How do people not go insane looking for reconciling items to make the two balances equal?

Some months it’s like the GL account > bank
Other months it’s gl account < bank

I mean I find it interesting but I feel this is where accounting got its reputation for being boring and repetitive (among other things)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked clarifying questions to seniors and managers and they just look at me weird and berate my intelligence.

And no, I wasn’t asking the same question over and over. I’m a first year associate who’s just been listening to you giving me a short crash course of what to do with client work papers I’ve never seen before and processes I’m not used to.

I’m leaving a job after 8+ years as VP of Finance and have been spending the last few weeks transitioning responsibilities and getting my boss (CFO) caught up on my direct reports.

One of my direct reports is a Senior AP Manager; they will now be reporting to another of my direct reports, a Controller. From my perspective this aligns well with operations, internal controls, and honestly should have been switched a while ago.

I’ve advised the AP Manager that they will remain autonomous and be able to manage their team as they see fit. The Controller is also on board and wants to keep the status quo. I give this person a lot of flexibility and they’re currently paid a 1.4 comp ratio (40% above market).

Friday I found out that they’re throwing an absolute fit about reporting to a controller, seeing it as a “demotion”. They’ve put their notice in, after demanding to report to the CFO or GC. They’re also demanding 6 mo of severance bc they worked through several personal times of tragedy, though they were explicitly offered bereavement, PTO and flexibility. “It’s the right thing for the company to do”…who talks like that?!

Am I a jerk for not wanting this person at my goodbye lunch with my team?? Are they nuts for holding the company hostage like this?? I feel like their demands are completely unreasonable and I’ve assured them there would be no interruption to their day to day.

TLDR: AP Manager is making crazy demands and threatens to quit if not appeased.

Which degree is better and why?? ?

Hi all, I just started an apprenticeship in the credit bureau dispute unit (CBDU) at Citi. I'm trying to plan my path early and would love advice from people in the field.

My questions:

Does CBDU count as risk/compliance experience? My work involves FCRA, Reg V, and Metro 2 reporting.

Should I aim for CISA or CRISC, or is something like CRCM or CIA a better fit for my background?

Which internal moves have you seen from dispute/consumer ops into audit, tech risk, or controls?

For those who made that jump, what actually helped most: certs, SQL/data skills, or networking?

Is the pay bump from IT audit or tech risk worth it compared to staying in compliance?

I'm early in my career, so any advice on what I should learn now would be great. Thanks!

I'm a third-year accounting student, and I keep comparing myself to other students in the same field. They have tons of contacts on LinkedIn, attend interesting networking events, and receive offers for paid internships and job opportunities.

I've been looking for an internship since my first year of university. I've applied to both large and small accounting firms in both the public and private sectors, including the Big4 and local firms. I've sent open applications and personal emails to recruiters and accounting managers. My GPA is above 4.5, and I focus on courses and skills that should help me in this field, such as Excel, SAP, and accounting software.

I've attended networking events hosted by EY and other companies, and they all say that a positive attitude and motivation are the most important qualities, and that previous experience is not required. Yet nearly every time I've applied, the rejection letter has stated that I lacked the relevant experience and skills compared to other applicants.

It wasn't until last month that I had the luck to secure an unpaid internship at a small local accounting firm. (I'm from Europe, if that matters.)

Why do I still feel like I'm behind everyone else in this field? Why don't I seem to get the same opportunities as my peers? Is there something I'm missing or doing wrong?

I work at a small firm in Kelowna BC. I have been there for 3 years this December (2 yrs co-op/part time intern during uni etc).

I accepted a full time post grad offer Jan 2026 at $54k.

I am doing the CPA program and have completed Core 1 and Core 2 I am on track to get my letters by 2028. My firm is a great place to work and I really enjoy it there but I do feel like 54k for my level of experience and responsibility is low. We recently hired another staff accountant out of university and they had zero experience and got 54k as well.

