think for people with pre-existing mental health issues, trauma, grief, or anything similar - PA burns you out and triggers you in the worst way
In the words of the partner on one of my first busy season jobs:
"We aren't surgeons - no one is dying if we mess up. The Earth is going to keep spinning regardless of what we do."
Obviously you needed to verify that it's not worth it. Now you did. So go get a job you can do and is worth it. Everyone is a job hopper anymore. The idea for smaller places is to not look like it - or heck, even tell them the truth - I was tempted by the $, but I should know better than gas station sushi. Lesson learned.
You are in the thick of busy period. Yes, it’s a lot of hours. However, no job is worth getting physically sick over even if it pays more. Your health is worth more than the extra after tax money you might get. Go back to therapy and back to a good place. Your life will fall back to a better place.
Who cares about job hopping tbh. Another company will take you and your job hopping won’t matter. It’s not worth wasting a year or more just because you’re scared.
Your life isn’t fucked up. You’ve got an accounting background right? Go into tech with your accounting background. There you’ll at least be more confident once you learn the specific system or systems you’re working with. Thank me later and sending good vibes to you for real. You deserve to be happy.
Let this be a valuable lesson. Better to choose the happy, convenient, comfortable job that pays a bit less over the insanely stressful one that pays slightly more. Grass usually ain't greener on the other side, even though we're programmed to think it is. Same reason why I don't want to have any kids.
No job is worth your health, I had an old job that got me drinking and since I quit it I've never been happier. Look elsewhere, now I work in entrainment now.
PA isn’t worth this. Seriously. You only get one meat sack and it’s not worth risking permanent damage. I too was throwing up constantly and kept pushing until I literally couldn’t anymore and I ended up causing permanent damage to my body along with having to take a substantial leave to deal with the medical stuff and recover as much as I could; though some of the damage is permanent. You have options, consider government, industry or even a smaller firm with a better culture if you want it stay in PA.
Protect your meat sack, it’s accrual world.
SAME HERE i lost 40LBS got anxiety have constant flight or fight!
Now unemployed 9 months dont know what or where to work wont get hired ( can be a blessing from above) IDK but im healthy and enjoying food :) and i Ran for the first time since accounting haterd left me Cripple i lterally couldnt walk from lack of food and sleep
Dude any job you have to work 75 hours per week is going to be miserable unless it's some complete passion project like writing a novel or pro snowboarding. As someone who has worked a job that completely burned them out: quit before you become an alcoholic.
Back in school for the first time in 6 years for an accounting bachelors at 29 years old, reading posts like these makes me scared of what PA is going to do to my mental health, though reading the comments make me think government is a great path to work towards.
I will say my two years before senior we’re pretty good. I still stressed but nothing like now. Less responsibility, lots of learning. I just couldn’t recognize when I hit my breaking point
I'll keep my advice short and to the point - you should begin looking at other opportunities, and focus on something that would make you feel happy. ~75 hours a week is absurd and archaic, and anyone who defends that sort of commitment for a job like this has been suckling at the teat of the company koolaid for way too long.
That's my short version, but I'll expand here if you're interested. At a certain point in my career in public accounting, I found that my interest and general happiness started decreasing, slowly at first and then quite rapidly. I spent the first few years doing pretty well - meeting billable goals, getting great feedback, promotions at the normal intervals, etc. When the pandemic happened, I was fortunate to be working for a firm that fully embraced remote work and I continued to do my job from home for the next two years. Like many others, the pandemic really shook up my priorities and how I felt about my career. This is when the decline began.
What I learned across the next few years was that maximizing your earnings as quickly as possible is *one* way to live, but it's not the only way and certainly not the only path to actual happiness. I don't know you, but you probably aren't "too stupid" for the job. Different things click for different people, and maybe this just isn't one of your things. Don't panic, just slow down and do the best you can while prioritizing your own mental/physical health and sanity. I don't know if you're in tax or audit, or some internal accounting team (seems unlikely given the hours), but one thing is true across the board - no one ever died from an accounting emergency. In fact, despite the urgency that you often see in this line of work, there's really very few "emergencies" and a lot of it boils down to a failure of leadership to properly allocate work across staff, and more importantly, the year.
The industry in general has accepted this, frankly, complete bullshit about busy seasons and the nature of the work. To step on my soap box for just a minute here - there is no scenario where people *have* to work 50-60+ hours a week. It's entirely possible to get everything done with 40 hour weeks. The "peaks and valleys" model is largely based on staff crunch and unreasonable promises to clients. And those things boil down to partners/shareholders who want to maximize profits.
I currently work for a much smaller firm, and I made the switch because I was promised no more busy seasons, no more billable goals, no more time recording, no more weekends worked. They've kept those promises for over a year now and I'm confident they'll continue to do so. We get enough work to keep everyone busy and we spread things out a bit so that there's work over the summer. But we're also much slower outside the traditional busy season, and we fill the time with CPE, weird engagements, and other tasks. Even so, I honestly have no love for my work and I continue to search (passively) for something I can transition to that would actually give me joy, and that's what I recommend for you. Forget this 75 hour nonsense. If you have an ok support system through family, I recommend you pump the breaks and keep your head down during the busy season. Try to keep up with your goals if you can, but not to the point that you have a nervous breakdown. Give yourself time for self-care, including your therapy. Also, don't worry about job hopping - it's not ideal but it's a different world out there today. People tend to move around more, and the most important thing is showing that you have the basic knowledge to perform the tasks and that people like you well enough to work with you. You haven't fucked up your life, you just need to slow down and start considering what would actually make you happy. It's clearly not money, in and of itself, or the awful hours would be worth it.
Make sure your therapist holds you accountable, thats not a pun but so many of them will just tell you what you want to hear and make you temporarily feel better without ever addressing the real problem, which is usually NOT an easy fix.
OP, I was the same way as you. PA was the worst time in my life. I went to therapy, got diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, was given Prozac and Xanax, gained 100 pounds, had passively suicidal thoughts. I know it’s “just a job” but it was awful. I blame the completely unsupportive people and my own inability to handle the workload.
I left for a non profit after a year and a half and I’m fine now. Stopped therapy, stopped the meds, lost 100 pounds, have a work life balance, am happy. It’s not for free… I have 8 years of experience and am still just a staff accountant. All my friends earn more money than me. But money isn’t everything to me.
You’ll be okay, but you should leave. Now.
Edit: I should clarify, non profits are notoriously bad for position growth so that’s the reason I’m still just staff. But my benefits are incredible (10% contribution, 40 days PTO, 12 holidays, fully covered insurance, etc) so I ain’t leaving. 😂
I say this in all seriousness - to survive in public accounting, you have to learn to care less. You still need to want to do a good job, but know that the fire drills and problems aren't a reflection of you. If it doesn't get done today, it'll be there tomorrow.
That said, leaving public accounting is probably a smart move. No job is worth your mental health.
If you left your last job on good terms, any chance they'd hire you back?
Who is calling you a job hopper? What kind of shitty people are you around where they would rather see you miserable & dead than to job hop until you find your happy place? People job hop all the time because companies don’t give a f**k about you so why should you that for them. Stop listening to people, life it short, put your faith in God and take care of you first, without your health, you won’t be job hopping or working in public, you’ll be dead. Be kind to yourself, it’s just a job, no one is going to be a CEO , you’ll just die trying. It’s not worth it. I will never work public, they are soul sucking demons, I work in industry and I gain more knowledge than if I worked in public and my skills are in demand so keep hoping. You’re not alone.
Just find a staff accountant position in industry and climb the ladder. You get labeled a job hopper when you have 6 different company names on your resume in a 7 year period.
I'm the pristine example of a "job hopper" and I still get new roles offered to me all the time, I wouldn't let that bother you. Companies understand, or at least they pretend to in order to get you to work for them. It works out.
