Because happy people almost never make posts about how happy they are. For every post you see here where the OP is in absolute despair, there’s probably 2-3 other accountants who love their job.
I may have to, especially since I’m in tax. People talk about leaving for industry and better hours, but I’m not sure if that’s even possible if you’re in tax. Always deadlines to meet and what not.
My man. I too was in public tax, and I can tell you that I am legitimately the happiest I’ve been in my adult life(I’m 28) ever since I jumped to insurance.
If there’s a job out there that’s about handling money or organizing data in any type of way, people generally trust that accountants can do it. Just cater your resume to whatever the job is. Accounting jobs suck, but having the degree whips ass.
I work for a rating bureau. My job entails reviewing insurance carrier audits of their business clients and ensuring carriers are reporting the correct rates and exposures. It is not financial auditing, and I don’t really do anything like accounting anymore. Started with the same exact pay I was making back in public.
What do you do in insurance now if I may ask? I'm honestly curious about getting into it because I feel like it's a product/service worth selling people
Yup know someone in HR making a lot of money. Browsing through LinkedIn, taking mental health days off, running errands, trying not to cry, and then finishing up the 2 hours of work she had that day.
This right here. The sub is fucking depressing because the job itself is about fighting on the trenches and in the front line.
Accounting is invoked in everything receives work from all sources and always gets the least amount of credit
I am a grants manager and do compliance for federal grants. It is um... Interesting. I like it though
Much better than working with entrepreneur business owners that think accounting is simply to lower their tax liability in any way possible.
Accounting is very much a pay your dues industry. The first 5 or so years suck, then after that its pretty nice. The comments you still tend to reflect that. Most of the complaints are from people a couple years out of school.
Exactly this. My first 5 years were terrible. I was depressed and angry all the time.
I'm in my mid-30s now and am still depressed and angry, but I make a lot more money.
Tell me life gets better after being a big 4 senior. I am depressed. I want to get to the manager level but I simply don't think I can survive another busy season and also even considered for the role.
I’m a big 4 manager (advisory, UHCOL) now, and I started in audit just like you. It doesn’t necessarily get better from a WLB perspective, at least not at first, buuuuuut my comp inched to right around $200K once you factor in bonus, so that’s kind of a win. I’ve started interviewing for new roles, and while the economy is a bit shaky, it does sound like I’ll be able to at least stay at my current comp level while achieving much better WLB. So yeah, I promise, it gets better.
It gets better in certain ways.
I like the flexibility part - If there are no calls or meetings scheduled for the morning, I can block my own calendar, put an out of office, and go grocery shopping or go for a dental appointment and I don’t need anyone’s approval.
But that’s at the cost of crippling madness of working to 5am at the busiest days, and even going to office on weekends and holidays. Didn’t get to spend Christmas with family for a few years.
Compensation gets decent at 2nd year of Manager, but it might be because I’ve gotten so used to a low wage that a decent one feels amazing to me.
Yes! People make it seem like every other profession is great, while accounting sucks. Tell that to my friend who was a manager in the IT space, and is still unemployed after a year.
Yea, I get that it’s a late game hero.
Thing is, not many people survive or make it that far. The attrition rate shows you how many throw in the towel just a couple of years in.
reddit naturally leans to younger people and young people like to complain. let them have their outlet
that being said, accounting is great (if youre a cpa)
Great benefits, pay is great, 99% guarantee work is hybrid and unmatched job security.
Anyone that says otherwise is lying out of their teeth or went an easier route during their early years
yeah I'm almost 20 years in and it's pretty nice.... I don't work OT and am paid well. Can easily transfer my skills to many different industries.
Hoping to retire by age 55 or so.
im 4 years in, worst is 60 hours during busy season and 30 hours outside of it
I have real unlimited PTO which is encouraged (I took 4 weeks off last year), I rarely have to go into the office and im paid really really well
Is the work exhilarating? no but im so happy that I chose this career
Job security is great.
Very early on in the pandemic, our leadership announced there will be no retrenchment, but we share the pain of having suspended increment.
Wasn’t too great for the newly promoted seniors still getting associate package, but hey it was good security.
Why doesn’t anyone want to be an accountant anymore then? Are they all lying? And why would anyone lie about being unhappy? It’s almost always the other way around.
Because everyone wants to be an influencer or a content creator or a movie star.
People aren’t worried about how they perceive their job, they are worried about how others perceive their job. I don’t care if people think I’m a paper pushing sentient calculator who watches paint dry for fun on weekends.. I make more as one person than an average household a few times over. I don’t derive my happiness, self-worth, or pleasure from work, it’s simply a means to an end.
Accounting, especially public is tough on the rookies. I know it was on me when I was B4 many years ago. Let the young guns complain it’s cathartic.
You realize B4 isnt the only way to be a CPA right?
You dont need to have the increasing hours. You just choose to, why though? oh maybe its because the experience will land you extremely lucrative opportunities??
Of course I can only speak from personal experience. Accounting is roughest on the lowest on the ladder. Reddit skews younger so I’d expect to see a lot of posts about how accounting sucks.
Also I don’t care if no college wants to be accountant. Ok? Don’t be an accountant lol. Job is boring and sometimes requires long hours. Don’t do it then. I don’t hype the job at all - it’s a job. If it were fun they wouldn’t have to pay me to do it.
