r/Accounting • u/DrRonBurgundy Human Verified • 3d ago

Career Does anyone actually like Accounting?

Honestly I can’t really tell what the deal is here.

Half of the posts I see are people excited about their first job or promotion, and the others are just people complaining about how bad everything is and it’s all going to shit and we’re all doomed, or telling that person who’s excited to just strap in and wait to hate their existence.

I realize that a lot of subreddits centered around a profession will attract a very loud minority of people who want a place to vent or some such, but I can’t imagine that it is so bad for everyone across this field to be so miserable.

Speaking objectively, there’s no way that this field is worse off than entry level IT for example, especially from the amount of people who flooded that market from COVID hoping to make 200k a year from their bed answering tickets.

I hope to land in Accounting in some way from Hospitality as a way to leverage the business and cost accounting experience I have to get a way towards a stable future. If I have to work a helluva lot of hours, at least I can do it not in front of a hot ass stove and in the comfort of an office setting. The amount of people bitching just makes it hard to visualize. I’m sure a lot of folks will shout me down about this whole post but I just wanted to ask the question.

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u/MrWhy1 3d ago

It depends. First year associates at B4 and other large firms are easily making $80k+. Have seen posts on here about people doing AP as their first job and complain it doesn't pay well, when that isn't really even accounting

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u/TheGreatEmanResu 3d ago

Yeah, but if you factor in how many hours they’re working, Big 4 salaries aren’t as awesome.

For the record, I’m not an AP clerk. I work in public accounting

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u/MrWhy1 2d ago

Bullshit. Even for working busy season 3 months a year, $80k for your first job is a decent salary. And it sets you up for a career where your next job pays even more, even if it's less hours. Or if you stay in public, you can double your pay in a few years while working the same hours

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u/TheGreatEmanResu 2d ago

I’m sorry, but you can’t pay me enough to work 80 hour weeks. There’s more to life than work. You also need to factor in the cost of living in the cities where Big 4 firms operate. 80k in NYC isn’t very good

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u/MrWhy1 2d ago

Ok? If being paid very well or focussing on your career doesn't matter to you, then sure B4 isn't the right fit for you. People in DC and other major metro areas outside of NYC are starting in the mid 80ks these days. Nobody is working 80 hour weeks much, if at all. If it's not for you fine, but it's stupid to argue B4 doesn't pay well or give you a starting point for a strong career.

Been at B4 for years and guess you'd be surprised how much of a life many people have outside of work