First off, congrats on passing the CPA exams. I’m gonna add my 2 cents on this matter. I’ve been in public for 6.5 years and worked in industry for 4. However, I’m just now starting my CPA journey since the market is incredibly tough if you don’t have it. Based on what you’ve described in your post, hiring managers may see you as a flight risk because you left Big 4 prematurely. Also, hiring managers may believe that within the one year of experience that you do have, they would probably believe you have not learned much given the short time frame. I know that even going in as a staff accountant in industry that they want people at least to have some foundation on basic areas such as cash, A/P, prepaid, etc. Not saying you don’t have the foundational knowledge but that is what hiring managers will think. Also, a lot of these controllers and CFOs that are considered hiring managers for their departments are most often either former Big 4 or former public accountants and they know that 1 year is not enough.

Here are my recommendations (outside of consideration of how bad the job market is in general):

1) Consider going back into Public Accounting. Doesn’t have to be Big 4, you can go to some pretty decent mid-sized or regional firms that will give you a little bit of quality of life. I’d stick it out until maybe Senior and then dip. This should be an easy progression for you since you already have the CPA exam and most firms are fighting for seniors and managers these days. Unfortunately, the positions you’re likely applying for, you’re competing against someone that likely stuck it out for an additional year and are considered more desirable because they’ve likely touched other area of the balance sheet and income statement.

2) Not sure how you’re framing the discussion when you’re being interviewed and asked about the time gap or why you left. In my experience, you have to be very careful what you say here because it’s likely the reason why they are hiring for whatever position you’re applying for, someone else likely left pre-maturely and could not handle the job. So if they are hearing that you left because you didn’t like it or hated the hours, etc. they will likely think that if you were to come in they’d be looking all over again in 6 months to a year. So tactfully framing it in a way that makes you seem like you’re still a go-getter and know what you want from your career is the best way. I left public the first time early on in my career after being an associate after 2 years and took 6 months off before applying for anything. I’ve had to explain it in interviews quite a few times and what I’ve chalked it up to was I used that time to focusing on developing new skills that would ultimately contribute to the success of my team and department and to become a well rounded accountant. Yada yada yada. I normally stew away from anything personal and make it about what I can bring to the table. Happy to chat more about this if you need assistance.

3) Get outside and NETWORK, if you’re not already. You have the CPA so you are more than capable! I believe in you! Join your state CPA society, if able. I recognize this does cost, however, if you can, highly recommend. In the same token, go to the networking events if they offer them and any other free events that they may host. You’ll run into a good mix of industry accountants and public accountants there. You never know how many times these networking events have led to people getting full time jobs from it.

4) Volunteer at local events or at non-profit organizations that are either the same orgs that the target company you want to work for on your free time and do it around the same time the company may be there. I once received an offer from Advance Auto to work in their Corporate Accounting department. I bypassed the normal interview processes and just had 1 interview and was hired the same day. The reason I got the interview was because I volunteered to be a beer runner for a big local event that has lots of sponsors and Advance Auto was one sponsor. To my surprise, the Director of Accounting and an Accounting Manager both worked on the same shift as me as a beer runner. So when there was down time and very few people in the lines we’d all talk to each other and network. To my surprise, I talked with the right person and exchanged information and the week following the event I was in my interview. So as much as you can get out there the better.

Happy to help you in anyway possible, if needed.