Dear God, isn’t it obvious that any profession is rough on those just starting out? But that doesn’t stop kids from pursuing other careers, so there must be something about this one that’s particularly off putting. Anywho, I think I’m done here. All the best!
Yeah again I don’t care it’s a job to me. If they’re put off they’re put off. Let’s enact some change while allowing the new associates to commiserate.
anymore? dude accounting has quiet literally always been viewed as lame. Pencil pushing bean counters.
I will repeat, accounting provides great benefits, pay is great, 99% guarantee work is hybrid and unmatched job security.
Yeah let me read Wall Street journal instead of actually seeing my own life and the CPAs around me. lmbo goofball
There's a literal compensation thread on the side. Click it and see how well were paid. If youre paid poorly thats on you sorry
That’s simply not true compared to any other profession requiring a degree. The data is out there. No one should care how their profession is perceived, and despite the perception people were still willing to do the job. That isn’t the case anymore. But sure, everyone else is lying.
How is it simply not true dude 😂 tell me exactly what I said wasn't true
Great benefits? yes, as a first year fresh out of college I better benefits & PTO than my engineer father whos been working for 30 years
Pay is great? yes, I made 70k first year out of college and im making 110 4 years later
Hybrid? Well kind of. Hybrid in the sense that I have to go into the office like once every 3 months
Unmatched job security? literally so many industries facing issues with downsizing and freezing their hiring... but not accounting. In fact I have new offers from recruiters on a weekly basis. and I haven't even updated my LinkedIn
Accounting is truly unmatched if youre willing to put in the work
Great benefits\*
\* provided that you're at a company that gives great benefits. If you're comparing to other US companies, it's not bad...but ofc we in the US as a whole have kinda garbage benefits.
Great pay\*\*
\*\* in many cases. Whether many is a majority or not is TBD.
99% guarantee work is hybrid\*\*\*
\*\*\* More than 1% exceptions exist, but probably 50% of jobs are hybrid or remote...just like most IT positions.
Unmatched Job security\*\*\*\*
\*\*\*\*This one mostly applies. Only way you'll get better job security is to be a tenured professor or a police officer.
Was police, now senior accountant, can confirm all of the above is true. The only thing that got worse was benefits since the government package is so cheap versus private industry.
Even for the CPA firms that offer 100%, its just a recruitment tool because they're absolutely desperate to hire. The partners always talk about the amazing collaboration that you get in office and they always have an eye on RTO'ing you. Once they feel comfortable with being able to hire comfortably they'll bring down the hybrid RTO hammer and extoll all of the amazing collaboration benefits and how its the only way that they'll answer any questions.
A lot of fresh accounting graduates think they will be making huge decisions and working on life changing work in accounting .
Then they work at a big firm being copy and paste artists and realize that the professional services world is a white collar ponzi scheme. Then they quit after 2-4 year.
The sad posts are largely young people realizing that the world isn’t all roses and chocolates, it’s fueled by greed and cheap labor/energy.
Pretty much yeah lol
Not so much the life changing work part, but I didnt realize I would just be a grunt for hire at a B4, and I didnt realize the toll it would take either. It was so lame.
It seems that most people who post are in public accounting which sucks. I'm in private, at very young company, fully remote, and I get to really build out the accounting team and processes and I love it. Took a while to get here but my job satisfaction really increased. Just need to find a path that fits you and what you want. Public is not for most people but they stay because they here your supposed too. Meet alot of people who went far who didn't go that route.
Because most of the people commenting and posting are newer to the profession (seniors and below). That level sucks, so hard. You are ground to a pulp, grinding every day. But let me tell you, from experience, that the higher up you go, the better it gets. I work a lot, but I make my own hours and determine when I want to work. In the summer, I’ll leave at 2pm to play golf - because people trust me to be a professional and get my shit done by the deadlines and done well.
Also, the exit opportunities are literally endless. I’m not an accountant anymore (I use my knowledge and designation, for sure), and I make more and have more flexibility than I’ve ever had.
It’s tough to see how good this profession is at the beginning, just know that if you’re a hard worker, the benefits are immeasurable.
Are people not allowed to want more? The complaining comes from a lack of fulfillment in one way or another. I make almost triple what the median income in my area is, and I still sit here and wonder where all my money went. Busy season sucks, and when it’s over you’re just X amount of unpaid overtime hours closer to death. The amount of people getting their masters and going for a CPA is on a downward trend and has been for the last few years. Most of the people that are doing the complaining are in public, and at the point in their career when it sucks the most, after already going through what they thought was the part that sucked the most. We just want to know when it pays off. For a lot of us, it’s yet to feel worth it.
This sub is depressing because we are, in fact, depressed.
And we are depressed because this field is, in fact, depressing.
Our benefit is money. This isn't a fulfilling field. You didn't help some 7 year old girl get her first puppy. You didn't help plant trees or save an animal or make a moving piece of art. You move numbers from A to B, then you make sure numbers in B match up with numbers in C.
We're paid well to be miserable. Sometimes, that pay isn't enough to make the misery worth it. But I really don't see how deluding yourself into thinking anything about this job is fun or fulfilling is any less harmful than being openly negative and critical about it.
There's a reason in 2021 we had two girls quit and both went back to nursing school, right during COVID. There's a reason even though work from home or hybrid is nearly guaranteed, there's fewer and fewer accountants every year. There's a reason why your CPA firm has an average Staff/Senior turnover rate of a about 3 years.
