<p>Taxguy, ,my niece is in an accounting position in Wash.DC. She majored in finance and minored in accounting but got her CPA through her job (first time!) and is doing well. What my soon to be college-bound daughter sees though, interested in accounting herself, is an aunt that works many, many hours, including weekends, doing difficult projects and expected, of course to keep producing the good work she is doing now. She wondered though, if there are accounting postions that aren’t so many hours year round, that pay decently, and let you have a family life, when the time comes. Do most accountants work long hours year round or just in the bigger companies?</p>
<p>would it be possible, maybe even common, (i’m still new to how accounting careers work) to get the masters and cpa and then work for the big four / corporation for ~6 years and THEN go for the MBA and transition? all i have seen is its either one or the other. i would love to get a foundation in accounting but i dont feel like it is something i want to stay in for too long. the reason i ask is b/c ive been looking at student profile examples on the mba program websites- granted they are just personalized snapshots of 10 or so people but not one shows anyone with an accounting background, instead most are overwhelmingly investment banking & consulting, or military, foreign, etc. and this has me kind of worried. OR is this all some kind of mind game im playing b/c the mba is less sought after by those that start in accounting? as i said before, i would love to start in accounting but i do want the MBA and a true business career later on and i just want to make sure i can get my shot</p>
<p>Debruns, typically the idea is that all young people try to get jobs in public accounting in order to get good experience and their CPA. After a few years most will opt to go into the industries they’ve worked with during their time with a CPA firm. General consensus is that they will work less, maybe get an immediate pay bump. The sacrifice is that the very few that stick it out in public accounting for longer will have even better exit opportunities or if they make partner they will have much higher incomes. For me I think my best bet is to work very hard when I’m young with no kids or serious responsibilities and then adjust my work/life balance later on once I’ve built a good resume.</p>
<p>Yes, I see what you mean. That balance is good for most people, for emotional and physcial health.
I had a personal trainer years ago, a wonderful guy that was an accountant for years, made partner, had good investements and then got to “retire” in his 50’s to do what he always wanted to do, work with people as a personal trainer and make his own hours…sweet for him, but he only had 2 children to support and made the bulk of his income early. If we could be so lucky!</p>
<p>It’s not luck, just planning and choices. I’m sure there are many people who would prefer to have more free time when they were young and vigorous and work when they’re older. I’m sure plenty of people who work their butts off when they were young only to get hit by a bus before they enjoyed that early retirement would’ve been better off with a less ambitious career path. Hopefully I won’t be in that group.</p>
<p>Just wanted to update what my brother just called me about.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading on this forum and cpanet.com alot about how the government isnt hiring many accountants. My brother is graduating with a master’s in mechanical engineering and spoke with a recruiter from the IRS, told him engineers start at $89,500 there and all that.
But then my Brother mentioned me graduating as an accountant and wanting to work for the IRS. The Recruiter said that a great deal of IRS agents will be retiring in about 5 years, baby boomers that are reaching that age. This will open up a lot of jobs that will need filing and that they will likely start hiring huge amounts in the next few years to train before the seniors head out.</p>
<p>I just saw this today on my school’s career board, IRS advertising for internships??? Is that a first?</p>
<p>I think last fall I saw them advertising for degreed positions which I couldn’t qualify for. If the interview I just had doesn’t pan out I’ll sign up for this ASAP.</p>
<p>Description:</p>
<p>Student Career Opportunities
with the
Internal Revenue Service</p>
<p>College Accounting Students – The Small Business, Self-Employed Division (SBSE) of IRS is offering part-time jobs as part of a new IRS training program in your area. Earn $13 or more per hour while you learn and gain valuable hands-on work experience in a world class Accounting and Tax environment! Upon graduation - and with your successful work performance - you may be promoted into a full-time career position as an Internal Revenue Agent without having to compete for it.</p>
<p>Are you:
A third-year student (Junior) or above, enrolled in a Bachelor degree program with a major in Accounting (working toward a minimum of 24 semester hours of Accounting coursework upon graduation)?
A student with a minimum 3.0 GPA in your accounting coursework?
Completing your degree program in the spring, 2011?
Interested in pursuing a career in federal income tax administration?
Able to work in one of the locations listed on the attached sheet?