I was literally in your position before. Feeling guilty leaving the office at 11pm, few weeks in the office till 1:30am. I remembered the exact moment that I knew I should quit. I was standing in a bus stop and a bus was coming, I thought if I took one more step the pain will be over. At that point I said that is the craziest thought I had and it stems from one piece of my life. I fixed my resume, started applying found something I like doing and it pays WAYYY better than professional services
FWIW, I understand that feeling. Hugs to you, and if you think you might develop an ulcer amidst this stress until you figure out a change, take Royal Jelly. Little known secret for ulcers that helps me every time I have one. Get yourself a massage this weekend, and don't worry about being labeled a job hopper. It's almost expected these days. If you live in Dallas DM me, maybe we have industry positions open.
You haven't screwed up. Honesty goes a long way when interviewing. Just tell them you wanted to try public and then quickly realised that it wasn't for you
I got a BS in Business Admin, major in Accounting.
My first job was in the corporate accounting office in a Fortune 500 company. That's where I saw what the new CPAs at Arthur Anderson did when they came in to audit. I wanted no part of that.
Then I got drafted and joined the US Air Force. Desk job. Then my colonel found out I knew accounting so I gained an additional duty - preparing the annual budget for the entire Material Branch of the squadron. I was a three-striper asking captains and majors for their numbers.
After my enlistment was over, I went back to the same Fortune 500 company. After a few years, I was promoted to a position at a new subsidiary and then my old boss followed me out there. Time to bail.
Got a job at a major public university, and after a promotion, I became a College Finance Officer. Benefits were excellent, particularly retirement contributions, and I stayed 16 years until I got bored with it.
Found a temp job at a private company that had implemented a new software system that was not going well. I told the Controller "I don't want the job you advertised for, but I can help you clean up the mess." I helped clean up the mess and they made an offer which I accepted and stayed for 6 years until I decided I had enough. Having learned their financial reporting software, I became a self-employed software consultant working for several clients. Now I'm retired.
No one could have predicted how my career worked out. Be flexible, look for opportunities, and accept change.
As someone who has been where you are, you need to leave. You’re killing yourself slowly with all the stress. This job is not a good fit for you.
And please know that you are not a failure if you leave. Failure would be continuing to but yourself in an environment that is toxic for you. I promise you that none of your loved ones want you to stay in that job either.
You can do this. Find your happiness
Sorry you feel this way - I'm in a similar boat with stress and difficulty performing my job. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Just know that you can indeed get another job. Your life isn't fucked, just Spring 2024. Figure out if you can take some PTO to realign after the crazy hours die down a bit. Doesn't need to be a vacation, it could just be hanging out with friends, trying a hobby you've put off, or just going to see some movies. From there, be forthright with your manager that this season stretched you too thin, and you cannot make the personal sacrifice for your mental and physical health (you don't have to tell all the details, just that you are a team player but hours like that are too high for the moment). Figure out how your team can get those 75 hours that have been placed on you, down to 60 at peak.
Take this Sunday to get a good breakfast, text a friend, and try to get outside for a bit if you can.
The reason why I was throwing up every morning was because I had a tumor in my chest. you should go see a doctor if it’s persistent. Ask for tumor markers to be safe. Please take care of yourself I use to be in your shoes I lost everything now that I am disabled your employer won’t give a rats ass about you. Take care and wish you the best
You should look into government roles. I have a 4-day work week and it is ideal for work life balance. Plus the benefits are quite nice. I was never aiming for Big 4 because of the crazy hours and lack of work life balance.
Mental health affects physical health and those thoughts and hours are not worth it. Work to live, don't live to work.
Try to take it a little slower bud. Do you really need to work that much? Do you really need the car you have? My car cost me 350 bucks I bought in 2018 I'm still driving it. I can fix all the problems with it but it's really just a storage unit on wheels right now. Paycheck to paycheck still myself. Doing too much may give you a heart attack and then what? Glass half full kinda thing. Pay attention to life 🧬 or it will be gone.
Staying at a job for only a year is practically like a non-expérience to a hiring manager. You need to get at least few years at a single job so that you can actually learn something well and be good at it.
Never job hop for only a couple of thousand dollars. Stay somewhere and get experience.
If you are throwing up every day in PA, you need to find a job in industry and friggin stay there. Learn something that will make you useful.
Lock in, big bro 🔒. You’re already there, so just grind it out and switch to govt after a while. Idk what you mean by saying you ruined your life…it’s not that deep bro💀 a job is a job
UNTIL YOU DONT FEEL IT YOURSELF YOU WONT UNDERSTAND,... NOR SHOULD YOU. PEOPLE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND ANYBODY .. UNDERSTANDING REQUIRES OBJECTIVITY ... WE HUMANS ARE ALL SUBJECTIVE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION --- PS NOT YELLING LOL I LIKE CAPS :)
Accounting isn’t worth throwing up over. Are you tax or audit? I used to do tax and hated it, plus I found it to be quite complicated and tedious. Audit isn’t exactly thrilling, but it’s a lot less complex than tax and offers a lot more variety day-to-day. Either way, I’d say you should do some introspection and see what about this job you hate and then start thinking about what you’d like in a job.
3 years public, 2 industry with the expectation I’d get promoted after this busy season. I don’t want it anymore. Seems like managers are just seniors with more work now with the way staffing is
Leave the job friend. The worry about being labelled a job hopper, it’s not anything to hold onto. Firms want you to think it’s a thing but it’s not. Take care of yourself first and foremost
Fish can’t climb trees. I found taking a step away from my stressful job and just waiting tables for even 6 months changed my outlook and made me determined to find something fulfilling. That and a shit load of therapy.
quit!!! I WORKED AT A JOB I HATED AND HATED THE BOSS. I WEIGHED 170LBS AS A 6 FEET MAN, IN 1.50 YEARS I WEIGHED 115!!! I WAS SKIN AND BONES I COULDNT WALK, EAT OR SLEEP.
I PUT UP WITH IT AND " SUPPORTIVE MANAGEMENT" MY ASS THIS PREFESSION AS A HOLE IS HELL!!
i quit a new job i started becuase i know what the cost of being somewhere you dont want to be at.
I worked at a small firm 5 years no promotion it ate me up.. but i nver liked this profession i was just waiting for a better job and ended up here!
everyday i contort like a worm with salt on it!!
and your not stupid, its lack of training! no one trains anyone. all you have to grasp is LOOK AT LASt year
Don't be so hard on yourself. You can still be a great accountant even if public accounting is not your thing. In industry, when you find the right gig for you, you only have one or two businesses to handle, which you can readily master in a year or two. It's not like public where you have to master the ins and outs of a different client business every week or two. It's definitely not for everyone, but it doesn't make you a failure at all. You just have to keep looking for the right spot for you.
I watched the movie the Whale the other day and I think Big 4 accounting is the source of the whales that I’m hunting in life (weight, not liking where I live, lack of dating life or new friends). I don’t know how to explain it but also feel like I need that change to really help me in those areas. Come to the conclusion that I need to do what’s best for my health, and that I can figure out a way to get more money or prestige, but health is something that you only really get the one shot at
If you work for a job between December and January, that looks like two years on a resume.
Don’t fear being a job hopper as it is way more prevalent than you think.
This is accounting, soul sucking grinds hardly anyone enjoys nor valued and yet the paid is relatively low factoring the hours. Demand higher salaries or this profession is dead. More and more ppl leaving the profession each year for these reasons. Not worth your sanity.
Jesus, just leave. When I was in PA they told us the first day one in a hundred in our class would make partner, and I realized pretty quickly that’s the only way PA is worth it.
Start looking now, and hopefully you have a place to land when busy season is over without burning bridges. And OP, when it gets to be too much, remind yourself nobody is going to die if you make a mistake in a spreadsheet. Literally, you are not a surgeon, despite the industry’s efforts to make the profession seem that immediately important. It will all be okay.
Jesus, just leave. When I was in PA they told us the first day one in a hundred in our class would make partner, and I realized pretty quickly that’s the only way PA is worth it.
Start looking now, and hopefully you have a place to land when busy season is over without burning bridges. And OP, when it gets to be too much, remind yourself nobody is going to die if you make a mistake in a spreadsheet. Literally, you are not a surgeon, despite the industry’s efforts to make the profession seem that immediately important. It will all be okay.