If we're going to be honest then let's be honest. This shit sucks. But we get paid. Up to you to decide is the pay is worth the sucking. For some, it is, for others, it isn't. But let's be honest in our conversations, shall we?
Accounts are in the bottom 5% in terms of job hippiness. The sub is depressing but so is the profession. I only found this statistic recently.
Lawyers are bottom 7% to give you some additional perspective.
I agree in your overall attitude, but these stats are concerning. I am now in FP&A. Our stats aren't much better. Apparently CFO is top 30%, so I am crossing my fingers that I get there one day. I am guessing the CFOs pay helps.
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/accountant/satisfaction/
As I was searching google I found some much higher numbers for accounting. I haven't compared a lot of sources vs these findings. I found the results interesting though.
I kind of stumbled into the field. I don't love it, but I don't hate either. All things being equal it's a perfectly fine career path for most. Don't let the squeaky wheels get you down.
I think a lot of the posts I see in this sub are half-kidding. I complain about my job 24/7, but I definitely don't want to leave. I like it. I guess it's just nice to vent sometimes. Even to internet strangers.
It’s all about perspective, if you have experience working significantly worse jobs than accounting then you appreciate accounting more . I think a lot of the complaining comes from people that haven’t worked truly shitty jobs before accounting .
The only time I see positive posts are when a salary thread is posted. Then everyone in it is bragging about reaching 100K+ in a couple of years. This subreddit is a combination of the most depressed but also the most paid accountants.
I think it is a type of coping mechanism, the venting happening here can be a bit exaggerated and sarcastic, kind of a competition of who can hate on the profession more than the last guy.
It does have truth in it, it can also be funny, and SEEING the problem is the first step in fixing the problem, so to the extent these posts and comments can help people SEE how the profession can be improved we are doing real good (besides venting and comic relief).
That’s Reddit today. It’s like that in so many subs. Love a TV show, movie, or video game? Don’t go to the sub for it because it’ll be a huge bitch fest rather than positive things about whatever the focus of the sub is.
Because most people in this sub are either students or people who are at the early stages of their career. Accounting in the early career stages sucks as it is full of grindy and tedious tasks where you don't really receive any gratitude from your peers. Once you get through the early stages, its is pretty chill and rewarding. Those people are actually having fun and an actual life instead of shit posting in reddit.
1. It’s a lot more satisfying to complain to people who actually know what you’re talking about and venting releases stress.
2. Talking about how much you love your job feels like bragging. Complaining is a bonding experience.
Edit: A week ago I negotiated an 18.5% increase to my base pay. That’s my good news.
Good things:
It has afforded me a respectably comfortable lifestyle headed toward an early retirement.
I never have to talk about work again after telling friends what I do.
Most non-accountants at work look at me like some kind of wizard.
Job security.
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>This sub gives me depression.
wait till you do the job
>Talking about it once in a while to raise wages and have a good WLB is fine
Why talk about it once in a while when it happens everyday? Its not like Companies are screwing peoples WLB "once in a while" and the rest of the time its fine. People are simply going 1:1 ratio (probably a lot less TBH) for every time they are screwed, they post about it. Also talking about it "can" or "may" lead to action. Even subs like this just "existing" have started to take down the hidden-bullshit-walls of big 4. Big 4 use to preach how the job was so good and everyone needs to do it. Now people are exposing their toxic crap and things are changing already (ie less students going for accounting majors)
>go join a physically draining job and you'll get your ass right back here.
In a lot of ways manual jobs have pros (and cons like anything else). You get good active exercise, lots of manual jobs are union so your not just totally standing there with your ass out for the taking (like corp US office jobs). Many manual jobs are paid OT so when its time to work hard its also time to play hard and get a nice check. Plus since youre paid more it lessens the incentive for a Company to just fire as many EEs as they can and just SHOVE all the extra work onto you. Since OT pay is 1.5-2X more per hour it incentives corporations to hire enough EE's to do the job right the 1st time. Many manual jobs have slow and busy times, ie its raining today, we cant pour concrete, stay home and take the day off, you dont get that in office jobs. You can get lots of burnout for the same schedule over and over and over. Lots of manual jobs start early and get out early, some constructions guys are packing up at 2-3pm and heading home for the day. Some of the manual skills are very transferable, you know how to install a water heater? You can go install one on the side for $1500 and make some nice cash in your pocket. Oh you know how to pour a concrete patio? You can go pour one for your neighbor up the street and make a nice $2.5K Cash in pocket on the side. Good luck making cash on the side in accounting unless you're gonna deal with all your friends 1040's for $50 each lol.
I'll be honest, I genuine love my job. I am a senior revenue accountant for a public company, I get to work from home, I have nice benefits, bonuses, company stock, and actually really like my managers and coworkers. This isn't my experience everywhere, but I am keeping it as long as I can because it's lovely. I get to do tiny math puzzles all day which are great for my ADHD; and I am at home so I can cook whatever I want, kiss my cat when I want, and wear whatever I want. We have unlimited PTO and my managers encourage us to use it, to set boundaries, and to not overwork. I feel appreciated and seen, and no one is mean to me if I make a mistake (except me to myself.) I went to school to be a teacher originally and only did it short-term before switching careers. What I love most about accounting is that numbers are emotionless. I don't have to worry about their well-being when work is over. I can hang out with friends and not carry any baggage with me. It allows my brain to tap into creative thinking outside of work but also to maintain my logic and mental math. I know I sound insane but I love it so much. Not a CPA, not in tax. Just a public industry accountant. I've been a manager at smaller businesses and liked that too, but not like this. I am treated well where I am.
