THE GRIND: Life in public accounting

Public accounting is a wonderful career, but it’s a grind! Managing client expectations, partner expectations, performance requirements, tracking billable hours, preparing workpapers, reviewing workpapers, keeping up with the latest compliance requirements all while trying to maintain some semblance of a soul is not an easy hill to climb! When you add partner transitions and constant M&A between firms you get an intense environment that is now filled with more uncertainty than ever before. What’s more, accounting firms are not equipped to help their team members walk through this.

CPA friends, does this sound familiar?

• I don’t know how to make a career in public accounting work as my personal needs change.

• I don’t have any role models at work. I like my job, but I don’t want to be like the typical Firm partner. How can I make this work for me long term?

• I feel shame when I leave work to be with my family.

• I feel out of control.

• I respect our partner group, but they seem rooted in past success or past experience, which doesn’t seem applicable to my career or today’s firm.

• Dear Me, “will this ever get easier?”

• I hope no one notices I only worked 50 hours last week and only 27 hours were billable.

• Your loved ones notice you track activities at home in 15 minute increments….constantly

• I made partner, so that’s it? Now what?

• I’m successful, I kick ass at work, but I’m incredibly lonely!

Stoic CPA and Advisors can help

After 18 years in public accounting I can say that I’ve experienced and still experience all of the thoughts listed above. I call it the CPA Quagmire. I work with people daily who are in this quagmire. Many of my fellow partners are in this quagmire. When I attend conferences and speak with peers from across the country I find that they are stuck in this quagmire. I’ve found that the only solution is to ask for outside help.

YOU ARE SICK! YOUR FELLOW ACCOUNTANTS CAN'T HELP YOU!! THEY ARE LIKELY MORE SICK THAN YOU BECAUSE THEY DON’T REALIZE THEY ARE SICK AND ASKING FOR HELP ISN’T ON THEIR RADAR!!!

I say that in jest, but realizing that the gap between my career satisfaction and my personal satisfaction was not going to be met through human resources or the latest firm provided “engagement consultant” was a major breakthrough for me.

I’m humbled to be able to offer my experiences and insights to you. I’m not a counselor or therapist. I’m a CPA who has hit rock bottom, been disappointed by the CPA firm machine, and have asked for help. I’ve picked up some tools along the way.