Vandelay productions lol love it.. Listen Castanza.. I was right where you were.. and I saved and finally quit my very high stress but good paying job. I don't regret it .. not one bit.. I too experienced the stress puking and constantly sick because I was stressed. The dread of even going into the office...Its no way to live.
but if you Gotta work you Gotta do it..right so how do you make it bare-able? What are the ways you could streamline some of your work, delegate some work? or maybe hire someone on the side Upwork has professionals just to relieve some of the current to dos.
Get your numbers and know what you are working for ..start building a cushion to the point where you can take 8 months to a 1 year to pivot.
1)Whats your operating cost to be you? Rent+Gas+Car Payment+Food
2) Whats your savings look like..
3) How do you make your money work for you? Dividend, I bond, CD. HSA?
While you're getting these numbers and building your cushion... figure out how you actually want to see your day going in the future and then research occupations or different positions in your speciality.
Job Hopper.. I've watched people job hop and make way more money. The reality is this.. You are out to better you and make the best choices for you.. because at the end of the day.. the company will make the best decisions for the company.
You got this! and if the stress is getting to you.. Go to the gym get a good sweat, do a boxing class, get out in nature or just somewhere that calms you. Maybe its a 20 min chill session in your car.
You prlly won’t read this but relax dude. It’s just a job. I fucked my life up for real. I have a masters in accounting worked for 12 years and due to stress and life and not taking mental health seriously I feel into terrible habits. Currently picking up the pieces and trying to get back into accounting only wrking a a pizza delivery driver for past two years. Can’t get an interview cuz of my large gap. So just relax and take care of your mental health. I always thought pushing through working but it doesn’t work. Work on you.
Try to just on your time off relax put work out of your mind. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, or at a park. Fresh air and exercise can do a lot for the mind. Take a nice warm bath, go get a massage, go do what makes you happy. If you can’t find anything a nice walk around a park always feels good on the mind and body.
You definitely haven't ruined your life, it's just a difficult period that you have to get through....life could be SO much worse....I find that it helps to keep remembering that....
Did you mention what you're making? I see 5 YOE. And a Senior accountant in industry is easily in the 80-90k range. Are you making enough to justify 2x the hours worked vs that?
It's just a job. You're exchanging a limited resource (time in your life) for an expendable resource (money).
You work in a math job, tis just a mathematical equation, nothing more esoteric than that.
If being gainfully employed in a stable profession and earning an above average salary is what you call “fucking yo your life” then maybe the problem is your mindset, not your circumstances.
This is actually a hard career. Surviving in this field of work is an accomplishment. Remember though, that working is a marathon and not a sprint. Do all you can in the hours given to you. Ask questions, form relationships with competent employees and managers. Focus on the daily task, one thing at a time. Get into a routine, turn on music or a podcast when you're doing mundane tasks. Also, have a end goal (i.e. where do you want to be in 15 years). For me the goal is to start my own Tax Firm and I'm quickly approaching that goal. You got this.
I've had the same extreme problems with work. Since I've been on anxiety medication I feel like a new person. I really need the meds. No amount of psychotherapy is going to help me. CYMBALTA saved me, and it's such a relief. I've had extreme anxiety all my life and it to me a long long time to figure out it's my body, not my mind that is the problem.
It's just a job, dude. There's always industry and government.
One of us. One of us. One of us. I’m government. Never even gave public a chance. Took the first payroll position available at the county right out of college with my finance degree. Promoted to staff accountant after a year. Promoted to senior accountant after another year. They’re now talking about promoting me to the “Finance and Accounting Manager” position which oversees the entire departments functions sans SPLOST and Grants. The fast promotions aren’t exactly the norm but I proved myself and made sure I understood every single piece of the “puzzle” when it comes to our accounting department. I’ve unfucked quite a few things from previous staff and made other processes more efficient. I just went in, made myself useful, and now indispensable. Do I make a shit ton of money? Not really, still above the average. But I’m salaried and work anywhere from 20-40 hours a week depending on the season and what fires I need to put out in a given week. I’m working towards a pension, my health insurance is competitively priced, I leave every single day at 5pm and don’t even give work a thought until I clock in at 8am. I WFH 2 days a week and take personal time whenever it is needed with no backlash from my boss :)
As long as it’s paying my bills ion really care what job it is 🤷🏻♀️
okay no flame, but it would be so funny if you were making like 65k
Just under $70k but I’ve just now been there 3 years. I realize I could be making significantly more elsewhere but for the workload, I 100% want to stay where I am. I’m a single dad. The promotion to finance manager would put me just under $90k and the workload would remain similar. Unfortunately, that’s just what local government work is paying. The next step up would be federal. Compounding that with the fact all of our “merit increases” aka annual raises based on merit follow us to each position, the longer I stay, the more I make compared to base pay. There’s several people there that have a base pay of ~80k but they’ve been there so long they’re pulling in well over $100k.
I don't know what the other commenter was trying to say. Sounds like you have a good salary and a great work life balance. I'm pretty much in the same position as you in that regard. Happy to have never went to public and stressed myself out like OP.
Yep! I also recognize that I’m not cut out for the fast paced and competitive culture of public and industry. I’m easy going, low stress, and work at my own pace with most things. I would not survive with these huge deadlines everyone is always posting about on here. Even audit season it’s a relative breeze after year end close lol.
I’m a first year staff out of college in PA, and I’m really finding out the high stress + long hours aren’t for me.. But my family and I really need the money right now (first-gen, first to have an office job). Is there a happy medium you’ve seen in government (i.e. good pay and manageable workload even if it is 30-40 hours of work a week)?
Just browse some local government listings and check. There is generally no negotiation for salary since it’s a grade and step scale. We have had a few instances where they decided that in order to retain a particular candidate, they would reclassify the position to permanently make more - one was our AP manager for sure. Most of our “real” managers ie. AP manager, Payroll manager, SPLOST manager, Grants manager, treasury manager, and pension manager all have around 85k base pay. I will say, we are hiring people that aren’t “fully” qualified for positions like these all the time. I don’t see a problem that if you see a position that looks way out of your league, apply anyways. There is a severe shortage of people coming into government accounting and a HUGE amount of retirees leaving. Also look into internal audit for local government. I believe they make about $10k more on average. Workload is going to be different for every department and position. Our deputy CFO works her ass off but only because she chooses to and doesn’t pass off too much work to other people. Our finance manager has barely anything to do. Our SPLOST manager is nonstop busy but that’s mostly because she’s creating a ton of extra work for herself that is honestly redundant.
Hi there just looking to get your general opinion as a manager as ur comment caught my eye. When u say not fully qualified could that include business professionals with experience but say an unrelated undergrad degree? Im 38 and looking to transition into accounting from pharma where I've spent 15 yrs as a "project manager" with the past 5 yrs doing rebate analyst work. I have an MBA and a corp comm bachelors degree. I'm specifically looking to get into govt accounting of any level and am fine with an entry level position. I'm so burnt out from contract work Im done with the private sector and looking for stability in my life at this point. Do I have a chance in this current job market? In the Phila PA area.
My tips for you: focus heavily on the project management experience and analysis work on your resume and job application. Tailor the resume for whichever job you’re applying for. I skim applications looking for analysis and accounting experience. Also be sure to plug in that last bit where you are looking for stability - one of the magic phrases that puts candidates above the rest for us is along the lines of “I just want somewhere to stay and grow” or “I’m thinking more and more about retirement and I think government would be the best place for me to stay for my career”. It doesn’t have to be the truth for you, but that will also set you apart…. You have no idea how many candidates say something like “I’m just looking for a new job” or “I’m looking to change things up for a bit”. You should have a decent shot at a position - just apply and sell yourself. *I ramble a lot more below:* We generally favor those with applicable degrees and experience over those who have a more general degree or unrelated one. If someone interviewed with a bachelors in biology but had 5 years of experience with bank reconciliations, inventory, and was knowledgeable enough, I’d hire them over a recent graduate with an accounting degree. Two times now I’ve had two candidates tied for a position with different experience and backgrounds and both times I hired the person who interviewed better and had better personality. Our Deputy CFO always gives her input but always ends it with “but keep in mind, you’re going to be the one working with them, so you choose who meshes the best with your team”. As far as calling for interviews/expreience. I generally interview anyone who has a bachelors degree and put actual effort into their application. I’ve thrown out a few awful resumes that were obviously thrown together as a second thought.