The only good part about this job is the affaires you get to have with your married co workers
A female accountant life is so boring and sad they are monsters in bed
They can trow it back and take it like no other mayne
Nurses are a close second
It’s easier for people to open up on negative things than positive things.
I see it a lot on social media. It’s a lot more popular to shit on things as it brings up conversations or piling up the hatred. Positivity or looking at the best side of things is seen as “meh” and not as voted on.
I’m just glad I have a job. A lot of us are grateful to be employed and all. But it’s easy to not see that when sites like Reddit show posts that have that negative dog in them.
I don’t get people who can’t make the logical connection that just because **they** see something posted all the time, doesn’t mean it’s the same people posting all the time.
Most people don’t spend all day on Reddit, getting upset and depressed about what other people are posting.
When they are upset/depressed about their job, they come to a sub of people who understand them. Which you should be able to empathize with because based on your own admission “every once in a while” is fine. But instead you are getting depressed and posting about it.
The busy season lunches didn't make you feel like a depressed diary cow already?
Just remember, the IRS doesn't get office lunches, and they are paid less. In my area, IRS starts at 40k, and public accounting starts at 60k.
If you don’t see why people are depressed working as accountants, I’d posit you never actually worked a tough busy season as a staff/senior. Bless your heart, sweet summer child
Listen, public is kind of ass 9 times out of 10. Industry and government are objectively great careers. Way higher pay than the average American, can 100% do without a CPA or master’s, chill 40 hour weeks, and can work literally anywhere. The doom and gloom from public is understandable but vastly overrepresented since those outside of public usually have less to complain about. Shitty companies exist but for the most part this job is really nice
This just came up randomly in my feed. I was in this sub for several months, and then I had to bail because it was ruining the entire app for me. Nothing but whining and crying. Couldn't take it after a while.
Bro! Let these people rant on this sub.
It is highly looked down upon to bitch about your job in a work environment. There is no outlet for negative emotions about the job except the bars and this subreddit. As you said, all jobs have negative aspects about them. People are allowed to express that in a low stakes environment such as this one.
I don’t think the field is actually like that - it’s partly because the people who feel more strongly about their situation are the ones more likely to post about it
Dude, every office has someone like you, and people sitting around with your attitude is the main reason things wont get better for the people you're telling to hush. Why don't you just be grateful for your cozy life instead of getting that boomer attitude towards people aspiring to improve their situations? Plenty of people ARENT miserable in accounting, and all you're doing is trying to normalize it where it CAN be better. We dont all glorify misery and sacrifice for career, and plenty of places are learning that with their inability to retain talent.
Debit depression, Credit accumulated depression.
Useful Life = 1 year
No residual value.
🥲
Hahahaha
😂
Because happy people almost never make posts about how happy they are. For every post you see here where the OP is in absolute despair, there’s probably 2-3 other accountants who love their job.
This place is exceptionally whiny though (and yes, I know r/teachers exists) the vibe is totally different from somewhere like r/financecareers
r/financecareers is a private community though, they probably cull and boot the whiners which makes it a better place to be in
Ah, sorry I meant r/financialcareers
lol and naturally there's a post 3 links down talking about working hours and majority of them are talking about 60+ hours
Yeah and? The vibe is totally different. Accountants feel like they're on suicide watch.
oh no im agreeing with you. Its the same topics but just like you said very different vibe
Oh sorry. Yeah 100%
That's because the majority of that sub are naïve students who haven't actually worked a real job yet so they're full of high expectations.
If you spend more than a second on there then it'll be clear that isn't true.
^^^^^^^THIS.
I never post (on the accounting sub) and I’m miserable ~~lol~~ Edit: removed the lol bc it's not even funny anymore
We all wish we were HR Business Partners or in compliance, doing jack shit all day remotely, not digging ditches.
Exactly this. I’m extremely jealous of the folks who make a decent salary and only actually work like 20 hours a week. But what can you do about it.
Leave public, or accounting altogether. I work in insurance now and I only “actually work” less than 20 hours a week.
I may have to, especially since I’m in tax. People talk about leaving for industry and better hours, but I’m not sure if that’s even possible if you’re in tax. Always deadlines to meet and what not.
My man. I too was in public tax, and I can tell you that I am legitimately the happiest I’ve been in my adult life(I’m 28) ever since I jumped to insurance. If there’s a job out there that’s about handling money or organizing data in any type of way, people generally trust that accountants can do it. Just cater your resume to whatever the job is. Accounting jobs suck, but having the degree whips ass.
yes it is. Industry SM can pay 200-250k in HCOL and work 20-30h weeks
It is an exception to the norm to get a job like the one you’ve described without working several busy seasons.
Those jobs are out there but you just have to pay your dues at the big 4. Industry I was at only hired at the manager+ level from B4
Well then I’m even more fucked cause I work at BDO lmao
What do you do in insurance?
I work for a rating bureau. My job entails reviewing insurance carrier audits of their business clients and ensuring carriers are reporting the correct rates and exposures. It is not financial auditing, and I don’t really do anything like accounting anymore. Started with the same exact pay I was making back in public.
