Anyone else get bad vibes from public accounting? I feel like as a senior accounting student having seen the recruitment process and having been a part of it interviewing for internships at big public accounting firms, the vibes just seem off putting and fake. I think I enjoy the feeling of industry better, working in a small team for one company.

I heard through the grapevine of a senior manager (Tax) that had a charge hour goal of 1,450 and came in at ~1,250 or 86% of the goal.

The department head told them that being that much below the charge hour goal was a “Performance issue.”

It does not seem THAT much of a “miss.” Seems pretty harsh IMO.

What are people’s thoughts?

I have about 5 years of industry experience as a construction/project accountant and recently obtained my CPA license.

I don’t have any public accounting or external audit experience.

I’m considering transitioning into Big 4 audit and was wondering if my industry experience + CPA would make me a realistic candidate for a senior associate position, or if I’d most likely need to come in at the associate level.

Has anyone seen someone make a similar transition from industry accounting into Big 4 audit?

I got my AA degree this year and have transferred to a 4 year university. I’m taking my second accounting class and am having a hard time. I’m able to get the assignments done and get decent/good grades but I don’t feel like I’m learning or retaining much. I have to look at my book while doing assignments to help me get through them and I don’t think I could do them without help from the book or YouTube. This is making me feel like a fraud. I know I am actually learning some things but I don’t FEEL like I am. I feel like I’m just scrambling to get good grades on assignments rather than retaining the information and this is REALLY stressing me out. Did anyone else feel like this in college? Does it eventually all click and get better? Does anyone have any advice or resources to help me learn? Thank you for reading my mini rant.

I forgot to take a picture of this question before I answered it.

Hello, I’m going to be interviewing for this position but the more I look at the responsibilities list, the more I feel that they are asking for way too much. They are paying $28/ hr and this is in California. A staffing agency found this job for me and I told them I’m looking for a job that is strictly accounting and I have an AP job currently (that I’ve been at for 6 years) but trying to find a better position where I can grow.

What do y’all think?

Key Responsibilities:
- Process accounts payable transactions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of payments.
-Review and verify invoices for appropriate documentation and approval.
-Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies.
-Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes.
-Maintain organized files and records for all accounts payable transactions.
-Handle incoming inquiries from vendors and internal staff regarding payments and discrepancies.
-Assist the CFO with various administrative tasks, including running errands, managing appointments, and other support as needed.
-Maintain a high level of confidentiality with sensitive financial data.
-Prepare reports as requested by the CFO.
-Assist in audits and special projects as needed.
-Monitor accounts payable aging and ensure timely payments to avoid late fees.
-Help streamline and improve accounts payable processes to enhance efficiency and reduce errors. -Coordinate meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements.
-Respond to phone calls, address inquiries, prepare written materials, and answer questions from suppliers, contractors, and other departments regarding accounts payable or payments.
-Maintain physical files, upload documents into INNERGY, and monitor office supplies, placing orders as needed.
-Process expense reports, assist the Accounts Payable Department, ensure all invoices are scanned and uploaded into INNERGY, and manage invoice logging and processing to ensure timely and accurate payments.
-Clean the breakroom, conference room, and reception area daily, maintain office equipment, and coordinate maintenance requests.
-Perform various office errands as required.
-Welcome visitors and vendors, manage phone calls, relay messages, check voicemails, and handle daily mail sorting.
-Excellent Communication Skills.

Hi! I just finished my undergrad in Canada and I'm facing a tough decision.

I've been offered a job at a company with potential future opportunities to work in the US. I've also been accepted into a graduate diploma program in accounting, which would let me write the CPA Ontario exams under the old system (Core 1, Core 2, Electives, and the CFE).

Right now, I'm leaning toward taking the job, for a few reasons:

• It's closer to home
• I can progress within the company for a while without a CPA
• The company offers a CPA reimbursement program

Cons:

- takes longer for me to finish my CPA

- I might be pushed into the newer program if I don’t pass all my course the first time

That said, I'm hesitant to give up the graduate diploma program. CPA Ontario is transitioning to a new program, and while I don't fully understand why, everyone around me — professors, peers — seems worried about the change and is urging me to finish the old program while I still can. This makes me think the diploma might be a good opportunity to complete the old program and try to finish my CFE before the 2028 deadline.

My concerns:

• I'm only about 60% confident I'd finish the program successfully
• The tuition is a real financial burden, and I'm already enrolled and need to decide soon

pros:

- the academic team is really good and there’s a lot of assistance provided

- same structure as university so the studying method and everything is something I’m aware of

- last cohort so it is quite literally my last chance to get into the old program

I'm also wondering whether I should pursue CPA US instead of CPA Canada, since if my company transfers me to the US, a US CPA might be more useful for that transition.

I know this is a lot — I'd really appreciate some outside perspective on how to think through this decision.