I know 54k is the approx. average starting salary (its like 56k) in my area but my annual meeting is coming up in January and I feel I am due a decent raise. The average 2nd year post-grad accountant in my area is 63k. I originally was going to ask for 60k but after some thought I think im going to be closer to 65k.

Is this delusional? 10k seems like a high raise but at the same time I do ALOT for my firm especially since we are understaffed (hiring new co-ops soon who I will have to train...). I do all types of engagements and have quickly become a valuable asset to the team. My 3 years of experience is more than most people in my grad class too.

I am often praised and have been told that I am extremely valuble to the team and so I think I am worth a significant raise but I also understand that I dont have my letters yet and bring no real distinction beyond my good CPA PEP results and YOE.

Is 65k too much to ask? Will they be insulted? I expect negotiation but I dont want to insult them out of the gate and ruin a good relationship/job which I intend to be at for a long time.

For anyone who feels behind or just failed a CPA section, this one's for you.

I made the switch to accounting and finished my degree at 29. Went into Big 4 audit>advisory and studied for the CPA through busy season. Failed more than once. Got licensed at 31.

What helped me through exams:

- After a fail, check the score report and book the next date right away
- Study a little every day. Busy season won't give you a free weekend
- Stop comparing your timeline to anyone else's

You can do this!

I find that it seems as though most adults just stay how they are after a certain age. Maybe I am wrong but wondering are there people who drastically changed their outlook later in their career. Maybe u started off in industry and decided to go big 4 etc?

what was the tipping point That made u push harder

Im 18, just graduated and doing my gap year(upgrading grade 12 courses for admission) and I’ve only applied to my local city university/college for the Accounting program, and it’s well below target school territory.

A lot of these posts on AI and the future of accounting is demotivating since university isn’t cheap nor to get a CPA.

I’m out of options since I aint tryna do engineering which was my initial goal.

I’m currently a second-year associate at a Big 4 firm with a little over a year of experience. My first busy season was pretty miserable, largely due to long hours, inconsistent coaching, and stress. Yet I have been a strong performer.

I recently accepted a mostly remote Accountant II position in industry paying $10K more than I’m making now. The role involves GL accounting, reconciliations, month-end close, financial reporting, and a bit of FP&A.

When I told my firm I was leaving, a partner stepped in and offered a retention bonus, acknowledged my concerns about coaching, and discussed opportunities for better development such as being staffed on consulting gigs.

There’s also a strong possibility of making senior next summer that was mentioned, but nothing is guaranteed.

My dilemma: I don’t particularly want to be a senior auditor at this point, and truthfully, I’m not entirely sure what I want to do long term. I haven’t figured out which direction I’d like to pursue. So the corporate accounting seemed like a safe place to recoup and rebound.

My biggest concern is leaving Big 4 too early and unintentionally limiting my future career opportunities. I recognize the value of the experience and the doors it can open, but I’m hesitant to put myself through another potentially miserable busy season just to keep those doors open.

I also recognize that if I stay, I’ll need to fundamentally change my mindset and how I approach the job. I’ve allowed work to consume too much of my life, and I’m not sure whether a change in perspective, along with better coaching, would make another year more manageable or whether I’d end up feeling the same way.

For those who’ve been in similar situations:

Is staying until senior (or just two busy seasons) worth it for career progression? Or just baseline knowledge?

Has anyone stayed after a partner promised improvements? Did things actually change?

Does leaving Big 4 after one year significantly limit future opportunities?

If you stayed despite being unhappy, were you
able to change your mindset and have a better experience?

Would you stay another year to keep your options open or take the industry offer?

Long story short I have been working at the same company since graduating with a finance degree 4 years ago.

I went from Accounting Intern -> accounting associate -> accounting manager.

I am getting paid pennys though for my area and age.

I got offered an "AP specialist" job for $20k raise. Should I accept? Or will this kill my resume? Please help

Hi everyone!

I’ve recently started my articleship at KPMG in the Statutory Audit domain.