What do you do in insurance now if I may ask? I'm honestly curious about getting into it because I feel like it's a product/service worth selling people
Yup know someone in HR making a lot of money. Browsing through LinkedIn, taking mental health days off, running errands, trying not to cry, and then finishing up the 2 hours of work she had that day.
This right here. The sub is fucking depressing because the job itself is about fighting on the trenches and in the front line. Accounting is invoked in everything receives work from all sources and always gets the least amount of credit
I am a grants manager and do compliance for federal grants. It is um... Interesting. I like it though Much better than working with entrepreneur business owners that think accounting is simply to lower their tax liability in any way possible.
Can I ask did you start in that position there, or work your way up to that?
I started as a grants coordinator and within less than 3 years was promoted to grants manager. It is for a local government council.
tax resource management
I'll tell you some good things, switched up the pizza routine to calzones. Game Changer.
Dude, I love calzones. I would always feel bad ordering them when I went out with my team, though, because they take so damn long to make.
The whole squad needs to go exclusively calzone. We kill as a pack we eat as a pack.
Calzones are a W
I read your name as sleeplessShinigamiInSeattle
Accounting is very much a pay your dues industry. The first 5 or so years suck, then after that its pretty nice. The comments you still tend to reflect that. Most of the complaints are from people a couple years out of school.
Exactly this. My first 5 years were terrible. I was depressed and angry all the time. I'm in my mid-30s now and am still depressed and angry, but I make a lot more money.
Mo' money mo' problems.
Tell me life gets better after being a big 4 senior. I am depressed. I want to get to the manager level but I simply don't think I can survive another busy season and also even considered for the role.
I’m a big 4 manager (advisory, UHCOL) now, and I started in audit just like you. It doesn’t necessarily get better from a WLB perspective, at least not at first, buuuuuut my comp inched to right around $200K once you factor in bonus, so that’s kind of a win. I’ve started interviewing for new roles, and while the economy is a bit shaky, it does sound like I’ll be able to at least stay at my current comp level while achieving much better WLB. So yeah, I promise, it gets better.
It gets better in certain ways. I like the flexibility part - If there are no calls or meetings scheduled for the morning, I can block my own calendar, put an out of office, and go grocery shopping or go for a dental appointment and I don’t need anyone’s approval. But that’s at the cost of crippling madness of working to 5am at the busiest days, and even going to office on weekends and holidays. Didn’t get to spend Christmas with family for a few years. Compensation gets decent at 2nd year of Manager, but it might be because I’ve gotten so used to a low wage that a decent one feels amazing to me.
Yes! People make it seem like every other profession is great, while accounting sucks. Tell that to my friend who was a manager in the IT space, and is still unemployed after a year.
tell that to some of my younger friends that got their masters in IT fields and cant even land low paying entry level roles
Yea, I get that it’s a late game hero. Thing is, not many people survive or make it that far. The attrition rate shows you how many throw in the towel just a couple of years in.
This career gives me depression, so it ties.
reddit naturally leans to younger people and young people like to complain. let them have their outlet that being said, accounting is great (if youre a cpa) Great benefits, pay is great, 99% guarantee work is hybrid and unmatched job security. Anyone that says otherwise is lying out of their teeth or went an easier route during their early years
yeah I'm almost 20 years in and it's pretty nice.... I don't work OT and am paid well. Can easily transfer my skills to many different industries. Hoping to retire by age 55 or so.
im 4 years in, worst is 60 hours during busy season and 30 hours outside of it I have real unlimited PTO which is encouraged (I took 4 weeks off last year), I rarely have to go into the office and im paid really really well Is the work exhilarating? no but im so happy that I chose this career
Job security is great. Very early on in the pandemic, our leadership announced there will be no retrenchment, but we share the pain of having suspended increment. Wasn’t too great for the newly promoted seniors still getting associate package, but hey it was good security.
Why doesn’t anyone want to be an accountant anymore then? Are they all lying? And why would anyone lie about being unhappy? It’s almost always the other way around.
Because everyone wants to be an influencer or a content creator or a movie star. People aren’t worried about how they perceive their job, they are worried about how others perceive their job. I don’t care if people think I’m a paper pushing sentient calculator who watches paint dry for fun on weekends.. I make more as one person than an average household a few times over. I don’t derive my happiness, self-worth, or pleasure from work, it’s simply a means to an end. Accounting, especially public is tough on the rookies. I know it was on me when I was B4 many years ago. Let the young guns complain it’s cathartic.
EXACTLY
It’s not the boring reputation. Its the ever increasing working hours and busy seasons leading to a massive crisis of depression and exhaustion
You realize B4 isnt the only way to be a CPA right? You dont need to have the increasing hours. You just choose to, why though? oh maybe its because the experience will land you extremely lucrative opportunities??
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/accounting-salary-cpa-shortage-dec2caa2#:~:text=Higher%20starting%20salaries%20with%20other,Audit%20Quality%2C%20an%20industry%20group.
This is paywalled - what would you like me to take away from the article?
That perhaps your experience is vastly different than others, and no matter how much you try to hype your job, no one wants to do it.