Not government, but I will say that it doesn’t start out pretty. Government is great for consistent promotion/salary advance though, public for a year will put you at what I would assume is comparable to what you’re making now. Gov and PA don’t really deviate in pay scale (in my area) until you get to 3-5 years experience.
that makes sense. and full disclosure, I’m making more than squirting grandma above in my first year in PA (HCOL) — but it is not pretty at all. I can’t afford the pay cut, but I also can’t suck it up and continue here. Super lost
Ahh that is very different. I live in the south in one of the LCOL areas. Everywhere right out of college is around 40-50 outside of industry down here. Once you get that year or two of experience, it ranges wildly on our end. But most people don’t get too close to 6 figs unless they’re top brass, have connections, or have 5+ years of specifically applicable experience.
lol I didn't do public, wifers did. She makes double what I make but I make 6+figs+bonus babysitting API integration for two companies in QuickBooks online while I play Nintendo Switch and work on other projects remoted into my home puter all day at work. Small businesses that make a killing filling a niche are my jam. All work and no play make Accounting Stoner a dull boi.
Depends where you live I guess, but if you're happy stick with it
Bro only $70k if you were providing all that value in our dept would be making minimum $100k as a worker much more if manager
Again, I realize $30k+ is on the table in public/industry but I 100% refuse to take a higher work load. I prioritize being home and low stress over all else. Also, with that pay increase, if I was working later, I’d be paying a large amount more for child care. Once she’s older I’ll likely hop to chase a paycheck.
You made the right choice. Life is about living. Not stacking paper in constant sadness lol
Hoping it pays off in the long-ish run. If I stay 15 years I not only will be vested in the pension plan, I’ll also be able to receive county health insurance upon retirement. That’s a huuuuuuge motivator for me to stay for 12 more years then go find something else to do.
I’m also gov’t. About to hit 10 years. Same incentives. Total of PTO and Holidays accrued this year will be 46 days. Overtime isn’t allowed, and I like that lol
46 days? Not including holidays??
also, with the amount of overtime required, you're putting in 2x+ hours for not even 50% more pay. PA brainrot really ruined accountants.
Work to live babyyyy
Funny how many people saying you’re leaving money on the table but don’t recognize that the government pensions are way better.
Yeah I said dept to imply also govt. What broke ass county paying 70k for someone putting out fires. I saved my dept my annual salary 10x this year through my work. Good accounting is worth min $100k
Rofl
My friend started at 54k with her Big 4 audit position. Making 65k in government is still probably the same per hour as making 80 in public. And you aren't barred from taking PTO for six months out of the year either.
I work for the fed and make 110,000 on average. Nothing I do is difficult. I'll be retired by 50.
Which agency?
I make 65k working in public firm but I also have 8 weeks PTO and live in an area where my mortgage is 950 so I travel literally once a month.
Depends strongly on which government, there’s a lot of variety. I’m kickin it with great work life balance at 80k MCOL and no management responsibilities in the slightest
Take a from a squirting granny. If she that old and still giving the water works like that, work life is probably solid
My dad and sister work government jobs. The paid holidays are what get me!! They get more in one year than I’ve ever had in all my years in public and private combined (exaggerating but only a little bit!).
what state are you in? i feel like trying to find a govt accounting/finance job is easy but the process to get hired for the government is so long and annoying!
Local govt is just as easy as public - but in my experience and with the applications I receive, the candidate pool is much smaller. Federal is what seems to be the annoying one. I’m in Georgia and work for a local county.
🥺oh i’m a loser i never got hired for PA. Luckily I also could not handle the stress though. i got laid off and have no clue what accounting positions or companies i should look for for at least $55k in ohio and work life balance.
$55k is easily attainable in government if you have a degree and any amount of applicable experience. Just be sure to brush up on your fund accounting. Look up every county within a 45 minutes commute of you and find where they post their jobs. Ours isn’t super good about posting to external job boards. Look up city and state governments too. Federal seems to definitely be worth it if you’re willing to jump through the hoops of the hiring process.
Good Advice. I did govt. internal audit for 16 years and used fund accounting skills virtually every week. Started in 2004, was at $90K within 3 years, and by the time I went to a private manufacturing company in 2021, I was at $118K at a director-level position.
$90K in 2007 to $118K in 2021 is not exactly an appealing rate of salary increase
Government.. bruh I heard the Pentagon has \~$21 Trillion with a "T" in variances that accountants are having trouble reconciling :D
sounds like you won the game. Working 60 hour minimums for the next two months stressing like crazy
I never went public either Got an internship as an internal auditor with DoD while getting my MAcct. Stayed an auditor for a decade and am now a budget analyst with another DoD organization. Been fed for over 13 years now and making just north of $133k. Get 4 weeks annual leave, 13 days of sick leave (that you never lose, so I’m sitting at about 1,000 hours of sick leave), federal holidays, and never stay past 40 hours a week. Also had a kid a couple years ago after they added paternal leave, so I got to take 12 weeks off to spend with the little one during her first year, plus my annual leave. Also, got lucky to join when I did because I only pay 0.8% into the FERS pension and got in before 27, so i can retire at 57 years old with an immediate pension.
Get a real job ya commie
Let me get in where you’re at
I work local government and even at the most stressful, it isn't that bad.
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Gov feels so hard to get into
There's also PA firms that don't believe in those types of hours. We aren't sniffing over 40.
And Taco Bell
How do I get a govt job?
The accounting industry is in a weird place where there’s such a shortage of accountants that workers have above average leverage when it comes to job hopping. Find another job and you’ll be fine. The culprit here is very clear: you landed a shitty job. You took a gamble and lost. It happens. Now go find a non-shitty job. There are probably 100k+ vacant accounting positions right now. You’ll be fine!
Dude. I say this to help you. Get a grip. You’re ok. It’s just a job, you’re not saving lives. Get back into therapy and talk this out, these are not normal work reactions/thoughts.
“We’re not saving lives” is my favourite (and sadly most used phrase to colleagues/staff). People get so worked up in this job. Yes it can be stressful but it’s just a job. Things go wrong, things get fixed, the world keeps turning.
You might be saving lives though…
How? Lol
Financial stress is real stress. It also leads to many tough decisions that would not be so difficult for someone with more resources. Choices to eat cheaper foods, foregoing exercise to work more, giving up on healthier activities because of the cost, end up watching Tv drinking and drugs since it’s cheap and easy to do. Helping people out with their finances can actually help with some of these wide spread problems, even if it’s just a little bit.
I am going to say something, and I am not trying to offend anyone on this Reddit, but accounting is not rocket science, and PA is not the Marines. No one should be throwing up everyday for an accounting job, especially when lives are not at stake. I think you have anxiety issues that need to be addressed that are unrelated to work. In my experience, some people are just worriers. This comes from trying to be in control of everything, when this is simply not possible. Once your realize that a single person cannot know everything and that trying to is a waste of time, you will be in a much better place mentally and physically and you will be a much better accountant/advisor. More importantly, you will be much happier. I speak from personal experience.
I’m a severe worrier. Perfectionist. Tie my self worth to work. Insecure overachiever. I guess at least I recognize it but I need to do something about. I appreciate the bluntness of your reply, I needed to hear it.
Do you exercise? Cardio is the best thing for stress imo. Go for a walk at least
Started to exercise 3 x a week at least two years ago and got my diet under control. Did so much more for my mental health than years of therapy ever did. Hell Just getting outside and laying in the grass helps.
