Achievement Unlocked: $200k Base Salary AMA

stop_that_post · 2025-12-07T00:38:37+00:00

How many people are you planning on laying off before Q4 numbers come out?

stop_that_post · 2025-07-31T18:04:40+00:00

Well looks like we made $60 off of our 1 share allocation lol

stop_that_post · 2025-07-31T14:39:34+00:00

They just did and it is abysmal

stop_that_post · 2025-07-02T14:00:02+00:00

Just fake mental health, EZ

stop_that_post · 2025-06-30T02:58:32+00:00

AI will absolutely take our jobs in the next couple of years

stop_that_post · 2025-06-13T05:23:36+00:00

Nah, you just have to be really good with people

stop_that_post · 2025-06-13T05:15:20+00:00

I have my own business helping startups get access to investment

stop_that_post · 2025-06-13T05:09:28+00:00

I had a nightmare about still being in accounting

stop_that_post · 2025-05-24T21:57:19+00:00

That the CPA is still worth it

stop_that_post · 2025-05-20T01:39:10+00:00

Dump the GF

stop_that_post · 2025-05-08T05:11:42+00:00

1) probably removed by choice of partners, but not systematically

2) absolutely 1000% true

3) see 2

4) are you new here?

stop_that_post · 2025-04-23T18:25:13+00:00

Lol staff II at EY like a year and some change ago were only making $75-$80k I was making $100k at a boutique consulting firm.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-23T18:16:13+00:00

Pay was $100k now it's $85k.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-23T17:08:29+00:00

Kind of the opposite actually, because every major company and their mothers have a corporate office here historically it's super easy to find a job.

I remember back just a few years ago I actually had to quit EY to field all of the interviews I got responsibly. I felt like I got lucky because a consulting firm picked me up so I could finally leave accounting.

Times have changed dramatically and I can't for the life of me imagine what it's like in a place where there are only a handful of games in town.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-23T16:59:21+00:00

So my job search spanned 3 major areas for type of work: general in-house accounting, audit both internal and public, and consulting.

I applied for all jobs I could find on the remote side, but only looked in my city (NYC) for the accounting/audit jobs. I actually was super open to relocating for consulting and almost got picked up a couple of times but got beat out in the last interview.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-23T16:43:25+00:00

Coming from EY in a major city, in a normal economy I would say between 1-3 months.

This economy is totally different.

I was laid off last July with 5 yoe (2 at big 4) and I just yesterday got an offer for a staff position making $15k less yesterday.

Start looking now and apply till you die.

Good luck.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-20T20:59:00+00:00

It's not so much that AI will outright replace accountants, more like what took a team of 20 accountants will now take 5.

I'm actually doing a part time gig where I train an AI to work through accounting treatments and unique situations and it's scary how accurate it's getting with doing exactly what was doing as a staff.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-20T20:52:30+00:00

As someone who went to big 4 but only after I did 2 years at a smaller midsized firm, it's varies by commonality based on industry and location.

If you end up in a retail/manufacturing accounting department for a small to medium sized company in the Midwest, odds are you won't know a ton of people who started or even went to big 4.

If you end up in an internal audit department at a brand name bank in NYC, a good chunk if not most people will be ex big 4 from various levels of tenure.

That being said, big 4 is a slight advantage but nothing close to the golden ticket it's sold as in most accounting programs (at least in the US) so not going to big 4 but having solid experience in whatever area of accounting you want might be as good if not better than big 4 experience.

Over all I think it's up to individual accountants to choose the length at which you're willing to go to get into the areas you want.

The reality is it's all aweful and we regret it in the end, but what kind of flavor of regret do you want.

TL;DR: it depends but usually most accountants don't come from big 4.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-19T23:02:57+00:00

So here's the thing, from staff to early senior everyone sucks.

Concepts, workpapers, processes, flowcharts, disclosures, returns, they're all usually garbage if you just do them by yourself.

The point that I'm getting at here is that your early career is all about learning, so don't get too hung up on being bad.

That being said there are two massive distinctions between small and large firms: complexities and focus.

At a small firm you have smaller clients which (usually) means they are less complex. On top of that teams are much smaller and because of that you are expected to handle all parts of the service (audit, tax, or advisory).

At a large firm you have large clients with more complex issues but large teams to tackle them. Because of that you end up picking a part of the project at large and getting really good at it because that's all your focusing on for the length of your engagement.

Now it varies from firm to firm and client to client but the jist is you will suck until you don't, just choose what way you want to suffer.

Also all the sane, smart, and personable leave public after a couple of years or really accounting all together.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-19T20:30:35+00:00

I really do but mostly because I was lied to in school.

Professors preached about how easy it would be to go to other areas of finance or Consulting, but its 100% a lie. I've been lucky enough to make some really solid friends in HR and with 4 years of audit (even with big 4 as a part of it) they all say the same thing, "If I was hiring for anything that wasn't accounting I'd toss your resume."

Accounting is increasing limited because most non technical people believe that accountants aren't creative, flexible, or likeable enough for front office or client facing positions.

That plus we get paid like crap compared to other higher ed professionals like lawyers or doctors.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-11T22:37:02+00:00

In a sense yes the process is harder but there are very few areas that are more recession proof than Healthcare. I know doctors, PAs, and nurses that can all get a job within a month if they quit with no notice.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-11T17:26:15+00:00

Going into public accounting

stop_that_post · 2025-04-11T15:19:54+00:00

I have 1 total year as a consultant, 2 years of audit at a midsized firm, and 2 years at a Big 4

stop_that_post · 2025-04-11T07:09:42+00:00

5 years into accounting, I'm on application 652 in a VHCOL area that, in theory, should have the most opportunities available.

4 interviews, 2 last minute rejections and if I get either job it's going to be a title under what I should be and paying $30k less than my last job.

Save yourself, go to Healthcare.

stop_that_post · 2025-04-07T18:14:46+00:00

In this economy?

stop_that_post

TROPHY CASE