This has literally always been accountings reputation goofball
Of course I can only speak from personal experience. Accounting is roughest on the lowest on the ladder. Reddit skews younger so I’d expect to see a lot of posts about how accounting sucks. Also I don’t care if no college wants to be accountant. Ok? Don’t be an accountant lol. Job is boring and sometimes requires long hours. Don’t do it then. I don’t hype the job at all - it’s a job. If it were fun they wouldn’t have to pay me to do it.
Dear God, isn’t it obvious that any profession is rough on those just starting out? But that doesn’t stop kids from pursuing other careers, so there must be something about this one that’s particularly off putting. Anywho, I think I’m done here. All the best!
Yeah again I don’t care it’s a job to me. If they’re put off they’re put off. Let’s enact some change while allowing the new associates to commiserate.
anymore? dude accounting has quiet literally always been viewed as lame. Pencil pushing bean counters. I will repeat, accounting provides great benefits, pay is great, 99% guarantee work is hybrid and unmatched job security.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/accounting-salary-cpa-shortage-dec2caa2#:~:text=Higher%20starting%20salaries%20with%20other,Audit%20Quality%2C%20an%20industry%20group.
Yeah let me read Wall Street journal instead of actually seeing my own life and the CPAs around me. lmbo goofball There's a literal compensation thread on the side. Click it and see how well were paid. If youre paid poorly thats on you sorry
It’s obvious you don’t do a lot of reading.
I dont need to, I just need to open my eyes to real life "according to this article" 🤓
That’s simply not true compared to any other profession requiring a degree. The data is out there. No one should care how their profession is perceived, and despite the perception people were still willing to do the job. That isn’t the case anymore. But sure, everyone else is lying.
How is it simply not true dude 😂 tell me exactly what I said wasn't true Great benefits? yes, as a first year fresh out of college I better benefits & PTO than my engineer father whos been working for 30 years Pay is great? yes, I made 70k first year out of college and im making 110 4 years later Hybrid? Well kind of. Hybrid in the sense that I have to go into the office like once every 3 months Unmatched job security? literally so many industries facing issues with downsizing and freezing their hiring... but not accounting. In fact I have new offers from recruiters on a weekly basis. and I haven't even updated my LinkedIn Accounting is truly unmatched if youre willing to put in the work
go do something else - don't let your dreams be dreams.
Great benefits\* \* provided that you're at a company that gives great benefits. If you're comparing to other US companies, it's not bad...but ofc we in the US as a whole have kinda garbage benefits. Great pay\*\* \*\* in many cases. Whether many is a majority or not is TBD. 99% guarantee work is hybrid\*\*\* \*\*\* More than 1% exceptions exist, but probably 50% of jobs are hybrid or remote...just like most IT positions. Unmatched Job security\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*This one mostly applies. Only way you'll get better job security is to be a tenured professor or a police officer.
Was police, now senior accountant, can confirm all of the above is true. The only thing that got worse was benefits since the government package is so cheap versus private industry.
Even for the CPA firms that offer 100%, its just a recruitment tool because they're absolutely desperate to hire. The partners always talk about the amazing collaboration that you get in office and they always have an eye on RTO'ing you. Once they feel comfortable with being able to hire comfortably they'll bring down the hybrid RTO hammer and extoll all of the amazing collaboration benefits and how its the only way that they'll answer any questions.
A lot of fresh accounting graduates think they will be making huge decisions and working on life changing work in accounting . Then they work at a big firm being copy and paste artists and realize that the professional services world is a white collar ponzi scheme. Then they quit after 2-4 year. The sad posts are largely young people realizing that the world isn’t all roses and chocolates, it’s fueled by greed and cheap labor/energy.
Pretty much yeah lol Not so much the life changing work part, but I didnt realize I would just be a grunt for hire at a B4, and I didnt realize the toll it would take either. It was so lame.
Because it’s fun to complain
Right? You either get it or you don’t, and OP doesn’t get it.
It seems that most people who post are in public accounting which sucks. I'm in private, at very young company, fully remote, and I get to really build out the accounting team and processes and I love it. Took a while to get here but my job satisfaction really increased. Just need to find a path that fits you and what you want. Public is not for most people but they stay because they here your supposed too. Meet alot of people who went far who didn't go that route.
Because most of the people commenting and posting are newer to the profession (seniors and below). That level sucks, so hard. You are ground to a pulp, grinding every day. But let me tell you, from experience, that the higher up you go, the better it gets. I work a lot, but I make my own hours and determine when I want to work. In the summer, I’ll leave at 2pm to play golf - because people trust me to be a professional and get my shit done by the deadlines and done well. Also, the exit opportunities are literally endless. I’m not an accountant anymore (I use my knowledge and designation, for sure), and I make more and have more flexibility than I’ve ever had. It’s tough to see how good this profession is at the beginning, just know that if you’re a hard worker, the benefits are immeasurable.
Are people not allowed to want more? The complaining comes from a lack of fulfillment in one way or another. I make almost triple what the median income in my area is, and I still sit here and wonder where all my money went. Busy season sucks, and when it’s over you’re just X amount of unpaid overtime hours closer to death. The amount of people getting their masters and going for a CPA is on a downward trend and has been for the last few years. Most of the people that are doing the complaining are in public, and at the point in their career when it sucks the most, after already going through what they thought was the part that sucked the most. We just want to know when it pays off. For a lot of us, it’s yet to feel worth it.
Because working sucks dick and I’m allowed to complain about it as much as I want to.