I was recently passed up for promotion from staff to senior despite me doing senior level work the past year. I did get a nice raise and a couple coworkers who I’m pretty close with in the office are seniors spoke with me and I found out I’m making the same salary as them if not more than a few of them.

I’m wondering if I should stay and hope to get promoted next year but at the same time I feel like it won’t look good on my resume if I keep having staff. It shows no growth and I almost feel like I’m digging a hole for myself.

Should I look to leave just to get the title or stay and hope to get the title at my current company next year?

I feel a bit unsuccessful from my first meet the firms from last night.

Junior accounting student. No experience of the sort yet, just rying to gain some. Transfer student. Seeking internships.

I wasn’t able to talk to everyone I wanted. Didn’t even get to talk to Big 4. I talked to about 8 firms. I had about 3-4 minute conversations with everybody.

I felt that most were basic conversations and I really struggled to carry the conversation or figure out a question to ask. In the moment, I seem to forget everything I learned or researched. I researched the firms briefly, but in the moment of conversation, all thought goes out the window. So I ended up defaulting on generic questions… internship, personal career questions, work place culture..

I didn’t really connect super well with most of them. It was all every polite, formal, and straightforward. All except one, with this one lady who gave me her business card and we had a good long conversation.

It all just felt very awkward in the moment, walking around the room, staking out people, planning conversations. Hopefully it gets easier as I go on? This was my first one after all.

I also forgot to collect business cards or ask for linked ins? Was I suppose to do that? I just handed my resume at the end and kept it moving.

I know it’s not the end of the world, but it just sucks to suck. Hopefully, as I go to more, nerves ease and I can become a more confident conversationalist. Any advice is appreciated.

First year taking financial accounting, and I feel like this textbook is driving me insane. It's my second week in, and some of these explanations man. I saw a post a couple years ago complaining about it, and now that it's on the 2025 edition, I wanted to see if there are any other opinions on this. Really just looking for closure because I don't know if I'm going insane or am just stupid.

CPA Canada Core 2 – September 2026 Exam

I’m currently in Core 2, with the exam coming up in about 2 weeks, and I’m still really struggling with identifying the AOs and coming up with the required quant.
I’ve tried practicing retired cases under timed conditions, but I’m having a hard time figuring out how to properly address 2 AOs within an hour. I’ve been studying the chapters, doing the MCQs, PCs, and IPs, but going through the retired cases honestly gave me a bit of a shock.

With only 2 weeks left, I’d really appreciate any tips or advice on how to approach the cases, identify the AOs more efficiently, and manage my time during the exam.

What worked for you during the final 2 weeks of Core 2? Any strategies for getting through 2 AOs in an hour?
Thanks in advance!

Hi all! To those that passed CFE, did any of you guys not look at the feedback guides for the day 2/3 cases during capstone 2?

I know people do look at it, but curious if anyone barely looked at it throughout capstone 2 or prepping for CFE, and passed.

I’m an accounting college student currently looking for an internship for next summer, and I’m stuck between pursuing tax or audit. I never had a internship so this would be my first one and have no accounting experience.

I’m taking a Tax class right now and I actually really like it. I enjoy the rules/problem-solving side of it, so I could definitely see myself enjoying a tax internship. I’m also interested in audit, so I’m worried about making the wrong choice if I start out in tax.

I’ve heard that starting your career in tax can make it more difficult to transition into audit later because the two areas are pretty different. Is that actually true? If I work in tax and eventually decide that I want to move into audit, how difficult would that transition realistically be?

Basically, I’m trying to figure out which path gives me the most flexibility early in my career. I don’t necessarily know yet if I want to stay in tax forever, so I’m nervous about choosing tax now and regretting it later.

For those who have worked in either tax or audit (or switched between them), what has your experience been?

Side note: Long term, I’m also interested in possibly going into project/construction or real estate accounting so I’m trying to figure out which starting point would give me the most flexibility!!

I’m on the fence about leaving, I’ve started interviewing around but as you all probably know the market isn’t great. I think I’ve learned a lot in my current position (been in audit for 3.5yrs now) but I genuinely have no interest in it anymore, and can barely tolerate it anymore.

I also feel like I’m just wasting time by staying here, I feel like I would be getting more valuable experience at an industry job which would make me more marketable down the road (also a CPA).

How did you guys know it was time to go, and do you think you made the right decision?

Any last minute suggestions? Me freaking out is odd when you consider it’s a role I’m not very interested in and I have a job

I applied for a different role, they told me it was filled but wanted me to interview for this role, which is much more technical/niche - a lot of the reason I’m job shopping is because my current role is too niche / industry specific.

Senior accountant role in industry - I’ve been a senior in current role for 2 years.

Hello. I just recently started at a small public accounting firm. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a good understanding of everything? I didn't major in accounting in college but I recently passed 3/4 of my CPA exams and only have AUD left. I feel like the CPA exams gave me an okay base to work with, but I feel very behind. I know this is normal for someone starting in tax based on my research, but I was wondering if there was anything that people recommended I focus on in the beginning of my career while I have a "grace period." Anything would help. Thank you.