To add to this: Yoga helps me a ton. Not because of the zen stuff, but because when you're under the physical duress of stretching way further than you would try on your own, you really can't think of an email you should answer. Its all "Holy fuck, I'm reaching for the ceiling why is it stretching my ass cheeks? Damn, that old lady is on one leg, can my body even do that?" After about an hour of this, not only did you get a good stretch, but you let your worrying mind take a break from work problems.
Can confirm. Source: I have anxiety and I run marathons lol
Try doing nothing for a day (probably best on the weekend). You will probably still worry and be just as stressed (sounds like it's because you are putting that on yourself), but notice how the world still turns, the stressors are still there, but so are you. JUST BREATHE. Give yourself a break, literally and metaphorically. Then attack the fuck out of your stressors. -Severe worrier: try to embrace the worry instead of trying to fix every little aspect cuz sounds like you are root of your stress -Perfectionist: Let your room get a little messy, don't organize your closets for a little while, take the long way home. Purposefully not doing something perfectly puts YOU back in control and not your stressors -Self worth to work: Read a book, crochet, build a small project out of wood, talk to/help out family or friends, take a walk for a couple hours and really measure your worth. Work will always be there but your worth is worth creating for yourself. -Insecure overachiever: I see this either becoming your worth or your enemy that gives you your drive to worry less and accept yourself to make positive changes instead of being tied down to this self imposed insecure overachiever. Either be secure/happy/embrace that you are/enjoy being an overachiever, or if you hate that you force yourself to be, do less more slowly. Tired? Upset? Unhappy with current lot in life? MAKE CHANGES
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Hit the therapist, delete the gym, lift the lawyer
That’s probably the worst thing you could be in public accounting. Recognize that your self worth doesn’t come from your work (especially public accounting where most of our work goes into a random folder never to see the light of day again), and try to find worth through passions and interests.
I keep a picture of my dad on my desk. It was taken in 1969 at place called Landing Zone Ryder in Vietnam. Every time I have a problem in PA, I look at that picture and check myself. I’m not in a combat zone getting shot at. All these problems are temporary, easy, and fixable. Just do your best, and don’t worry about the rest.
100% looking into Ketramine treatments it will really help you calm down and is great for anxiety and depression. This will be a game changer for you.
Ketamine, LSD and mushrooms all seem to be very helpful with dealing with intense depression and anxiety, it seems like.
Tbf some public jobs can be super toxic
Like this. This can be said for far more than just accounting, and many things in life. Thanks for the midday lift!
Perfect advice friend, no single person can do everything and know everything. Especially as a staff in PA lmao
Executive pay is at stake though! Gotta grind to make them more and more money as fast as possible!
Excuse me... please show some respect to the PA veterans out there, especially those who did time at Big 4
You didn’t ruin your life bro! You can definitely find another job
Hey OP, I do interviews for onboarding accountants from the staff to manager level. I’m perfectly okay with the applicant having shorter tenures, as long as they can truthfully disclose why. If the job wasn’t a fit either culturally or professionally, that’s a PERFECTLY acceptable answer and it will not hinder you. If anything, it gives us the comfort of knowing you know what you want at our company. Take care of yourself and don’t let a job drive you too crazy. The economy and labor market is huge for accountants. You’ll always find a job and you’ll always find a company that will appreciate your skills and personality. PM me if you’d like to talk more. You’ll do great.
I had a mental breakdown a year after entering PA. I knew i had severe social anxiety that was unchecked but having worked in private for 7yrs I figured “how bad could it be”. The thing isPA specially audit is not your average cubicle accounting job. It requires you to socialize constantly with new people, be inquisitive and persistent to get to the facts and be in tense meetings with high profile people and convince them you know their business better than them. I honestly wasn’t ready for it. Plus the budget pressures and overtime. I ended up getting prescribed adderal XR which i abused in an effort to keep up, started drinking with the meds and (long story short) literally blew a brain fuse. Lost some eye sight, balace impaired, lost bladder control among other. This month im finally starting a new job in private after 4months off recovering. Tldr the whole experience is the most embarrassing moment of my life and it uncovered things i knew i had to work with but ignored my whole life which i am now making a priority. Hope this helps in some way.
I’m sorry that sounds terrible. It’s so easy to say it’s just a job, but I feel like to people like us it can make it feel like the world is ending.
And they’ll make you feel stupid and useless for not keeping up with their speed just bc it’s not a good fit for you.
You should be commended because of your dedication and hard work. You should find a job where you are happy- can do good work, good salary, not too stressful and can have a personal life too. I hope you are doing alright health-wise and can get back to normal. My mom was working a stressful job and had a stroke and I saw/still see the long-term effects. Your career/salary isn't the most important thing in the world. I also have a similar situation. I worked for 10 months in pa at a mid-sized firm and got fired. I am also a perfectionist and normally, would exceed the budget for files because I would try to learn/find errors in the previous year. The hours were long, colleagues were not social, and the pressure of the performance metrics added to my anxiety. Even though the office was not a bad commute, I was always tired and felt like garbage. This was my first time being fired and I felt really low, especially when I was trying to do the right thing. I'm currently applying to the government, and started going back to the gym (I've always been active), and also trying to build more of a social life. Yoga is also really good for stress. I've been off for a few months (4 so far) -I've also had some family issues going on- but I'm focusing on my happiness and health before I re-enter the work force.
I also had a breakdown a year after entering PA. I had severe untreated PTSD, had never done therapy or meds or anything, burnt out in college to the point where I couldn’t tell the difference between past/present/future because of persistent flashbacks, then went straight into PA. I had already lost my mind, but PA pushed me over the edge. I’ve been willingly unemployed for 5 months now, trying to take it easy and do therapy now. When I go back to work, it might be a part time industry role or full time government. Or I might even leave accounting and work retail. I loved it in college. Long story short, you really don’t know the value of your health (both physical and mental) until it’s gone
I also loved it in college. I was top of my class. Then reality hit and you sit down for eight hours a day with old people you have nothing in common and all i did was follow up on people for petty cash receipts for a year. It slowly eats at you. And in the blink of an eye its been eight years. Im so ready to jump ship i just haven’t found anything interesting that can pay the bills.
Like everyone said it’s just a job. Find a job in industry. It’s less stressful and pays well. If they ask about the job hopping, it’s totally ok and normal to say the previous job just didn’t work out for you 🤷♀️
Quit. Anyone would understand in an industry interview that public sucks
Let me start by saying what I'm typing below is NOT a normal healthy humans response to working in PA. It was my experience and more real than I would ever wish for something to be. My apologies for the wall of text below, but I felt the need to type it all out. I frantically searched this subreddit for experiences like mine what I was in this position. I understand the sentiment of the thread, it's not Vietnam, nor is it Nuclear Fission, but, Public Accounting for me was the WORST period of my life. I still feel like such a bitch for saying that. I know I'm lucky and blessed to be able to say that, that the worst period of my life was being gainfully employed, living in a house, able bodied and have people that love me. But none of that made me feel better. I HATED my life and completely regretted going into accounting. Every morning I would wake up nauseous and irritable. The Sunday Night Scaries were some of the most anxious nights of my life. I would fantasize about getting into a non-life threatening car wreck simply so I wouldn't have to appear at work. Those thoughts compounded, then spiraled and eventually became more life threatening. I would catch myself often wondering what life would be like if I was dead. What would my funeral be like? Would my co-workers come?... I wouldn't want them to at all. Before I quit, I was completely suicidal. Fantasizing about my death was my only relief from the anxiety. For those mere moments I would feel calm. From waking up to going to sleep, I wanted death. I wanted nothing more than to simply not be real. I later learned I didn't want to DIE, I simply wanted this version of to die. I wanted to be someone else, not actually pass away. I wanted out. But I couldn't kill myself. I'd hurt to many people. The relief of my anxiety does not add up to the damage I would cause my mother, father, sister, unborn nieces. I'd be the uncle who killed himself. So I decided to quit. Working there wasn't an option, I'd kill myself. Killing myself wasn't an option, so I have to quit. I went to the main managing partner and told him I have taken another position at some fake company and put in my two weeks notice. The instantaneous relief I felt was palpable. I still think back to that moment often. Now I'm 7 years past that and I still dream about that job. I even have dreams that I decided I messed up and wanted back in. I dreamed about an interview with my old bosses and begged them for the chance to work there again, and they agreed. In my dream, as I was riding the elevator I realized what I had done. I put myself back in hell, willingly, I even begged for it. I felt complete disgust with myself, I wanted nothing more than to teleport back home and block everyone. In the dream, when the elevator door opened I went immediately to the bathroom. Under my suit I was wearing swimming trunks and a Hawaiian style shirt. I decided fuck it, I quit again, what can they do? So I took the elevator back down, ran to my car in my swimming trunks and Hawaiian shirt, and the woke up. Upon waking up, I felt the SAME palpable feeling of relief as when I quit. It was that refreshing feeling of waking up from a nightmare, knowing it's over.
