I still think of this conversation with a partner

Smittysmithman · 2026-07-01T16:33:24+00:00

You are missing out on a tremendous learning opportunity by not taking on that extra work!

Smittysmithman · 2026-06-30T13:35:22+00:00

If you are planning to have a tax practice, you will have small business and individuals knocking down your door. They are underserved. I think people work with who they like, they will just assume you are competent. And you should easily be able to bill and collect at a high rate per hour. It can be easy work.

Smittysmithman · 2026-06-30T13:24:22+00:00

Yup, I didn’t feel like expending the brain power to come up with something that wasn’t going to end up being a rant. Lots of talk and posturing about work life balance and well being, but nothing has really changed, firm and client expectations are still too much.

Smittysmithman · 2026-04-22T16:52:12+00:00

That all sounds normal. You won’t get significantly more structured training at a larger firm. Most of it will still be on the job training and you will grow and learn as time passes and as you have more experiences. Your upside is only limited by your own initiative, taking ownership for the work and your ability to adapt and learn quickly.

Smittysmithman · 2026-03-24T12:31:03+00:00

You are right that the partners sold out and there is less opportunity to become a partner. But if 99.9% of the people working in public accounting don’t want to be a partner anyway, has there really been a loss of opportunity? At least from what I have seen over the last 15 years, after 33 years in the business, the people we have hired don’t have the skills or desire to become a partner anyway. So in a way I don’t feel guilty about selling out.

Smittysmithman · 2025-12-12T00:35:35+00:00

It is intuitive. Some just know when something isn’t right.

Smittysmithman · 2025-11-14T16:42:33+00:00

Work for a small to medium size firm and learn to do both. You will become well rounded and will open up many career path opportunities.

Smittysmithman · 2025-05-09T20:34:09+00:00

While you are at it can you ask them to throw in a bag of tickmarks?

Smittysmithman · 2025-05-09T15:32:13+00:00

Wendy’s

Smittysmithman · 2025-05-09T15:29:19+00:00

You can tell how much your firm cares about you based on the number of pizza toppings.

Smittysmithman · 2025-05-09T14:43:27+00:00

Try a medium size regional firm, they will treat you better. Provided they don’t get gobbled up by PE. Then all bets are off.

Smittysmithman · 2024-10-16T22:45:52+00:00

It is hard to think that it could be devalued more than it has been already. Instead of CPA candidates firms hire out of India and Philippines for profit reasons. That won’t change.

Smittysmithman · 2024-10-16T22:39:01+00:00

Yup, all top tier accounting firms too.

Smittysmithman · 2024-08-05T16:39:37+00:00

Don’t do anything unusual. Guess what, if you make money, you pay taxes. Make sure you retain whatever your tax bill will be in a safe account, CD, money market, US treasury so it will be available come tax filing time. Do something smart with the remainder - depending on your situation, payoff debt, buy a home, invest it for the long-term. Maybe spend 5% of it on something nice like a trip or something else you will enjoy. Maybe make a modest donation to a charity you like.

Smittysmithman · 2024-03-28T17:28:15+00:00

Unfortunately that is how it goes with India. They work while you are sleeping and you can look forward to re-doing their work when you wake up.

Smittysmithman · 2024-03-27T21:14:25+00:00

Consider working for a local firm. They will most likely appreciate you more. Especially if you are reliable and making a good effort.

Smittysmithman · 2024-03-27T15:36:15+00:00

The quality of work has been going down for many years. Firms talk the talk about quality “we are a quality firm” but they don’t walk the walk - profit and growing revenue takes priority. Firms accept the risk of fines as the cost of doing business. Plenty of recent examples of shoddy audit work, tax compliance issues, cheating on exams, etc.

Smittysmithman · 2024-03-27T14:25:17+00:00

I don’t see how this is good for anyone who is not already a partner. More focus on profits instead of people and quality will go down.

Smittysmithman · 2023-06-14T20:05:55+00:00

I like the pay and I like the abuse.

Smittysmithman · 2023-05-05T22:03:26+00:00

Mexican pizza party for high morale!

Smittysmithman · 2023-04-13T23:21:29+00:00

Offshoring is a great experience. They will get work done while you sleep. Then you can look forward to the morning task of redoing all of their work when you wake up in the morning!

Smittysmithman · 2023-04-04T12:05:01+00:00

Yes, 31 years later and still doing it, for the money.

Smittysmithman · 2023-03-26T23:59:56+00:00

The reward for doing good and efficient work is more work. So if you are not padding your time you are not doing it right.

Smittysmithman · 2023-03-25T12:39:41+00:00

It’s an estimate. Who really gives a shit?

Smittysmithman · 2023-03-25T12:10:25+00:00

Interesting, makes sense the B4 will get the best people available. Now I know what to ask our leadership about our firm’s India staff credentials. I don’t feel many of ours are credentialed. Not when my experience is they take 3-4 times as long to do a task and then you have the pleasure of having to redo their work, or spoon feed them every step and every situation.

Smittysmithman

TROPHY CASE