What do you do for work?

[hwangjini_1]

well, i did not post in the original thread, but in 2009 i was an associate director of asian studies and prof at a major research university. today, i am executive director of international studies in a large, private school...which is pretty much what i would have hoped for. 

what struck me was seeing all the old posters and remembering them.

[coco]

CPA

Got a family member looking into becoming a CPA - eventually.  Currently in High School.  Can you provide advice?  Stay away? Good money? Best paying CPA jobs? Do's and Don'ts....anything

[Donoghus]

CPA

Got a family member looking into becoming a CPA - eventually.  Currently in High School.  Can you provide advice?  Stay away? Good money? Best paying CPA jobs? Do's and Don'ts....anything

I'm one myself.  Work on the public tax side of things. 

It's a great certification to have.  It can really open up some doors from a career path standpoint. Public, industry, government (well, maybe not the IRS right now).... 

Lots of work.  The CPA exam is not fun.  Also, depending on the state, they'll probably need a masters degree or, at least, 150 credit hours.  I went & got a masters in taxation.  A lot of CPAs I know went and got the masters in accountancy. 

[BballTim]

To know what is that I do would be a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist. I'm a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

  Does a job like that come with dental?

[coco]

CPA

Got a family member looking into becoming a CPA - eventually.  Currently in High School.  Can you provide advice?  Stay away? Good money? Best paying CPA jobs? Do's and Don'ts....anything

I'm one myself.  Work on the public tax side of things. 

It's a great certification to have.  It can really open up some doors from a career path standpoint. Public, industry, government (well, maybe not the IRS right now).... 

Lots of work.  The CPA exam is not fun.  Also, depending on the state, they'll probably need a masters degree or, at least, 150 credit hours.  I went & got a masters in taxation.  A lot of CPAs I know went and got the masters in accountancy.

Greatly appreciated!!

[Rondo2287]

CPA

Got a family member looking into becoming a CPA - eventually.  Currently in High School.  Can you provide advice?  Stay away? Good money? Best paying CPA jobs? Do's and Don'ts....anything

I'm one myself.  Work on the public tax side of things. 

It's a great certification to have.  It can really open up some doors from a career path standpoint. Public, industry, government (well, maybe not the IRS right now).... 

Lots of work.  The CPA exam is not fun.  Also, depending on the state, they'll probably need a masters degree or, at least, 150 credit hours.  I went & got a masters in taxation.  A lot of CPAs I know went and got the masters in accountancy.

Greatly appreciated!!

I would highly recommend it.  It is a lot of work, but its nice being in a company that still has a corporate ladder that is easily climbable. 

for instance in boston at my firm the progression is

Associate (1 yr)
Experienced Associate (1 yr)
Senior Associate (3 yr)
Manager (3 yr)
Senior Manager (god only knows)
Executive Director/Partner

But basically if you stick it out 5 years you will be a manager making over 100K, which for the average employee, (27-28 years old at that point) is pretty solid.

It is a lot of work though.

[kozlodoev]

Associate (1 yr)
Experienced Associate (1 yr)
Senior Associate (3 yr)
Manager (3 yr)
Senior Manager (god only knows)
Executive Director/Partner

So which Big 4 company do you work for?

[coco]

CPA

Got a family member looking into becoming a CPA - eventually.  Currently in High School.  Can you provide advice?  Stay away? Good money? Best paying CPA jobs? Do's and Don'ts....anything

I'm one myself.  Work on the public tax side of things. 

It's a great certification to have.  It can really open up some doors from a career path standpoint. Public, industry, government (well, maybe not the IRS right now).... 

Lots of work.  The CPA exam is not fun.  Also, depending on the state, they'll probably need a masters degree or, at least, 150 credit hours.  I went & got a masters in taxation.  A lot of CPAs I know went and got the masters in accountancy.

Greatly appreciated!!

I would highly recommend it.  It is a lot of work, but its nice being in a company that still has a corporate ladder that is easily climbable. 

for instance in boston at my firm the progression is

Associate (1 yr)
Experienced Associate (1 yr)
Senior Associate (3 yr)
Manager (3 yr)
Senior Manager (god only knows)
Executive Director/Partner

But basically if you stick it out 5 years you will be a manager making over 100K, which for the average employee, (27-28 years old at that point) is pretty solid.

It is a lot of work though.

Awesome!  Wow, didn't know the pay is so nice. 

[kozlodoev]

Awesome!  Wow, didn't know the pay is so nice.

Top accounting firms pay a lot. However, it is a lot of work, and at the top levels -- a lot of responsibility (and liability , think Arthur Andersen).

It is not an unrealistic expectation to pull 60 hour weeks during the first years on the job (at least that's how it went ~10 years ago, I hear Gen Y is resisting the trend ;-D).

It's also worth noting that a lot of the big firms in the field have an up-or-out policy, so they're likely to counsel you out if they decide at some point that you're not promotion material.

In a nutshell, it can be a very rewarding career, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who doesn't understand or enjoy accounting as a discipline or working with people. Not that a kid in high school can know that yet, but these are things to keep an eye open about to save yourself a lot of frustration.

[hwangjini_1]

Awesome!  Wow, didn't know the pay is so nice.

Top accounting firms pay a lot. However, it is a lot of work, and at the top levels -- a lot of responsibility (and liability , think Arthur Andersen).

It is not an unrealistic expectation to pull 60 hour weeks during the first years on the job (at least that's how it went ~10 years ago, I hear Gen Y is resisting the trend ;-D).

It's also worth noting that a lot of the big firms in the field have an up-or-out policy, so they're likely to counsel you out if they decide at some point that you're not promotion material.

had a friend who worked in deloitte touche a few years back and this is exactly what she faced as a job. lots money but no life or time to spend it. she eventually quit, after piling up a nice pile of bucks.

[Rondo2287]

Associate (1 yr)
Experienced Associate (1 yr)
Senior Associate (3 yr)
Manager (3 yr)
Senior Manager (god only knows)
Executive Director/Partner

So which Big 4 company do you work for?

Haha, one with two letters

[kozlodoev]

had a friend who worked in deloitte touche a few years back and this is exactly what she faced as a job. lots money but no life or time to spend it. she eventually quit, after piling up a nice pile of bucks.

It gets better, and experienced Big 4 professionals are valued and highly sought after in the industry (so it's an easy exit if you want out after you accrue some tenure). But the early grind is merciless.

[kozlodoev]

Haha, one with two letters

Staying tight with the recent corporate rebranding, I like it

My wife works there, in the Boston office.

[RebusRankin]

**** Star, go by the name, Buck Naked.

[Donoghus]

had a friend who worked in deloitte touche a few years back and this is exactly what she faced as a job. lots money but no life or time to spend it. she eventually quit, after piling up a nice pile of bucks.

It gets better, and experienced Big 4 professionals are valued and highly sought after in the industry (so it's an easy exit if you want out after you accrue some tenure). But the early grind is merciless.

It's certainly a grind at the beginning but you also have to think of it along the lines of "paying your dues". 

I jumped to a smaller firm back in Sept from an upper/mid size firm (Think second tier outside of Big 4).  Last winter really killed me and I was looking for better work/life balance at this point.   Wanted to stay in public but focus on smaller businesses and entrepreneur types.  Develop a specialty more with flow-throughs & individuals. 

I will say that I've noticed that working at my previous firm set a heckuva foundation that I didn't fully realize until I started working at my new firm.  Now I'm seeing it and more appreciative of it.  Still, I wouldn't go back to that environment in a million years.  It eats away at you, especially when you're jumping into your 30s.   It takes its toll.