A U.S. citizen?</p>
<p>Next Steps: If you answered “yes” to all of the above questions, please complete an online application at: <a href=“https://careerconnector.jobs.treas.gov/fcip/login[/url]”>https://careerconnector.jobs.treas.gov/fcip/login</a> . You will be instructed to first register as a user. Then you must complete an online application and submit your resume and transcripts (also your DD-214 if you are a veteran). You should apply to announcement # SBSE-RA-599-SCP.</p>
<p>More Info: If accepted into the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), SBSE will provide part-time employment and training until graduation. The work hours are flexible based on your school schedule. Bachelors Degree students will earn approximately $13 to $16 per hour. Pay depends on your work location.</p>
<p>Upon successful completion of your degree program (and the minimum work requirement of 640 hours), you may be promoted to a career position as an Internal Revenue Agent that will continue to challenge you professionally and personally, and offers full federal benefits.</p>
<p>Working for the IRS is a dangerous job, because crazy men will try to crash planes into your workplace. I would advise against it.</p>
<p>debruns, I can’t speak for most firms. My son is with a fairly large Maryland accounting firm but not one of the big 4. He works a lot of hours from January 20 to about April 15. After April, his hours drop to a more normal 40 hour work week with some exceptions.</p>
<p>That’s what I meant, she expects to be busy a few months a year, but not all the months, the way her aunt is. Different firms I’m sure vary.
When someone exclaimed at the amount an hour she makes, she told them when divided by all the extra time she puts in at home and after-hours, it really isn’t, but she’s glad for the experience right now and hopefully later in her life, will have a more 40-50 hour week.</p>
<p>Debruns, from what I have seen, the big 4 accountants do seem to put in more hours than a typical mid size accounting firm. The staff does usually make a bit more money but not enough to justify the extra hours. Partners, however, can make considerably more.</p>
<p>Taxguy, I know you’ve probably addressed this issue earlier in this thread, but I figured I would ask you again. Not to appear as if a position with any firm is a given for me, but were the opportunity to present itself, would you suggest starting off with one of the big 4, or one of the midsize firms like BDO or Grant Thornton? I don’t know necessarily if I would want to leave public accounting for industry like most do, but then again, I don’t have any experience in public accounting either. I’d appreciate any insight you can offer.</p>
<p>dsteve, traditionally most accountants recommended starting off with the big 4 especially for auditing. However, mid-size firms have been matching compensation and reducing the compensation difference. I would personally go with the firm whose culture seems to mesh best with my own.</p>
<p>Since we are on the subject of hours again, i must ask a question regarding busy season. You said your son works around 55 hours a week during the busy season at his firm. I don’t understand the allocation of hours to days though. Do accountants during the busy season put it 11 hours a day monday-friday to total 55 hours, or do they put in 9.16 hours a day, 6 days a week? Is weekend work expected during busy season or just a huge amount of hours weekly with weekends off.</p>
<p>You are scheduled 11 hour days Monday-Friday. It varies with client. Some people work 55 some people work 80.</p>
<p>I’ve worked at both Big 4 and regional firms. The minimum was 55 hours during busy season at both types of firms. Majority of people work more. Working Saturdays was standard.</p>
<p>Dewgie and Sigkapaccountant may or may not be right regarding many firms, but they are in error regarding the firm that my son works in, which is Bond Bebee in Maryland.</p>
<p>He works nine hour days on Monday to Thursday and 8-9 hours on Friday. He also puts in 7-9 hours on Saturday, depending on how he feels and the work load available in the office. </p>
<p>However, there are days where he might work as much as 12 hours ( which includes an hour for lunch). These types of days are more the exception than the norm.
By the way, both my son’s firm and others are looking for qualified audit seniors to hire. There seems to be a real death of knowledgeable personal at the senior level for a number of firms ( i.e. several years of experience and can run an audit).</p>
<p>I’m talking about Big 4, they have you scheduled minimum 11 hours a day during busy season.</p>
<p>Hi everyone, guys can you advice something for me. I see that people over here are knowledgeable about accounting profession and professional certifications. My thread is “Which is the best way to fulfil the CPA educational requirement”. I know that many people have this question in mind, thus if you give any advices, it will help not only me but others, who have the same question. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/872125-best-way-fulfil-cpa-educational-requirement.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/872125-best-way-fulfil-cpa-educational-requirement.html</a></p>
<p>Dude you are going to ask that in every thread? Check your f$$$ing thread I responded.</p>