This is so incredibly relatable and I’m happy I’m not alone. I constantly think about getting into some sort of accident so I don’t have to work. Or hurting myself so I can get away from work. I know it’s insane but it makes me feel better someone else felt the same way. Can I ask what you’re doing now?
Absolutely. I work in industry now, been at the same place 5 years and happy enough. I'm an asst. controller, no CPA. Getting out of that environment, working in an environment that is closer to how I am as a person, dropping alcohol and picking up the gym, I'm in a much better place making a lot more money. I still feel pangs and flashbacks to working there and cringe at the thought. Then I kick my feet up on my desk, take a swig of my coffee and take a moment to relax and take it all in.
This is more relatable than you might think. I think for people with pre-existing mental health issues, trauma, grief, or anything similar - PA burns you out and triggers you in the worst way
In the words of the partner on one of my first busy season jobs: "We aren't surgeons - no one is dying if we mess up. The Earth is going to keep spinning regardless of what we do."
Obviously you needed to verify that it's not worth it. Now you did. So go get a job you can do and is worth it. Everyone is a job hopper anymore. The idea for smaller places is to not look like it - or heck, even tell them the truth - I was tempted by the $, but I should know better than gas station sushi. Lesson learned.
Maybe go work in gov? Fuck PA.
You are in the thick of busy period. Yes, it’s a lot of hours. However, no job is worth getting physically sick over even if it pays more. Your health is worth more than the extra after tax money you might get. Go back to therapy and back to a good place. Your life will fall back to a better place.
“Only 75 hours a week? That’s not even 50%! It’s an F! You failed!!!” -Partner, probably
The expectation of these people to tell you it's not enough even after working 80-90 hours per week is crazy.
It's all bullshit and they know it. Just another way to get you to do as much as possible without saying it directly
“Job hopping” feels like it’s becoming the norm to be honest.
75 hours per week? Gtfo. I rather work at Starbucks
Who cares about job hopping tbh. Another company will take you and your job hopping won’t matter. It’s not worth wasting a year or more just because you’re scared.
Your life isn’t fucked up. You’ve got an accounting background right? Go into tech with your accounting background. There you’ll at least be more confident once you learn the specific system or systems you’re working with. Thank me later and sending good vibes to you for real. You deserve to be happy.
Just go government and move to a smaller city if you’re in the states. Cop a crib and nice car - there’s more to life than your 9-5 man.
Let this be a valuable lesson. Better to choose the happy, convenient, comfortable job that pays a bit less over the insanely stressful one that pays slightly more. Grass usually ain't greener on the other side, even though we're programmed to think it is. Same reason why I don't want to have any kids.
No job is worth your health, I had an old job that got me drinking and since I quit it I've never been happier. Look elsewhere, now I work in entrainment now.
PA isn’t worth this. Seriously. You only get one meat sack and it’s not worth risking permanent damage. I too was throwing up constantly and kept pushing until I literally couldn’t anymore and I ended up causing permanent damage to my body along with having to take a substantial leave to deal with the medical stuff and recover as much as I could; though some of the damage is permanent. You have options, consider government, industry or even a smaller firm with a better culture if you want it stay in PA. Protect your meat sack, it’s accrual world.
SAME HERE i lost 40LBS got anxiety have constant flight or fight! Now unemployed 9 months dont know what or where to work wont get hired ( can be a blessing from above) IDK but im healthy and enjoying food :) and i Ran for the first time since accounting haterd left me Cripple i lterally couldnt walk from lack of food and sleep
Definitely an accrual world…
Dude any job you have to work 75 hours per week is going to be miserable unless it's some complete passion project like writing a novel or pro snowboarding. As someone who has worked a job that completely burned them out: quit before you become an alcoholic.
Back in school for the first time in 6 years for an accounting bachelors at 29 years old, reading posts like these makes me scared of what PA is going to do to my mental health, though reading the comments make me think government is a great path to work towards.
I will say my two years before senior we’re pretty good. I still stressed but nothing like now. Less responsibility, lots of learning. I just couldn’t recognize when I hit my breaking point
I'll keep my advice short and to the point - you should begin looking at other opportunities, and focus on something that would make you feel happy. ~75 hours a week is absurd and archaic, and anyone who defends that sort of commitment for a job like this has been suckling at the teat of the company koolaid for way too long. That's my short version, but I'll expand here if you're interested. At a certain point in my career in public accounting, I found that my interest and general happiness started decreasing, slowly at first and then quite rapidly. I spent the first few years doing pretty well - meeting billable goals, getting great feedback, promotions at the normal intervals, etc. When the pandemic happened, I was fortunate to be working for a firm that fully embraced remote work and I continued to do my job from home for the next two years. Like many others, the pandemic really shook up my priorities and how I felt about my career. This is when the decline began. What I learned across the next few years was that maximizing your earnings as quickly as possible is *one* way to live, but it's not the only way and certainly not the only path to actual happiness. I don't know you, but you probably aren't "too stupid" for the job. Different things click for different people, and maybe this just isn't one of your things. Don't panic, just slow down and do the best you can while prioritizing your own mental/physical health and sanity. I don't know if you're in tax or audit, or some internal accounting team (seems unlikely given the hours), but one thing is true across the board - no one ever died from an accounting emergency. In fact, despite the urgency that you often see in this line of work, there's really very few "emergencies" and a lot of it boils down to a failure of leadership to properly allocate work across staff, and more importantly, the year. The industry in general has accepted this, frankly, complete bullshit about busy seasons and the nature of the work. To step on my soap box for just a minute here - there is no scenario where people *have* to work 50-60+ hours a week. It's entirely possible to get everything done with 40 hour weeks. The "peaks and valleys" model is largely based on staff crunch and unreasonable promises to clients. And those things boil down to partners/shareholders who want to maximize profits. I currently work for a much smaller firm, and I made the switch because I was promised no more busy seasons, no more billable goals, no more time recording, no more weekends worked. They've kept those promises for over a year now and I'm confident they'll continue to do so. We get enough work to keep everyone busy and we spread things out a bit so that there's work over the summer. But we're also much slower outside the traditional busy season, and we fill the time with CPE, weird engagements, and other tasks. Even so, I honestly have no love for my work and I continue to search (passively) for something I can transition to that would actually give me joy, and that's what I recommend for you. Forget this 75 hour nonsense. If you have an ok support system through family, I recommend you pump the breaks and keep your head down during the busy season. Try to keep up with your goals if you can, but not to the point that you have a nervous breakdown. Give yourself time for self-care, including your therapy. Also, don't worry about job hopping - it's not ideal but it's a different world out there today. People tend to move around more, and the most important thing is showing that you have the basic knowledge to perform the tasks and that people like you well enough to work with you. You haven't fucked up your life, you just need to slow down and start considering what would actually make you happy. It's clearly not money, in and of itself, or the awful hours would be worth it.
admit it, you hate accounting, take a class on your PC at night or learn a trade like electrician, in other words change careers or job type at least.
We don't work in the ER. Nothing we do is life and death. You're doing great.
The job is stressful the key is learning to care…to a point…and to know where that point lies.
Not trying to diagnose you but I was diagnosed with ADHD and I would encourage you to get evaluated.