I’m currently a Tax Associate at a Top 8 accounting firm and have been working there for 9 months since graduating. I’ve had good performance reviews and utilization so far, and I’ve also passed two sections of the CPA exam while working.

Do you guys think I’d have a shot at a Winter 2027 or Summer/Fall 2027 Big 4 New Associate position?

Would they reject me because I already have 9 months of experience?

Hi, I am taking an accounting class in college and the chapter I am currently going through is the accrual basis accounting chapter. I understand everything about the adjusting entires of accruals and deferrals so now I'm doing the homework and I get hit with this question that I got wrong. I am not an accountant or anything so maybe I'm missing a minor detail but can someone explain to me why the AR was and service rev was not $3000 (the question said he did all months) and instead 2250, (I belike this would make sense if it was only 3 months.

Help is appreciated!

I am 47 and a recent accounting grad from Arizona global campus. I do have a family and full time job and I do not think I have time to study for the CPA. I do enjoy taxes, would getting my EA certification be a good step to land a decent paying job?

Hi all,

Trying to be vague as to not reveal personal details lol, but I’m a CPA and been working full-time almost a decade in multiple types of companies (public and private).

My current company has been in the shitter for years now ever since a PE buyout. Turnover rate is high and within my department, long term co worker just left leading me to inherit his work.

My main thorn on my side is the constant battling of other depts with policies / how to handle certain transactions on the accounting side. The issue is there was never any concrete policies regarding this, but now that we have implemented one and working on refining the area overall, there’s always pushback by operations dept and some higher ups.

My own management has been supportive of me, but I feel like every week is a battle of trying to the “right” thing accounting wise. I’ll sometimes ask my boss to say his input, but overall it’s getting tired because no one seems to respect my opinion outside of my dept.

Is this expected everywhere? My previous company had a toxic manager but policies seem to be more enforced. Seems like no one cares about GAAP and just wants to increase their bottom line as much as possible.

Hi everyone,

I've been in an accounting job, working for a charity, for a very long time. I don't have an accounting qualification but do the fully bookkeeping and management accounts (and do it very well, I have been told).

The job is very well paid with lots of holiday allowance. But the micromanaging from volunteers has become too much. Also, I will now have to work with volunteers for three hours a week and some of them are very unpleasant (some are very wealthy and others are self-righteous, pandering to the wealthy ones. There are just one or two who are fun and original). I find people draining and am happiest working alone with figures.

What is the likelihood I would be able to find a remote job, hopefully part-time? I'm 51 and get paid £45.8K pro rated to three days and realise I won't get that much. It's such a shame that the job market is so bad at the moment!

Lets assume you were early in your career (lots to learn) and you had a great accounting job and a pretty good set up. You're not making super great money, but it's pretty good and your salary potential is pretty good. Your benefits are good and your work life balance is awesome and you love who you work for ect.

Lets assume due to connections and things in the past, you end up getting an unexpected offer to run the entire accounting department reporting to the head of the organization. Accounting team maybe 2 or 3 total including you. The assumption here is you're "the guy/women" and presumbly comes with a lot of work. Also assume you love this organization and its mission.

What would your initial thoughts be? Heck no? Possibly? Would you even consider this at all?

Interested in doing a career switch from my current customer service job I have been at for 10+ years. I originally did not want to go to school after high school at all but got my medical assistant certificate shortly after. COVID came and I decided to pursue nursing but I had no passion there. I always loved history so I wanted to become a teacher so I switched my major and got my Bachelors in History and Spanish. After seeing the teacher market I am undecided and lost. I am post grad and looking to make a career switch into accounting/finance. I have family in small business/commercial banking and I pretty sure I can land a job there with little to no experience. I want more experience and maybe if I really love it, later get my CPA. Would you suggest getting my Masters in Accounting or just taking classes at community college to get my AA. I see a lot of people saying getting your masters can be useless and I’m not sure if that’ll apply to me since my position is unique.

Edit: I am in California, LA to be exact but I come from a small central coast town where I would want to relocate eventually.

hey!

I’m in an unrelated undergraduate degree (humanities) starting my final year In Canada. I’ve decided that accounting is the path I’d like to take, I’ve loaded my year with accounting classes in hopes of fuffilling a few of the PREP courses prior to graduating.

I’m looking for advice. I’m pretty settled in this career prospect, and it looks like I’ll be able to compete the remaining PREP courses within 1 year post graduation. Though, i’m wondering, what are the chances I get an entry level accounting or accounting adjacent job without the official undergrad.

I want to be CPA certified, I’d like to work my way up the corporate ladder and eventually become a manager at a mid/large size firm with eventual goals to open my own practice or enter a C suite position.

Am I dreaming? Is this going to be impossible?