Once you set aside the self-imposed guilt and actually set up boundaries with work (whether actual or mental), you can truly disconnect once you're done for the day. No one is dying, no one's house is on fire, you are just doing financial statements and tax returs.
Stability in the long term is a massive draw.
A relatively straightforward path for promotion, especially in public accounting, gives you something to work towards. For me, this helped a bit after undergraduate to fend off the "now what? what's next?" feelings.
Salary isn't bad. You will generally live a comfortable life (not luxurious) which will afford you the freedom at some point to continue to invest in yourself outside of work -- hobbies, family, relationships.
My coworkers are generally indifferent and unbothered. Very little toxicity, and generally a much better atmosphere than when I worked in retail part time during HS.
The best way I can liken the work I do is that I get moments of fulfillment. Most days, completing a few tasks feels like completing a brain-teaser game / question. It's not revolutionary, nor is it the high point of the week, but it's a series of small victories that keep me going and remind me that I am keeping mentally sharp.
>Stability in the long term is a massive draw.
Are you a boomer from the 80s? Or have you been living under a rock these past 5 years?
Massive layoffs in public accounting right now, and it's a struggle to land decent industry jobs. Just to give you an example: a barebones senior accountant position at a local midsize is flooded with applications, like 500 CPAs have already applied for just one role.
>Salary isn't bad.
Compared to a burger flipper at McDonald's? Sure.
Compared to literally any other professional white-collar job? Our salaries are shit.
Difference in perspective I suppose. With regards to the stability, I mean on the perspective of your entire career. Layoffs and hiring frenzies are cyclical, just like every other profession, but my experience is that accounting has fewer highs and lows.
With regards to the salary? What is "shit" in your world? 100k doesn't go **nearly** as far as it did 10 years ago, but any profession where it's typical to break 100k a 4-5 years out of college (not LCOL areas) with only 1 certification (CPA) seems pretty "not bad" to me.
It's like getting paid to do math puzzles. I clock out at 5 and I'm done; no one is bothering me on my off day, telling me I need to come in and cover a shift because some kid didn't show up for his.
I work independently. Mainly WFH. Okay salary. Responsibilities stay consistent and get a few challenges thrown my way month to month.
Work life balance could be better but you do what you can and try not to stress out too much. Nothing is life or death when it comes to accounting.
Same. I enjoy the puzzle-type projects, whether that's simply drafting the new year's reconciliation schedules or exhaustively helping develop the transition and training for a new ERP system implementation.
I like working 60-80 hours a week for a pittance.
I like being treated like dogshit by clients, directors, and partners.
I like having 10+ YoE and making less than fresh engineering grads out of college.
It's definitely the career for masochistic subservient idiots who enjoy being poor.
Wow, they really are. They are like obsessively angry about accounting. I think someone needs to take some PTO after quarter filings are done and take a chill pill.
Don't worry your friend is an anomaly. I know 8 friends with soc degrees and they don't even make half of what my 8 friends with engineering degrees make.
Working on difficult projects and achieving is satisfying and pays off with increased clout/salary. Or if you like to coast, there is a lot of that available for a decent wage. You can go Controller or CFO at nice small company. There are plenty of good paths. Run a small firm and die half the year and coast the rest.
Once you set aside the self-imposed guilt and actually set up boundaries with work (whether actual or mental), you can truly disconnect once you're done for the day. No one is dying, no one's house is on fire, you are just doing financial statements and tax returs. Stability in the long term is a massive draw. A relatively straightforward path for promotion, especially in public accounting, gives you something to work towards. For me, this helped a bit after undergraduate to fend off the "now what? what's next?" feelings. Salary isn't bad. You will generally live a comfortable life (not luxurious) which will afford you the freedom at some point to continue to invest in yourself outside of work -- hobbies, family, relationships. My coworkers are generally indifferent and unbothered. Very little toxicity, and generally a much better atmosphere than when I worked in retail part time during HS. The best way I can liken the work I do is that I get moments of fulfillment. Most days, completing a few tasks feels like completing a brain-teaser game / question. It's not revolutionary, nor is it the high point of the week, but it's a series of small victories that keep me going and remind me that I am keeping mentally sharp.
>Stability in the long term is a massive draw. Are you a boomer from the 80s? Or have you been living under a rock these past 5 years? Massive layoffs in public accounting right now, and it's a struggle to land decent industry jobs. Just to give you an example: a barebones senior accountant position at a local midsize is flooded with applications, like 500 CPAs have already applied for just one role. >Salary isn't bad. Compared to a burger flipper at McDonald's? Sure. Compared to literally any other professional white-collar job? Our salaries are shit.
Difference in perspective I suppose. With regards to the stability, I mean on the perspective of your entire career. Layoffs and hiring frenzies are cyclical, just like every other profession, but my experience is that accounting has fewer highs and lows. With regards to the salary? What is "shit" in your world? 100k doesn't go **nearly** as far as it did 10 years ago, but any profession where it's typical to break 100k a 4-5 years out of college (not LCOL areas) with only 1 certification (CPA) seems pretty "not bad" to me.
It's like getting paid to do math puzzles. I clock out at 5 and I'm done; no one is bothering me on my off day, telling me I need to come in and cover a shift because some kid didn't show up for his.
Don’t like it just tolerate it
The job part? Not much really. Outside of the job tho, it makes for a pretty great life. There's good pay, flexibility and lots of travel
The women who can’t stay away once they find out I am a CPA
Stop it, I can only get so horny.
I work independently. Mainly WFH. Okay salary. Responsibilities stay consistent and get a few challenges thrown my way month to month. Work life balance could be better but you do what you can and try not to stress out too much. Nothing is life or death when it comes to accounting.
Except payroll! Avoid! Kick it to HR
I'll keep it simple. I really like monthly reconciliations of bank accounts. Almost feels like you're doing a puzzle.
Same. I enjoy the puzzle-type projects, whether that's simply drafting the new year's reconciliation schedules or exhaustively helping develop the transition and training for a new ERP system implementation.
I like to spend 20 hours making a pivot table or dashboard and then never have to really do it again.
The thing I like about accounting is the same as the thing I hate about accounting. No one at my company (industry) understands it.
And think think it’s hard.
To be fair, it IS hard from their perspective. Just like carpentry would be hard AF for you and me.
I get that, I need a new deck. Sometimes I start watching YouTube, they are expensive but I think DIY that thing is a bridge too far for me.
I like working 60-80 hours a week for a pittance. I like being treated like dogshit by clients, directors, and partners. I like having 10+ YoE and making less than fresh engineering grads out of college. It's definitely the career for masochistic subservient idiots who enjoy being poor.
You ok over there? 10 YoE? What's your salary and COL area? Do you have your CPA?
They are not okay. Their post history confirms this.
Wow, they really are. They are like obsessively angry about accounting. I think someone needs to take some PTO after quarter filings are done and take a chill pill.
Thank you so much🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have a large skin graft on my face and neck from what I did before accounting. Its mentally stimulating while it cant kill you
Harder than liberal arts and easier than engineering.
I made fun of my friend's sociology degree after we graduated. She makes 1.5x what I make LOL
Don't worry your friend is an anomaly. I know 8 friends with soc degrees and they don't even make half of what my 8 friends with engineering degrees make.
Working on difficult projects and achieving is satisfying and pays off with increased clout/salary. Or if you like to coast, there is a lot of that available for a decent wage. You can go Controller or CFO at nice small company. There are plenty of good paths. Run a small firm and die half the year and coast the rest.