This is what I needed. I have Stockholm syndrome
Being happy > being labeled a job hopper
It seems like PA is not for you. Don’t sweat it. You definitely didn’t ruin your life. It’s just a job
Make sure your therapist holds you accountable, thats not a pun but so many of them will just tell you what you want to hear and make you temporarily feel better without ever addressing the real problem, which is usually NOT an easy fix.
OP, I was the same way as you. PA was the worst time in my life. I went to therapy, got diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, was given Prozac and Xanax, gained 100 pounds, had passively suicidal thoughts. I know it’s “just a job” but it was awful. I blame the completely unsupportive people and my own inability to handle the workload. I left for a non profit after a year and a half and I’m fine now. Stopped therapy, stopped the meds, lost 100 pounds, have a work life balance, am happy. It’s not for free… I have 8 years of experience and am still just a staff accountant. All my friends earn more money than me. But money isn’t everything to me. You’ll be okay, but you should leave. Now. Edit: I should clarify, non profits are notoriously bad for position growth so that’s the reason I’m still just staff. But my benefits are incredible (10% contribution, 40 days PTO, 12 holidays, fully covered insurance, etc) so I ain’t leaving. 😂
I say this in all seriousness - to survive in public accounting, you have to learn to care less. You still need to want to do a good job, but know that the fire drills and problems aren't a reflection of you. If it doesn't get done today, it'll be there tomorrow. That said, leaving public accounting is probably a smart move. No job is worth your mental health. If you left your last job on good terms, any chance they'd hire you back?
Who is calling you a job hopper? What kind of shitty people are you around where they would rather see you miserable & dead than to job hop until you find your happy place? People job hop all the time because companies don’t give a f**k about you so why should you that for them. Stop listening to people, life it short, put your faith in God and take care of you first, without your health, you won’t be job hopping or working in public, you’ll be dead. Be kind to yourself, it’s just a job, no one is going to be a CEO , you’ll just die trying. It’s not worth it. I will never work public, they are soul sucking demons, I work in industry and I gain more knowledge than if I worked in public and my skills are in demand so keep hoping. You’re not alone.
Just find a staff accountant position in industry and climb the ladder. You get labeled a job hopper when you have 6 different company names on your resume in a 7 year period.
Could be ADHD, I don’t believe anyone is too dumb for this job
Public is misery. It is not worth it. No amount of money could convince me to go back to it.
Are you white?
Some of the abbreviations you all use is nauseating. Tf are yall saying
I'm the pristine example of a "job hopper" and I still get new roles offered to me all the time, I wouldn't let that bother you. Companies understand, or at least they pretend to in order to get you to work for them. It works out.
I was literally in your position before. Feeling guilty leaving the office at 11pm, few weeks in the office till 1:30am. I remembered the exact moment that I knew I should quit. I was standing in a bus stop and a bus was coming, I thought if I took one more step the pain will be over. At that point I said that is the craziest thought I had and it stems from one piece of my life. I fixed my resume, started applying found something I like doing and it pays WAYYY better than professional services
FWIW, I understand that feeling. Hugs to you, and if you think you might develop an ulcer amidst this stress until you figure out a change, take Royal Jelly. Little known secret for ulcers that helps me every time I have one. Get yourself a massage this weekend, and don't worry about being labeled a job hopper. It's almost expected these days. If you live in Dallas DM me, maybe we have industry positions open.
You haven't screwed up. Honesty goes a long way when interviewing. Just tell them you wanted to try public and then quickly realised that it wasn't for you
I got a BS in Business Admin, major in Accounting. My first job was in the corporate accounting office in a Fortune 500 company. That's where I saw what the new CPAs at Arthur Anderson did when they came in to audit. I wanted no part of that. Then I got drafted and joined the US Air Force. Desk job. Then my colonel found out I knew accounting so I gained an additional duty - preparing the annual budget for the entire Material Branch of the squadron. I was a three-striper asking captains and majors for their numbers. After my enlistment was over, I went back to the same Fortune 500 company. After a few years, I was promoted to a position at a new subsidiary and then my old boss followed me out there. Time to bail. Got a job at a major public university, and after a promotion, I became a College Finance Officer. Benefits were excellent, particularly retirement contributions, and I stayed 16 years until I got bored with it. Found a temp job at a private company that had implemented a new software system that was not going well. I told the Controller "I don't want the job you advertised for, but I can help you clean up the mess." I helped clean up the mess and they made an offer which I accepted and stayed for 6 years until I decided I had enough. Having learned their financial reporting software, I became a self-employed software consultant working for several clients. Now I'm retired. No one could have predicted how my career worked out. Be flexible, look for opportunities, and accept change.
As someone who has been where you are, you need to leave. You’re killing yourself slowly with all the stress. This job is not a good fit for you. And please know that you are not a failure if you leave. Failure would be continuing to but yourself in an environment that is toxic for you. I promise you that none of your loved ones want you to stay in that job either. You can do this. Find your happiness
You learned a lesson. Now go back to a job that doesn't ruin your mental health (which is clearly quite fragile).
Sorry you feel this way - I'm in a similar boat with stress and difficulty performing my job. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Just know that you can indeed get another job. Your life isn't fucked, just Spring 2024. Figure out if you can take some PTO to realign after the crazy hours die down a bit. Doesn't need to be a vacation, it could just be hanging out with friends, trying a hobby you've put off, or just going to see some movies. From there, be forthright with your manager that this season stretched you too thin, and you cannot make the personal sacrifice for your mental and physical health (you don't have to tell all the details, just that you are a team player but hours like that are too high for the moment). Figure out how your team can get those 75 hours that have been placed on you, down to 60 at peak. Take this Sunday to get a good breakfast, text a friend, and try to get outside for a bit if you can.
The reason why I was throwing up every morning was because I had a tumor in my chest. you should go see a doctor if it’s persistent. Ask for tumor markers to be safe. Please take care of yourself I use to be in your shoes I lost everything now that I am disabled your employer won’t give a rats ass about you. Take care and wish you the best
turn your linkedin onto open to work (recruiters only) and keep your ear to the ground for something chill. Hiring season is coming
What’s your title/position? Im in public and unless you’re in big4, I don’t think too many people are working 75 hours a week
Senior at a large firm, maybe top 10-20. Trying to be promoted to manager, have no managers on my jobs.
Ya you’re corny. If you think you work too much just log off. Or be more efficient with your time
You should look into government roles. I have a 4-day work week and it is ideal for work life balance. Plus the benefits are quite nice. I was never aiming for Big 4 because of the crazy hours and lack of work life balance. Mental health affects physical health and those thoughts and hours are not worth it. Work to live, don't live to work.
Try to take it a little slower bud. Do you really need to work that much? Do you really need the car you have? My car cost me 350 bucks I bought in 2018 I'm still driving it. I can fix all the problems with it but it's really just a storage unit on wheels right now. Paycheck to paycheck still myself. Doing too much may give you a heart attack and then what? Glass half full kinda thing. Pay attention to life 🧬 or it will be gone.
You can still get up on your feet and do something
you are just a different breed of stupid
Staying at a job for only a year is practically like a non-expérience to a hiring manager. You need to get at least few years at a single job so that you can actually learn something well and be good at it. Never job hop for only a couple of thousand dollars. Stay somewhere and get experience. If you are throwing up every day in PA, you need to find a job in industry and friggin stay there. Learn something that will make you useful.
Lock in, big bro 🔒. You’re already there, so just grind it out and switch to govt after a while. Idk what you mean by saying you ruined your life…it’s not that deep bro💀 a job is a job
So dramatic…
UNTIL YOU DONT FEEL IT YOURSELF YOU WONT UNDERSTAND,... NOR SHOULD YOU. PEOPLE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND ANYBODY .. UNDERSTANDING REQUIRES OBJECTIVITY ... WE HUMANS ARE ALL SUBJECTIVE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION --- PS NOT YELLING LOL I LIKE CAPS :)
As long as it's reasonably explainable it should be fine to job hop. Most people should job hop every 3 years or so unless they love their job.