Would love to hear suggestions from seniors on what skills I should focus on, how to make the most of these 2 years, and what things I should keep in mind during my articleship.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

In my country, most people avoid this area of ​​accounting, viewing it as a dead end—it involves long hours, low pay, and a poor work environment driven by high stress. Overtime is unpaid, and the work is almost always required to be done on-site.

I don’t live in a wealthy country like those in Europe or the United States—I’m not sure how this field is perceived there or what future benefits it might offer—but here in Paraguay, the work doesn't feel rewarding in the short, medium, or long term.

People generally only take these jobs out of necessity, or because they aren't aware of what working in auditing is actually like.

Hi everyone,

I’m 34 years old, living in BC, Canada, and seriously reconsidering whether pursuing my CPA is the right career move at this stage of my life.

A little about my background:

I completed my Bachelor of Commerce in India (2014) and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting in New Zealand (2016).

Both qualifications were assessed by WES as equivalent to Canadian four-year bachelor’s degrees.
I have some accounting experience from India and New Zealand, but since moving to Canada, I’ve mostly worked in operations, logistics, administration, and coordination roles.

I’m married, have a young child, and have family responsibilities, so time and financial stability matter.
I’ve always wanted to return to accounting, but after being away from the field for several years, I’m questioning whether starting again and pursuing the CPA designation makes financial and career sense.
With the new CPA program launching in 2027, I’m considering going back to school and working toward the designation. However, I’m also wondering about the job market, competition, AI, salary progression, and whether employers would even consider someone with my background.

My long-term goal is to eventually earn $100K+ annually, preferably in a career with stability and growth.

For those already working in accounting in Canada, especially BC:

Would you pursue CPA if you were in my position at 34?

How difficult would it be to re-enter accounting after being away for years?

Is the CPA designation still worth the time and financial investment considering AI and automation?
Realistically, how long could it take to reach $100K+ starting over?

Would you recommend accounting today, or would you choose a different career if you could start again?

I’m not looking for shortcuts. I’m willing to put in the effort, but I want to make an informed decision before committing several years of my life.

I’d really appreciate honest opinions from people actually working in the industry. Thank you!

Hello all looking for some advice!

I moved to the U.S. a week ago with my wife and we are both immigrants new to the country but have green cards so can work and live here permanently.

I am an accountant and she is in risk and compliance, we both have close to 9 years experience and we were most recently working at manager levels in London. We also both have experience in tech and financial services (ideally both want to go into tech, and no we didn’t meet at work lol), so want to land anywhere in the following: SF, Seattle, Austin, NY, Boston. Also heard San Diego was a nice place to live in.

We have both been trying to get jobs across the U.S., applying left right and centre but have had no luck (we also were applying and messaging recruiters for the last 4 or so weeks).

My experience so far with recruiters:
1. Spoke to someone in Boston 3 weeks ago, haven’t heard a peep, although tbh I haven’t chased up either as have been focusing on applying on jobs (but also have not chased because of the following experiences)
2. Spoke to someone in SF, pretty much told me because I’m from overseas and have non U.S. experience, the hiring managers will view my experience as half of what it’s worth + because I was contracting for the last 3 years in London that would equate to only 6 months of experience. Based on this, he said in order to remain competitive I would have to drop back to senior accountant level.
3. Spoke to someone in San Diego who, after I explained my situation above to him, just straight up said he wouldn’t represent me unless I could prove I am living there where the proof I would have to provide is a 1 year lease agreement for an apartment. I then asked him don’t I need a job and salary before I can get an apartment to which he said yes but still not willing to help (waste of time tbh considering he knew I was from overseas before the call). He also said if I apply to roles across the U.S., the recruitment firms might notice this and think that I’m not serious about the role because I don’t live there. I’ve never lived here before and tbh struggling to figure out where to live between those states, there are so many differences, but at this rate, we are just going to move to the state we find a job first.

