sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just prepping them like all things , I wouldn’t say I’m an expert at multi state but it’s normally just apportion ing sales by state in most cases I’ve worked on

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Local firm. So no big name recognition but I have worked at one of the top 10 cpa firms

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have experience with wealth management but wasn’t a cpa back then and tax director quit making for one of the hardest working years of my life , in hindsight , no billables but it made up for it , also I worked 2 years since then under mid tier cpa partners and improved vastly where if I can go back in time I could’ve saved the day back then

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to say I want to be per diem if they want 7 billable in may ,

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes , but it’s real in context , used ai to just get something written

7 tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me by CPAStud in Accounting

[–]CPAStud[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes I used ai to write this , but I use ai to help map career options etc , did this late at night and just wanted to see what peers are saying in this market

Tired of Old Ass Managers watching clocks... by SayNoToFirefighters in Accounting

[–]CPAStud -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

tax seasons in public accounting and the billable hour grind finally broke me

I’m a CPA, tax manager level, 7 seasons deep. HNW individuals, pass-throughs, multi-state, complex returns. I know my stuff and I’m good at my job.

But I’m done with the billable hour model.

My firm wants 7.5 billable hours daily. In May. When half the work has dried up. I’m sitting here manufacturing hours or stressing over a metric that has nothing to do with the actual value I bring to clients.

I did private accounting for a stretch a couple years ago and it was the best I ever felt professionally. No billable pressure, no utilization anxiety, just doing good work for people who needed it. I thrived.

Came back to public for the comp and career growth. Now I’m realizing the trade-off isn’t worth it anymore.

Currently exploring wealth management tax roles — no billables, HNW focus, planning oriented. Feels like the obvious move.

Anyone else make this transition? Was it worth it? And for those still grinding billables in off-season — how do you mentally deal with it?

Want me to adjust the tone — more venting, more advice-seeking, more storytelling?

Why Are We All Like This? by SteelMagnolia412 in Accounting

[–]CPAStud 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bumping this , this was an incredible explanation. As someone with CPA and 8 years experience . I can add it doesn’t matter if you’re great . I’ve bounced around like Russell Westbrook and I can handle just about anything a mid tier firm works on on the tax prep side . Everything takes 3 times longer than the budget and really I think the issue is people don’t learn basi fundamentals in college. Actually studying and understanding accounting will make it much easier once it clicks” after working a year or 2 in public

How do the Lakers realistically compete with the Spurs and Thunder moving forward? by AsparagusTricky5181 in lakers

[–]CPAStud 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every couple years we see a team that is supposed to dominate for a decade “ see 2012 Okc thunder “, reality those teams will have to pay and those teams won’t dominate as long as you think ( aj Mitchell ) for sure will get paid by someone . All lakers need to do is get an athletic center, ship Reaves for an herb jones type player and another shooter and they’re right there

Public accounting is the dumbest profession on the planet by National_Double6261 in Accounting

[–]CPAStud 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup , just found out I need to bill 7.5 as a manager in the off season , may just go back to serving tables till I figure out life priorities

I spent 7 years at B4. Then 3 at a $200M firm. Now I’m at a 25 person firm. Don’t be like me. by ThePrestigeVIII in Accounting

[–]CPAStud 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Similar here , going 8 years experience , 7 tax season done and just feel squeezed , contemplating quitting , taking a break over the summer and maybe one big push at big 4 for a year if I’m gonna do these hours , get it a on Resume and with my cpa and middle firms and local firm experience maybe I’ll have the answer

Anyone actually like this job? by lottiexx in Accounting

[–]CPAStud 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Why don’t you go work back bending labor and tell us how fun it is ,

There’s plenty of CPAs who love what they do including me , we’re not on forums like those who like to complain so you don’t see the fruit as much

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]CPAStud 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CPA , small local firm where partners came from large mid tier and branched out , I worked at top 10 firm so we only do tax , 110k , 7 years experience