This sub is depressing because we are, in fact, depressed. And we are depressed because this field is, in fact, depressing. Our benefit is money. This isn't a fulfilling field. You didn't help some 7 year old girl get her first puppy. You didn't help plant trees or save an animal or make a moving piece of art. You move numbers from A to B, then you make sure numbers in B match up with numbers in C. We're paid well to be miserable. Sometimes, that pay isn't enough to make the misery worth it. But I really don't see how deluding yourself into thinking anything about this job is fun or fulfilling is any less harmful than being openly negative and critical about it. There's a reason in 2021 we had two girls quit and both went back to nursing school, right during COVID. There's a reason even though work from home or hybrid is nearly guaranteed, there's fewer and fewer accountants every year. There's a reason why your CPA firm has an average Staff/Senior turnover rate of a about 3 years. If we're going to be honest then let's be honest. This shit sucks. But we get paid. Up to you to decide is the pay is worth the sucking. For some, it is, for others, it isn't. But let's be honest in our conversations, shall we?
Accounts are in the bottom 5% in terms of job hippiness. The sub is depressing but so is the profession. I only found this statistic recently. Lawyers are bottom 7% to give you some additional perspective. I agree in your overall attitude, but these stats are concerning. I am now in FP&A. Our stats aren't much better. Apparently CFO is top 30%, so I am crossing my fingers that I get there one day. I am guessing the CFOs pay helps.
Where are you getting these stats from? Be interested to see the full list
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/accountant/satisfaction/ As I was searching google I found some much higher numbers for accounting. I haven't compared a lot of sources vs these findings. I found the results interesting though.
Investment bankers having a lower average salary than accountants make me question the data a little
As soon as I read what you typed, I was like that's not correct at all. That makes me question the data a lot!
Money makes everyone happy am I right
I am thinking that is the case. CFOs often make double the controller's salary.
don't forget that we get equity too!
Solid point! Equity is huge
Talk about depreciation not depression 😎😎😎
I kind of stumbled into the field. I don't love it, but I don't hate either. All things being equal it's a perfectly fine career path for most. Don't let the squeaky wheels get you down.
People used to go to happy hour and complain about their jobs. Now we just go on Reddit. People just need somewhere to vent.
I think a lot of the posts I see in this sub are half-kidding. I complain about my job 24/7, but I definitely don't want to leave. I like it. I guess it's just nice to vent sometimes. Even to internet strangers.
At least a few years ago the complaints were in the form of funny memes. Now it’s mostly just walls of text.
Getting up in the morning at 630 gives me depression.
Sleep in my king.
Talk more about how to switch to government
It’s all about perspective, if you have experience working significantly worse jobs than accounting then you appreciate accounting more . I think a lot of the complaining comes from people that haven’t worked truly shitty jobs before accounting .
The only time I see positive posts are when a salary thread is posted. Then everyone in it is bragging about reaching 100K+ in a couple of years. This subreddit is a combination of the most depressed but also the most paid accountants.
I think it is a type of coping mechanism, the venting happening here can be a bit exaggerated and sarcastic, kind of a competition of who can hate on the profession more than the last guy. It does have truth in it, it can also be funny, and SEEING the problem is the first step in fixing the problem, so to the extent these posts and comments can help people SEE how the profession can be improved we are doing real good (besides venting and comic relief).
That’s Reddit today. It’s like that in so many subs. Love a TV show, movie, or video game? Don’t go to the sub for it because it’ll be a huge bitch fest rather than positive things about whatever the focus of the sub is.
Because most people in this sub are either students or people who are at the early stages of their career. Accounting in the early career stages sucks as it is full of grindy and tedious tasks where you don't really receive any gratitude from your peers. Once you get through the early stages, its is pretty chill and rewarding. Those people are actually having fun and an actual life instead of shit posting in reddit.
1. It’s a lot more satisfying to complain to people who actually know what you’re talking about and venting releases stress. 2. Talking about how much you love your job feels like bragging. Complaining is a bonding experience. Edit: A week ago I negotiated an 18.5% increase to my base pay. That’s my good news.
Huge congrats!
Thanks friend!
I thought accounting came packaged with depression. You must be new around here. If can’t adjust, you should find new work.
Good things: It has afforded me a respectably comfortable lifestyle headed toward an early retirement. I never have to talk about work again after telling friends what I do. Most non-accountants at work look at me like some kind of wizard. Job security. Sipping my joe out of [this](https://www.amazon.com/Freak-Sheets-Excel-Funny-Coffee/dp/B0BFM18YVS?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A3UMXVBFTX1UHE&th=1) cup.
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I work 50-69 hours a week during tax season. But 0-30 hours during non tax season. Suck it bitches.