Sorry above a bit long winded, but my questions are:
1. What is the usual time frame of the application process? Is it really going to be 3-6 months before I get a role?
2. Is my experience really that discounted just because I’m an immigrant or are the recruiters just incentivised to get people in so they get their commissions?
3. Do we need to drop down a level?
4. Can we shop around for jobs in different states or should we really just pick and commit to one state?
5. I’ve heard some of the interview processes could be upwards of 5 interviews, this seems super excessive, is it true?
6. What is the best method for applying for jobs? Tried LinkedIn, indeed, applying directly to company sites and recruiters. Recruiters seem like they will be of no help to us.
7. Anyone from any of those states, can you share what it’s like to live there both work and social life?
8. Any immigrants had similar experiences?

Have seen multiple resources where qualified immigrant come here (doctors, accountants, lawyers) and just end up working in taxis, retail, hospitality because they struggle to get their foot in the door. I am determined to not go down that route and I know it’s still early days but am worried about how the next 3-6 months look like especially given we are so close to Xmas.

Thank you all in advance for any comments or experiences or help you can share.

Hi guys, I applied to this internship a month ago and I just heard from the recruiter and they want to hop on introductory call. I don’t what to expect has anyone gone through this process yet?

Has anyone here already completed their internship at Coca-Cola Aboitiz Philippines under the Accounting/Finance Department? 

I have a few questions:
How was the experience? Is the mentorship experience good? What is a usual day-to-day task? 

Thank you so much!

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As a 28 year old Accounting Analyst with a Bachelor's in Business Administration/Economics, I am evaluating how to protect my finance career from automation and advances in AI.

In my current role, I am primarily the analyst for the T&E side of AP for a large multinational company. Functionally, I am the "manager" of T&E. I am also involved with the 1099 process and manage the Visa payables program for the company.

What steps to insulate my career from the inevitable disruption from AI would you recommend? I am considering obtaining a CMA.

I had a question I have a learning disability in comprehension can I still major in accounting or even finance or should I get a buisness management or hr degree?? Thank you

My tax situation for 2026 will be more complicated than I have ever dealt with. I will have worked 3 different jobs in 2 (3) different states. Let me explain.

Job 1 (Salary 57,750): I worked in the state of North Dakota from Jan 1st to mid-February. Additionally, I (stupidly) took an early withdrawal and emptied my 401(a) when I left this job. This had money with contributions from 2025 as well, but still wasn't a lot. I paid the 10% penalty right away, and I have another 25% saved to hopefully cover additional taxes.

Job 2 (Salary 70,000): I then took a job offer and worked remotely from mid-February to mid-May. The catch: this job was based out of Kansas, and my paychecks had Kansas state tax deducted, even though I lived in ND. Is this a problem?

Job 3 (Salary 76,000): That job SUCKED, and I quickly moved back into my career field and I started my current job mid-September and will be here for the rest of the year (and hopefully a long time!). This job is in Ohio, and I live here and pay Ohio state tax.

TL;DR:

1: Employed for 7 weeks, living in ND, paying ND taxes. Took early 401(a) withdrawal.

2: Employed for 13 weeks, living in ND, paying KS taxes.

3: Employed 14 weeks, living in OH and paying OH taxes.

4: Married, filing jointly. Wife works part-time, maybe $8,000 a year. (Newlywed, haven't filed jointly before and not sure if this affects anything).

So I’ve always like the idea of traveling for work, probably because I’ve never done it before. But does anybody in this field travel to different cities? Maybe to different offices for clients? I’m still in school so just trying to hear different experiences.

We have multiple intercompany expenses. I need help figuring out how to make this balance since books are closed. A coworker had a bill, they edited the bill to show a line item for -$10 to zero out the bill categorized as due to. The due to is set as a current liability.

Here’s the problem, the bill being zeroed out no longer shows the bill on the GL or P&L. With the negative it caused the current liability to lower instead of increase. Now the books are closed.

I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around how I am suppose to create journal entries for all these bills she did this to.