Accountants of asktrp, would you recommend this career?

LukeVTruth · 2020-04-28T20:30:51+00:00

I'm a CPA working in my first year at one of the Big 4 firms in Audit. Job sucks, hours are horrible, and I make a low enough salary to qualify for subsidized housing in my city. But the exit opps are pretty good and once you have your CPA and big 4 experience your ceiling is either partner at a firm or CFO somewhere.

danamrane · 2020-04-28T17:16:29+00:00

I’m a qualified accountant. The people in it are normally not sociable and boring. Good money though but if you’re doing it for the money start coding.

BluBlac59 · 2020-04-28T18:39:49+00:00

My former accountant, now retired, was a great guy and definitely not the stereotype. His clients were everybody, from regular people filing 1040s to some incredibly wealthy. He was a forensic accounted and did work for the FBI as well. He was a former Teamster and Combat veteran, Vietnam. Super outgoing and moved in the right social circles. He was full of terrific advice. It was always a pleasure to see him and even if it was about taxes. One of the best guys I've ever known. A great storyteller and always upbeat in a positive mood. I miss him and I hope he is well. Natural Red Pill Guy. I miss ya, Pal.

comcain · 2020-04-28T17:23:38+00:00

Teach yourself coding, there's a zillion free online courses.

Disclaimer: I flunked my Accounting class in college. True story.

Domebeers · 2020-04-28T17:44:18+00:00

If you run your own shop like I do, it's actually a cool job. You meet, or I guess I meet, a lot of high level, successful people, which is ok. Like my network is pretty big in terms of if I need a favour, as I know people because of the job. Like if I need to get into an exclusive place, I usually have a connection that gets me in. And the stories you hear, man I should have probably written a sitcom.

If you work at a firm, trying to make partner etc, it can be soul grinding. At that point it's "about the money".

alittletoosmooth · 2020-04-28T18:47:09+00:00

Like any other career, it is what you make of it. You can be processing invoices for a manufacturer as an accountant (accounts payable/receivable), or you can be a partner with a a large multinational firm. You can end up at either end of the spectrum. But each has their own pros and cons. AR/AP clerk is stable 9-5 type roll. Not much responsibility, not much stress, but you aren't going to get rich on it. Big4 partner you can forget about 9-5. That is a 24/7 job. But you can make millions potentially. One way to find out is to "do", another is to ask others who have already gone down each road.

TL,DR: Yes, but specialize in a specific field/industry that you like or one that can make you a lot of money.

BPasFuck · 2020-04-28T21:20:14+00:00

If you expect your job to fulfill you-- it will not.

If you expect your job to pay you-- it will.

Source: Family member that's an accountant.

What everyone's saying about getting that time in at a big 4 type of firm, and then moving on to bigger and better is the commonly accepted wisdom. Entry level CPA's and wannabe staffers get chewed up. Grist for the mill. It's not as bad as medicine and residencies, but I suspect if you think of it as a similar proposition-- you won't be far off.

Once you get through to the other side, however, it seems like a very stable and potentially lucrative profession. A socially aware individual should find plenty of opportunities, competing with the poindexters.

ValorElite · 2020-04-28T21:37:14+00:00

First of all, most of my buddies went into construction after high school. Their salaries were high, but they didn't go to school so now they are lagging behind in the salary department (still have respect for the trades). The smartest of them are realizing that the construction work is going to shut down in a few months (construction for government work might continue), so save up your money now.

Next, you can do construction when you are in your 20s, 30s, hell even into your 50s. But that's when your body starts to break down. I am sure you know what I am talking about because my friends are experiencing the same back pains and other injuries over the years. Working manual labor FUCKS you up.

Finally, you will not make it in construction. You will not be given the keys to the CEO office. You won't have enough capital to start your own business, ever. Getting an accounting degree and maybe a CPA license would put you on a much better path than the path you are currently on.

You already know what you need to do, so go on and do it.

WelfareWarriorZ · 2020-04-29T00:44:22+00:00

Get into tech. Doesnt have to be coding.

mikalepkoslika · 2020-04-28T19:12:56+00:00

It’s the way to be a beta cuck. The only worse occupation is to be a male pharmacist. Every tradesman, every weed smoking „artist“, every bloody pub runner will outalpha you.

Title	Accountants of asktrp, would you recommend this career?
Author	salsamasterer
Upvotes	5
Comments	12
Date	April 28, 2020 4:29 PM UTC (6 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/g9qejf/accountants_of_asktrp_would_you_recommend_this/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/accountants-of-asktrp-would-you-recommend-this.657356 https://theredarchive.com/post/657356

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