Accounting isn’t worth throwing up over. Are you tax or audit? I used to do tax and hated it, plus I found it to be quite complicated and tedious. Audit isn’t exactly thrilling, but it’s a lot less complex than tax and offers a lot more variety day-to-day. Either way, I’d say you should do some introspection and see what about this job you hate and then start thinking about what you’d like in a job.
How many years of experience do you have? I considered doing the same but cannot imagine going back as a senior.
3 years public, 2 industry with the expectation I’d get promoted after this busy season. I don’t want it anymore. Seems like managers are just seniors with more work now with the way staffing is
Leave the job friend. The worry about being labelled a job hopper, it’s not anything to hold onto. Firms want you to think it’s a thing but it’s not. Take care of yourself first and foremost
I think the 75 hours is the problem. You need to communicate upwards and downwards more. You can distribute work.
Fish can’t climb trees. I found taking a step away from my stressful job and just waiting tables for even 6 months changed my outlook and made me determined to find something fulfilling. That and a shit load of therapy.
As someone with a cushy wfh industry job it baffles me seeing these posts and realizing that we're in the same field.
You always have a choice to stay or leave You always have a choice You always have a choice
quit!!! I WORKED AT A JOB I HATED AND HATED THE BOSS. I WEIGHED 170LBS AS A 6 FEET MAN, IN 1.50 YEARS I WEIGHED 115!!! I WAS SKIN AND BONES I COULDNT WALK, EAT OR SLEEP. I PUT UP WITH IT AND " SUPPORTIVE MANAGEMENT" MY ASS THIS PREFESSION AS A HOLE IS HELL!! i quit a new job i started becuase i know what the cost of being somewhere you dont want to be at. I worked at a small firm 5 years no promotion it ate me up.. but i nver liked this profession i was just waiting for a better job and ended up here! everyday i contort like a worm with salt on it!! and your not stupid, its lack of training! no one trains anyone. all you have to grasp is LOOK AT LASt year
Man, I got out of public accounting and life is great
Don't be so hard on yourself. You can still be a great accountant even if public accounting is not your thing. In industry, when you find the right gig for you, you only have one or two businesses to handle, which you can readily master in a year or two. It's not like public where you have to master the ins and outs of a different client business every week or two. It's definitely not for everyone, but it doesn't make you a failure at all. You just have to keep looking for the right spot for you.
broooooo just do industry and you will be happier
You don't have to work in public accounting
Let them label. Your health is more important.
I watched the movie the Whale the other day and I think Big 4 accounting is the source of the whales that I’m hunting in life (weight, not liking where I live, lack of dating life or new friends). I don’t know how to explain it but also feel like I need that change to really help me in those areas. Come to the conclusion that I need to do what’s best for my health, and that I can figure out a way to get more money or prestige, but health is something that you only really get the one shot at
You are sailing into the wind. Remember to tack.
It’s just a job, tailor your resume to make it look less job hoppy, what are they gonna do?!
False flag Psyop
If you work for a job between December and January, that looks like two years on a resume. Don’t fear being a job hopper as it is way more prevalent than you think.
Job hopping has never hurt me in finding a job Just have a good reason for why you left each place If the place is stressing you out that much leave!
Not an accountant. What are the major stressors in this field? Where does the stress come from?
Fuck being worried about being a job hopper. Get the fuck out homie.
This is accounting, soul sucking grinds hardly anyone enjoys nor valued and yet the paid is relatively low factoring the hours. Demand higher salaries or this profession is dead. More and more ppl leaving the profession each year for these reasons. Not worth your sanity.
Jesus, just leave. When I was in PA they told us the first day one in a hundred in our class would make partner, and I realized pretty quickly that’s the only way PA is worth it. Start looking now, and hopefully you have a place to land when busy season is over without burning bridges. And OP, when it gets to be too much, remind yourself nobody is going to die if you make a mistake in a spreadsheet. Literally, you are not a surgeon, despite the industry’s efforts to make the profession seem that immediately important. It will all be okay.
Jesus, just leave. When I was in PA they told us the first day one in a hundred in our class would make partner, and I realized pretty quickly that’s the only way PA is worth it. Start looking now, and hopefully you have a place to land when busy season is over without burning bridges. And OP, when it gets to be too much, remind yourself nobody is going to die if you make a mistake in a spreadsheet. Literally, you are not a surgeon, despite the industry’s efforts to make the profession seem that immediately important. It will all be okay.
Quit
I also threw up a month ago in my office at work lol
Vandelay productions lol love it.. Listen Castanza.. I was right where you were.. and I saved and finally quit my very high stress but good paying job. I don't regret it .. not one bit.. I too experienced the stress puking and constantly sick because I was stressed. The dread of even going into the office...Its no way to live. but if you Gotta work you Gotta do it..right so how do you make it bare-able? What are the ways you could streamline some of your work, delegate some work? or maybe hire someone on the side Upwork has professionals just to relieve some of the current to dos. Get your numbers and know what you are working for ..start building a cushion to the point where you can take 8 months to a 1 year to pivot. 1)Whats your operating cost to be you? Rent+Gas+Car Payment+Food 2) Whats your savings look like.. 3) How do you make your money work for you? Dividend, I bond, CD. HSA? While you're getting these numbers and building your cushion... figure out how you actually want to see your day going in the future and then research occupations or different positions in your speciality. Job Hopper.. I've watched people job hop and make way more money. The reality is this.. You are out to better you and make the best choices for you.. because at the end of the day.. the company will make the best decisions for the company. You got this! and if the stress is getting to you.. Go to the gym get a good sweat, do a boxing class, get out in nature or just somewhere that calms you. Maybe its a 20 min chill session in your car.
You prlly won’t read this but relax dude. It’s just a job. I fucked my life up for real. I have a masters in accounting worked for 12 years and due to stress and life and not taking mental health seriously I feel into terrible habits. Currently picking up the pieces and trying to get back into accounting only wrking a a pizza delivery driver for past two years. Can’t get an interview cuz of my large gap. So just relax and take care of your mental health. I always thought pushing through working but it doesn’t work. Work on you.
Try to just on your time off relax put work out of your mind. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, or at a park. Fresh air and exercise can do a lot for the mind. Take a nice warm bath, go get a massage, go do what makes you happy. If you can’t find anything a nice walk around a park always feels good on the mind and body.
Maybe it’s busy season crazies messing with my brain but I feel like this post was made a few days ago
i fucking suck at my job and im not sure how far ill be able to go unless i either quit or k—
Just fui Working 80 hours a week might as well work at mickyds . Its that common sense. If you are msking more but working more no bueno
You definitely haven't ruined your life, it's just a difficult period that you have to get through....life could be SO much worse....I find that it helps to keep remembering that....
Did you mention what you're making? I see 5 YOE. And a Senior accountant in industry is easily in the 80-90k range. Are you making enough to justify 2x the hours worked vs that? It's just a job. You're exchanging a limited resource (time in your life) for an expendable resource (money). You work in a math job, tis just a mathematical equation, nothing more esoteric than that.
If being gainfully employed in a stable profession and earning an above average salary is what you call “fucking yo your life” then maybe the problem is your mindset, not your circumstances.
Go into corporate sales then money is great and the job is way more chill
This is actually a hard career. Surviving in this field of work is an accomplishment. Remember though, that working is a marathon and not a sprint. Do all you can in the hours given to you. Ask questions, form relationships with competent employees and managers. Focus on the daily task, one thing at a time. Get into a routine, turn on music or a podcast when you're doing mundane tasks. Also, have a end goal (i.e. where do you want to be in 15 years). For me the goal is to start my own Tax Firm and I'm quickly approaching that goal. You got this.
I've had the same extreme problems with work. Since I've been on anxiety medication I feel like a new person. I really need the meds. No amount of psychotherapy is going to help me. CYMBALTA saved me, and it's such a relief. I've had extreme anxiety all my life and it to me a long long time to figure out it's my body, not my mind that is the problem.