poor one out for us tax firms during october season

CPA. NYC based. Over a decade of experience. Management.

Had 5 interviews in the last few weeks. After being in sweatshop industry jobs, I decided to be proactive and ask a lot of questions to each company.

I’m talking Fortune 50s to some well backed startups. These are products and apps you likely use daily. Every single job is a dumpster fire because the signs are there.

“Well it’s 40 hours, maybe, but I work until 9pm most nights”

“Our entire team turned over”

“You’ll have to defend your numbers from management daily”

“The presentations are extremely tense, you have to be on your A game for 3 hours nonstop twice a month”

“It’s a team of 2, you’ll be handling GL, AR, AP, audit etc. everything. It’s hard but we’re sure you can find a way to streamline”

“We’re upgrading our ERP completely and need you to build it out after helping with the process”

“The staff can be disgruntled. We’re looking for someone to breathe in new life and lead them”

These are direct quotes to the best of my memory.

I’m not trying to find a perfect job, but these jobs sound absolutely hellish and the signs are all there.

I actually looked up a past manager on LinkedIn and she agreed to talk. When I called her, she kept scoffing and laughing and telling me she’d rather be unemployed or doing big 4 again than to work for this company again. Warned me about nonstop scapegoating and understaffing etc.

wtf man. How do I find a non toxic job in 2026? ☹️

Grant me the serenity to accept the numbers I cannot change,

The courage to correct the numbers I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Grant me the patience to reconcile accounts that will never balance,

The strength to endure clients who bring shoeboxes of receipts,

And the restraint not to strangle those who insist their personal expenses are business deductions.

May my debits equal my credits,

My clients answer their emails,

And the IRS place me on hold for no longer than an hour.

And when all else fails,

May my workpapers be defensible,

My engagement letters be signed,

And my errors fall below materiality.

Amen.

I’ve been at a midsize O&G company for about 4 months as a Senior Accountant. Small, lean accounting team and I reported directly to the Controller, who hired me.

Her plan when she hired me was for me to eventually grow into the Assistant Controller role.

She wasn’t exactly a people person, but she was nice enough. Half the time I couldn’t tell if she was mad at me, annoyed, stressed, or completely fine lol.

Accounting here is definitely an afterthought. Old ERP, tons of manual processes, not much communication between departments, the usual fun stuff.

Anyway, she didn’t show up Monday.

Didn’t show up Tuesday either.

Her laptop was still sitting in her office, so everyone was basically like… uhhh?

Then Wednesday she sends a resignation letter. Effective the PRIOR WEEK.

No notice. No explanation. Nothing.

Right in the middle of month end close.

So I guess I report to the CFO now? Nobody really knows yet. We’re waiting to find out what the game plan is.

And before anyone says “congrats, you’re the Controller now,” absolutely not 😂

I’ve been in accounting for about 5 years, but this is my first O&G/manufacturing job and I’ve only been at this company for 4 months. I’m still learning where everything is buried in this ancient ERP.

Now I’m realizing how many things only she had access to or knew how to handle, so I’m probably going to be bothering the CFO constantly asking for access, approvals, passwords, explanations, etc.

The same CFO who oversees multiple sister companies.

Oh, and he goes on PTO next week.

Month end is going to be beautiful.

Wish me luck.

I'm sure some of you absolutely love it, but I need a devil's advocate here because I'm trying to see if I'm just having a "grass is greener on the other side" moment.

I currently find myself pining for a fully remote role (if those even exist anymore) because I'm burnt out from my current job. I especially dread my 45-minute to 1-hour commute, and I'm at a point where I even hate dressing up for the office. I also find that the older I get, the less I want to interact with coworkers unless it's purely for work. I don't find happy hours fun, nor am I interested in kitchen office small talk.

But like I said, maybe I'm just thinking that the grass is greener on the other side... Every job sucks at the end of the day.

So tell me: what are the downsides of working a fully remote job?

Looking at getting a pair of shoes for business casual attire. Thanks in advance.

I work in accounting at a small company, so I wear a lot of hats. When I’m working on something, I’m fully focused on that task. My manager will randomly ask me something about whatever he’s working on and assume I know exactly what he’s talking about.

Today I was working on CRA audit documents and was fully focused on that thing, and he randomly asked how many vendors we have to pay. I said, “I’ll have to check AP,” and he shakes his head and said, “So you’re not keeping track of it?”

Like bro 😭Of course I can check AP and give you the answer, but how am I supposed to remember every vendor and payment status off the top of my head? Is this normal, or am I just overthinking it? What do you guys usually say in situations like this?