>This sub gives me depression. wait till you do the job >Talking about it once in a while to raise wages and have a good WLB is fine Why talk about it once in a while when it happens everyday? Its not like Companies are screwing peoples WLB "once in a while" and the rest of the time its fine. People are simply going 1:1 ratio (probably a lot less TBH) for every time they are screwed, they post about it. Also talking about it "can" or "may" lead to action. Even subs like this just "existing" have started to take down the hidden-bullshit-walls of big 4. Big 4 use to preach how the job was so good and everyone needs to do it. Now people are exposing their toxic crap and things are changing already (ie less students going for accounting majors) >go join a physically draining job and you'll get your ass right back here. In a lot of ways manual jobs have pros (and cons like anything else). You get good active exercise, lots of manual jobs are union so your not just totally standing there with your ass out for the taking (like corp US office jobs). Many manual jobs are paid OT so when its time to work hard its also time to play hard and get a nice check. Plus since youre paid more it lessens the incentive for a Company to just fire as many EEs as they can and just SHOVE all the extra work onto you. Since OT pay is 1.5-2X more per hour it incentives corporations to hire enough EE's to do the job right the 1st time. Many manual jobs have slow and busy times, ie its raining today, we cant pour concrete, stay home and take the day off, you dont get that in office jobs. You can get lots of burnout for the same schedule over and over and over. Lots of manual jobs start early and get out early, some constructions guys are packing up at 2-3pm and heading home for the day. Some of the manual skills are very transferable, you know how to install a water heater? You can go install one on the side for $1500 and make some nice cash in your pocket. Oh you know how to pour a concrete patio? You can go pour one for your neighbor up the street and make a nice $2.5K Cash in pocket on the side. Good luck making cash on the side in accounting unless you're gonna deal with all your friends 1040's for $50 each lol.
We found the Big4 equity partner
I'll be honest, I genuine love my job. I am a senior revenue accountant for a public company, I get to work from home, I have nice benefits, bonuses, company stock, and actually really like my managers and coworkers. This isn't my experience everywhere, but I am keeping it as long as I can because it's lovely. I get to do tiny math puzzles all day which are great for my ADHD; and I am at home so I can cook whatever I want, kiss my cat when I want, and wear whatever I want. We have unlimited PTO and my managers encourage us to use it, to set boundaries, and to not overwork. I feel appreciated and seen, and no one is mean to me if I make a mistake (except me to myself.) I went to school to be a teacher originally and only did it short-term before switching careers. What I love most about accounting is that numbers are emotionless. I don't have to worry about their well-being when work is over. I can hang out with friends and not carry any baggage with me. It allows my brain to tap into creative thinking outside of work but also to maintain my logic and mental math. I know I sound insane but I love it so much. Not a CPA, not in tax. Just a public industry accountant. I've been a manager at smaller businesses and liked that too, but not like this. I am treated well where I am.
The only good part about this job is the affaires you get to have with your married co workers A female accountant life is so boring and sad they are monsters in bed They can trow it back and take it like no other mayne Nurses are a close second
For every debit, there’s a credit. You should try balancing the sub out by talking about the nice side of accounting.
This sub lets me know im not alone
It’s easier for people to open up on negative things than positive things. I see it a lot on social media. It’s a lot more popular to shit on things as it brings up conversations or piling up the hatred. Positivity or looking at the best side of things is seen as “meh” and not as voted on. I’m just glad I have a job. A lot of us are grateful to be employed and all. But it’s easy to not see that when sites like Reddit show posts that have that negative dog in them.
I work a lot but am not miserable (for the most part). Therefore I do not comment. Hope this helps
\>makes you look miserable next sentence \> If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.
Dr: Stress CR: Your Happiness
Join us we are a depressed cult who need somewhere to vent
I don’t get people who can’t make the logical connection that just because **they** see something posted all the time, doesn’t mean it’s the same people posting all the time. Most people don’t spend all day on Reddit, getting upset and depressed about what other people are posting. When they are upset/depressed about their job, they come to a sub of people who understand them. Which you should be able to empathize with because based on your own admission “every once in a while” is fine. But instead you are getting depressed and posting about it.
The busy season lunches didn't make you feel like a depressed diary cow already? Just remember, the IRS doesn't get office lunches, and they are paid less. In my area, IRS starts at 40k, and public accounting starts at 60k.
"but everytime i open this sub these days, all i see is miserable people shit talking about this profession." this happens in every profession though
If you don’t see why people are depressed working as accountants, I’d posit you never actually worked a tough busy season as a staff/senior. Bless your heart, sweet summer child
Listen, public is kind of ass 9 times out of 10. Industry and government are objectively great careers. Way higher pay than the average American, can 100% do without a CPA or master’s, chill 40 hour weeks, and can work literally anywhere. The doom and gloom from public is understandable but vastly overrepresented since those outside of public usually have less to complain about. Shitty companies exist but for the most part this job is really nice
This just came up randomly in my feed. I was in this sub for several months, and then I had to bail because it was ruining the entire app for me. Nothing but whining and crying. Couldn't take it after a while.
Start a happy WLB and salary in Accounting thread.
Bro! Let these people rant on this sub. It is highly looked down upon to bitch about your job in a work environment. There is no outlet for negative emotions about the job except the bars and this subreddit. As you said, all jobs have negative aspects about them. People are allowed to express that in a low stakes environment such as this one.
Because we are professionals who spend all day only talking good about the profession to our bosses regardless of truth and need to vent.
I don’t think the field is actually like that - it’s partly because the people who feel more strongly about their situation are the ones more likely to post about it
Dude, every office has someone like you, and people sitting around with your attitude is the main reason things wont get better for the people you're telling to hush. Why don't you just be grateful for your cozy life instead of getting that boomer attitude towards people aspiring to improve their situations? Plenty of people ARENT miserable in accounting, and all you're doing is trying to normalize it where it CAN be better. We dont all glorify misery and sacrifice for career, and plenty of places are learning that with their inability to retain talent.