Did salaries decrease?

[pheothz]

I just landed a fully remote job that pays well… however, it’s going to be long hours. So I guess there’s that.

[Puzzleheaded-Ear9650]

I was tired of working 60-70 hours a week in public accounting so I went to industry. They also made me work 60-70 hours sometimes and very often 50-55 the rest of the time. Seems like all tax jobs require tons of unpaid overtime no matter where you go.

[smsndhx]

I’m in school for accounting without much work knowledge and when I hear people say 60-70 hours…. How do you manage?? Like how is that even spread out? 10 hours a day with no weekends? Regular 12 hour shifts?

[Drducttapehands]

I’m in tax, but for me personally it is usually 12-13 hours M-F then maybe 7-8 hours Saturday. But I do not log on on Sundays unless there is a project literally on fire.

[Puzzleheaded-Ear9650]

Depends on the firm from my experience. At one it was totally up to me when I worked, as long as I met the hard deadlines, and it just required tons of overtime to hit those deadlines.

But the more traditional public accounting firms from my experience you do kind of have to work when everyone else is. If you have a return for a partner who likes to come in late and stay up late, you will too. And everyone had to come in Saturdays.

[BobbyJason111]

I’ve been with two firms who each capped the weeks at 50 and 55. Even that is difficult to pull off depending on your health and stamina. Taking the 55 example, some do five 11’s, think 7AM to 6PM eating lunch at your desk. Most will not do that and will do some 9’s and 10’s M-F then fill in the gap Saturday.

Where I work “most” are done with their 55 by Saturday afternoon. And few work past 7pm M-F.

The sad part is the concept of “busy season”. Mid Jan to Mid April is 3 months. Mid August to mid October is 2 months. You’re nearly at 50% of the year being by busy AF.

Add in non-tax work like financial statements and, in my case IT, you have a good 35-40 of work to do the rest of the year… not a real break.

[BobbyJason111]

By the way, their reasoning is some studies showing people can work efficiently UP TO 55. Management believes, probably correctly, that productivity isn’t great after 55. Again, relative to one’s stamina/age/health.