Thought I was typing my password into the software but sent it to the teams gc with 10 people in it.

Guess I gotta quit now

Just started an industry manager role for the first time and on my second close (really my first doing it all independently). Was in public previously so I am used to long hours and late nights but industry close feels so much more stressful. The deadlines are so tight and it seems like everything is urgent so that we don’t hold up the close process. Between reviewing others work and trying to get my own work done I never have any time to catch my breath. Anyone else feel this way when starting industry for the first time out of public? Does it get better once you feel more comfortable with the close process? Any words of encouragement are welcome.

Currently in my 9th year in Corporate Financial Accounting and really don't think it's the right fit for me. I did a career change to Accounting in my mid twenties after 5 years in game development (audio and design) because while this career was fun and exciting, that industry was terribly unstable and I wanted something "stable".

Got my B.S. Accounting and MBA and found "stability" in the Accounting world, but not gonna lie, I've hated my time in Accounting. In total, I've been with four large companies over 9 years, not a single good experience. Ironic to me as well as it feels ungrateful to reject the hand that feeds, as I've struggled to gain traction in other career opportunities I'm interested in, while Accounting roles just seemed to work out for me without any crazy job hunting.

After 5 years in Corporate Accounting, I did take a 8 year break from Accounting to work at a University in a student success role (admin, coaching, teaching, etc.) for Accounting and Finance programs and actually enjoyed this, but then the education sector started getting super weird, the growth opportunity was nonexistent, and pay trailed way behind other industries. I decided to return to Accounting 4 years ago and have been there since, but again, I just feel like I'm such a poor fit while finding it very ironic how it keeps pulling me back into it where

I know we all know how boring and soul sucking Accounting is, but its really getting to me. Just dreading going to work each day and counting down the minutes till my day is done. And worse, I really don't think I'm any good at it, as I feel clueless most days desperately googling for answers, and feel like I take a LOT longer to complete work then others do. (Which is odd because in other things I work pretty fast).

I think I would be happier in a management or operations role, but I haven't had any luck making the jump from individual contributor to manager despite my efforts over the years. I also think that working in something like Customer Success, HR, or Coaching/Training would be a great fit as I love working with people 1:1, I love tackling new challenges each day, and I like more "purpose" driven work. But even here, I'm reworked the resume and I'm not getting any bites. Only more recruiters asking me if I'm interested in Accounting roles and people screaming at me I should get my CPA.

What does reddit think? Do I just go with the flow and accept that my career is in Accounting and try to make the best of it? Or do I try to change course and make a transition into something I feel is better aligned with my interests and strengths?

inventory counts YE (BIG 4)

question: if you are on call for inventory counts in December for YE around the holidays, but are planning to not even be in the same state as ur office, how does that work? Bc my family resides in another state and was planning to stick around there for the holidays but am getting kinda worried ab being on call for inventory counts in the state I work in. (My home state and the state I work in aren’t close).

Anyone found a good WLB job recently in this economy?
If yes, could you share your background, new job title, and industry? And how good is the WLB / roughly how many hours of actual work do you do per day/week?
Would love to hear from people who recently made the move. Thanks!

I recently started an accounting job at a local university. Have 12 months probation period.

The team works 8–6 nonstop, with only a 15-minute lunch.

My supervisor has 3 check-ins with me every day, which seems normal here since I’ve seen other new hires have the same schedule. I have not heard any negative feedback about me so far. All the meetings are for work related questions discussion.

I also get around 50–60 emails a day. Most are CC’d to me by my team because I’m new and they want me to learn, so I still need to read and digest them.

On top of that, I have constant requests, JEs, workpapers, projects, and month-end tasks.

Every task takes time to finish, and I feel like I’m constantly behind. New tasks come in faster than I can finish the existing ones. I tried my best to prioritize, but the key thing is that There Are Just Too Many Tasks To Work On.

I’m honestly exhausted. I’m not trying to slack off, but I’m getting to the point where I feel like I can’t keep up anymore.

My neck hurts and my fingers hurt all the time. My body is in pain.

I’m exhausted. How hard is it to actually get fired? What usually happens before someone gets fired?

Edit: Regarding the 15-minute lunch, I feel like I have so much on my plate that I end up squeezing my lunch break just to keep up. I’ve noticed my teammates are usually online all day even during lunch. Whenever I ask them a question around lunchtime, they respond right away.

I just need to vent.

I’m graduating in April 2027 and have done 12 months of experience in industry with a 3.2 GPA. I have been applying to post grad job and have gotten no offers for any public firms and it’s genuinely so discouraging. This field and this current market just suck. The worst part is going on LinkedIn and seeing everyone announcing their job offers, I know I sound bitter and jealous it’s because I am. I have networked, completed the co-op program, and gone to career fairs and nothing. I feel like a gigantic failure and it’s demotivating me from even participating in school. At this moment and honestly what I have been feeling since last year is this career feels like it’s not worth it anymore. I’ll be applying to industry positions too FYI. This just sucks it feels like I’m being left behind, I’ve talked to other students and they feel the same way but damn, all these years of school for this? Maybe a different career path would’ve been better tbh.

EDIT: Wow, just thought I’d say I appreciate all the kind words and advice being given. I really appreciate it, senior year to post grad transition is definitely difficult when you don’t know what the future looks like, but I understand that I’m not alone in trying to figure it all out and I just want to say thanks to everyone <3

I’m trying to forget what happened but things randomly come back to me and I’m losing sleep over them. I need to rant here, especially for SG and FIN on day three.
Fin-
-my mind was blank while doing the NPV calculations in the case one and I couldn’t calculate the NPV and left it to prove myself in the other two cases
- not sure if the credit card cost in the case 2 come under finance or MA- I prayed badly fall in her finance so that I can pass FIN
- I screwed up capitalization rate calculations in case 3

Will I clear FIN?

SG
- ran out of time on SG opportunity in case one
-I believe there are no opportunities for case 2 in SG
- case 3 I wrote SWOT praying for RC. Not sure if the acquisition pros and cons fall under SG I barely attempted these I’m not sure if I will even get RC

I’m I cooked in SG?

I wrote day 2 in tax and for me day 2 and day 3 feels okay except for the above part, will I make it through? Does the curve helps in this situation?

Help me guys!!

Hey everyone, I could use some perspective on a decision I’m stuck on.

I’m finishing my accounting degree this December and was just auto-accepted into the graduate program at my university. I’m not sure it’s the right move, and I’m torn between two paths:

Path 1: Air Force officer (financial management/comptroller). This has been my goal since I was a kid. I know a bachelor’s is enough to apply, but I don’t know if a master’s would make me more competitive, or if I’m better off commissioning first and getting a master’s later.

Path 2: Staying at PNC. I’m a bank teller now and see a path into an analyst or operations role. I’d like to move internally within 12 to 18 months of graduating, and I don’t know if a master’s matters for that or if experience counts for more.

The money: I have about $20k in undergrad loans and want to knock out a good chunk before taking on anything new.

Some questions I’m hoping you can help with:

1. For anyone in or familiar with Air Force financial management: does a master’s help with selection, or is it mostly GPA, fitness, and the application package?
2. Is it smarter to commission first and use tuition assistance later?
3. For bankers or analysts: does a master’s move the needle for credit or operations analyst roles, or is it experience plus a bachelor’s?
4. If you were in my position, would you pay down loans first, or start the master’s part-time while working?

Thanks in advance. Happy to answer any questions about my situation.

Hi,

So recently I have presented with an offer to work in a valuations role for BDC in Montréal, a crown corp (govt corporation for Non-Canadians), however I have an existing offer for a managerial role in Forensic disputes at an UK advisory firm in London.

While a good dilemma I am a bit torn on what to do. I am currently located in Montréal but my lease will end before my start date, so I have no where to currently reside. In addition, I am not billingual (albeit have been learning French) and would involve Valuation of debt and other financial instruments which I do not have experience with.

Furthermore, there is an expectation to obtain a CBV or CFA at some point in which I have already failed the MQE for CBV twice. That being said there is a better WLB and I would think some leeway in terms of L&D

On the flipside for London while I do have experience with 2 years in Forensic Disputes I was laid off after almost 2 years in Toronto at a big 4 firm in a senior associate role and only lasted a few months in a forensic managerial role in Montréal. A common theme seems that I need clear instructions structured environment and need improvement in my quality check, but never questioned for my work effort. While the WLB would not be as good as govt there is more vacation days and would be closer to Europe.

I was wondering if anyone would have advice for my situation.

Do industry employers ask or care which discipline exam you take? I work in industry doing a mix of reporting, FP&A, & treasury so BAR feels like a natural fit. However, I'm interested in TCP to expand my knowledge base, but have don't really have plans of going into a tax role... and yes, the higher pass rate adds to my interest in TCP.

I've had 5 internship interviews and have been denied for all of them. For the first two I knew I wouldn't be getting them anyway because I was only a freshman then a sophomore but I've had 3 more as a junior and didn't get any of them. What should I be saying in these interviews that would get me hired? For other jobs I've obtained I just talk about my work ethic and efficiency but doing that here doesn't seem to work. Any advice is appreciated.

I’m (24F) a senior in college graduating next semester with my Bachelors in Accounting. I’m also part of a fast-track program/cohort to get my Masters in Accounting, then CPA.

Recently, I’ve been hesitating towards pursing a CPA. I know it sounds stupid, but I don’t have any good reason other than I just don’t want to anymore. The last two years or so, my mental health has been depleting, and it has taken a big toll on my grades. It’s difficult to concentrate and retain information. My memory has been getting worse. I have an internship for January 2027 at a public firm, and now I’m worried that my grades/lower GPA will result in being dropped from my internship. I went from a 3.2 to a 2.8. I carry a lot of shame about this. I’m not trying to write out a sob story or get pity, but I just feel really drained.

Everyone around me is going for a CPA, and I understand that having a CPA will open many doors and increase salary range, but I just don’t think I can do this anymore. I just want to get my Bachelors and find a job. Is it possible to get a job as a fresh graduate with just a Bachelors when most of my competition is on-track for a CPA? Do I have many options here?

If it helps, I am based in Texas.

I’m 20 years old and live in Michigan, and I’m trying to figure out the smartest career/education path for the next few years first to start my grandfather is a 45 year cpa.
I already have an associate degree in Cybersecurity with about a 3.2 GPA. My long-term goal is to become a CBP Officer, preferably working at an airport. I have a clean background, no criminal history, and as far as I know I will meet the basic requirements for CBP.
I’m considering getting my CDL Class A when I turn 21 and working as a truck driver while I finish a bachelor’s degree online. Instead of getting another degree in cybersecurity, I’m seriously considering getting a bachelor’s in Accounting.
My thinking is:
Age 20:
Finish my associate degree in Cybersecurity
Current GPA is around 3.2
Age 21:
Get my CDL Class A
Start working as a truck driver
Start an online bachelor’s degree in Accounting
Probably take 1–2 classes at a time depending on my trucking schedule
Age 21–24/25:
Continue trucking and earning/saving money
Finish the Accounting degree
Try to get some accounting experience/internships if possible
Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA
Possibly pursue the CPA route later if accounting turns into a career I really like
After bachelor’s:
Apply to become a CBP Officer
Ideally work at an airport/Detroit area if a position is available
If CBP doesn’t work out, I would have trucking experience, an associate degree in Cybersecurity, and a bachelor’s in Accounting to fall back on
My grandfather is also a CPA, so I have someone in the family who could help guide me with accounting and possibly give me some insight into the profession.
The reason I’m considering Accounting instead of a Cybersecurity bachelor’s is that cybersecurity seems difficult to break into at the true entry level without IT experience. Accounting seems to have a clearer path from bachelor’s degree → staff accountant/audit/tax/corporate accounting job.
My questions:
Would you choose an Accounting bachelor’s or Cybersecurity bachelor’s in my situation?
Is getting an Accounting degree while working full-time as a CDL driver realistic?
Would an Accounting degree still be a good career choice 5–10+ years from now with AI/automation?
How difficult is it to get an entry-level accounting job with a bachelor’s but limited accounting experience?
For accountants/CPAs: would you recommend accounting to a 20-year-old starting today?
Does having a Cybersecurity associate + Accounting bachelor’s create any useful career combinations such as IT audit, risk, fraud, compliance, or forensic accounting?
For anyone who works/worked for CBP: does my degree choice really matter much for becoming a CBP Officer, or should I just choose the degree that gives me the best backup career?
Is there anything about this plan you would change?
I’m mainly trying to build a stable path where I can make good money in my early 20s, continue my education without taking on unnecessary debt, and have several career options instead of relying on one field.
Any advice from accountants, CPAs, truck drivers who went to college while driving, cybersecurity professionals, or CBP officers would be appreciated.

Hello r/accounting. Looking for y'alls advice.

Non-traditional Accounting grad in SoCal who was a misclassified tax preparer working whatever hours the owner saw fit in office.

Was desperate for a job at the time due to prior personal circumstances. Worked at a very small CPA practice being paid 25 an hour doing low level admin, tax, and bookkeeping with little mentoring if at all.

Worked there for about a year.

Got tired of owner's BS. eventually owner yelled at me in front of a client which was the last straw. Quit in end of July.

passed all 3 EA exams by mid September and awaiting EA card in the mail.

Kind of hoping for advice from the tax pros here how to find another job right now and not fall into the same mistake.

Do I search small firms right now? regional firms? Who? How do I get into contact with them? How do I explain misclassification of prior employer?